Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-20
Grant had fallen on his side.

Grant naO IaDen upon Ills SIDE. his Lace
was turned from me, and one arm, thrown
out as he fell, half hid his head For a
moment stood motionless Now that the
deed was done, the horror felt at my own
act rooted me to the spot. | felt that l
reproachful gaze of one whom had slain
in what was little more than cold blood
Oh, if could but undo my work.
But was he dead: l had aimed straight
at his heart-had my bullet reached itl
Let me learn if was murderer in act as
well as intention. If so, my pistol had a
second bullet, and my aim, when l turned
the muz3ie toward myself, would be as true
as before.
ldroppe1 the fatal weapon and ran to the
fallen man l knealed besiie him, aui.
with the mechanical calm OF despair, set to
work to learn the worst
No, thank heaven, he was not dead-not
yet! The blood bad flown from his sun
tanned face; his features seemed pinchei
and drawn with pain; but h. still lived
The blood was trucking down his white
coat and falling on the thirsty white sand
which formed his couch; but he was not
dead.
l raisei him. thinking that dong so
might oh eek the flow of blood. l placed
that grant, massive head on my shoulder.
He sig leI family, AMI his eyes op,nel
You have killed me, think he said.
"But listen. On the oath of a man who
believes he has but few NOM 1T; to live.
l swear that Viola, your wife, is pure as
the dav on which she marie you The
truth you may never learn; but Lelieve
this"
The effort of speaking exha listed him.
lie
passed over me- | would have given ali |
possessed for flask OF brandy shudderei
at the thought that perhaps those eyes haI
closed forever.
My agony was increased tenfoli by the
words he had spoien. | couli not, dared
not doubt them. IT, while | believed in his
guilt, remorse at my crime sprang up and
seized mo, what were my feelings now that
l knew | had killed a man who had not
wronged mes those diving words had car
ried complete conviction to my mind.
must do some thing. If only to place nv
pistol TO my head and fall lifele g across nv
victim, | must do something! | took out
my knife and ripped up the wounded mans
coat and shirt. found his handkerchief
which / knotted to my own. Then, picking
up smooth pebble, enveloped it In a piece
of linen torn from the shirt, and with these
appliances made a rough tourniquet. The
very pistol vita which had done the deed
served to twist the bandage until its press.
ure checked the flow of blood A tiure of
color came hack to the asnen lips, and for
the first time l hoped that Eustace Grant
would not die.
But l must have assistance Here wa
might wait until doomsday without crea-
ture coming near US. There was but one
oh ps wiz HIN /
and fy for aid
wonder II man ever ran so fast as ran
along that stretch of sand All the while I
was haunted by the dread that some move
ment of the helpless mans hand would shift
the rough and-ready bandage. ami that
when l saw him again. should gaze on
death-death for VIII Oh was accountable.
thoughts like this are spur, which mirht
nge the slowest to super. umun speed
1 rushed up into the village. begged
the first man l saw TO get others-to pro
cure gate, shutter, plank, any thing on
which wounded man could be carried. and
to STAT at once no the coast. | tore into
the little inn, seized bottle of brandy.
orieref the surgeon TO be summoned AT
once, then ran back as wildly as | had
come
outstripped the fishermen, who were
already on their way with an extemporiz ID
ambulance. | reached the ravne and, sicl,
at heart entered 20 learn If Grant were
still alive
Thank heaven, he livedl He Law Just as
had lett him. Once mora | raj ed his
mead, and then gave MIN a teaspoonful of
stimulant. He moaned family, AMI the
sound OF pain went through my heart like
knife
Presently heard the fishermen. called
70 them. lenderly as we could. we bore
Drant through the entrance of the ravine,
and lald him on the stretcher. Then at
slow pace, started on the home ward
march.
ABOUT halfway we met the surgeon. He
caile1 halt, examined the iniared man.
am comrlimeluad me on the way In which
applied thu tourniquet. The saving of
.ne man IS life, if it could be saved, would
De cue to my prompt action. How little
ne Knew that, before attempting to save
1t, had done all in my rover to take that
life!
de gave Grant more stimulant. How
IN the world did it happens' he aske1. turn
ing to me-
was stammering out some reply. when
"a" grants eyes open, and his lips move
as u about to speak. The surgeon and
bent over him
Acci lent, heard him say to the sur
seon, Shot mvs elf-very stupil"
Hush, don't talk" said the surgeon
0rant said no more His eyes met mine