Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-07-30
HEARTS and PISTOLS.
BY EMNIELINE ERIE.


don, looking down upon the pretty
girl at his side, an expression OF
anxiety upon his face. "You don't
care for him, do your
The girl returned Wills glance
rather defantly.
She very well knew to whom the
young mechanic referred but did
not choose to appear to do so.
"Who are you to send away|
she demanded, wiIfully, ga friend
of mine"
ats that Henry Bemer. ! don't
like to have you talk to him.
Alice Martin stared at the speak
er, seemingly very much surprised
"You seem to think l should an
swer to you for my acquaintances,
Mr.. Gordon" she said, in a distant
manner. "Suppose 1 do care for
Mr.. BEN er. 1t cannot concern
you. l am not engaged to you,
am ~
"N.o,r said Will, slowly, "but !
thought we understood each other"
"That's all on your side," re-
sponded the girl, who was in the
right humor for tOrmentlng the
poor lover. "YOu can have as
many thoughts as you like, only
don't trouble me with this sort
Mr.. Bemer is too much of a gentle
man to act So"
Poor will stifed a grOan as he
heard this.
For several months he had been
paying "devOted attention topret-
tv and wilful Alice Martin, who,
although but an operative at the
factory in the village, was one OF
the sweetest girls in the place
Will thought that the "little
witch,7 as he often called her while
weaving his dream romances, fully
returned the warm love he felt for
her.
But since the advent of Henry
Bemer, the nephew OF the pro
prietor, and cashier at the factory,
he had sailed to the front in Alice's
fancy.
The cashier was always on hand
to act as her escort to and from
anv festive occasions, and as half
the girls in the vi llage were crazy
over his well-waXed mustache,
shining boots, and glossy coat,
Alice felt fattered by his evident
preference for herself; and was too
proud to conceal her feelings from
poor viii.
After the girls last remark the
conversation dragged, and at last
Will made last blundering effort
TO regain his standing with Alice.
"Non't you let me tell him you
love me, Alice 2" he said, IN tone
which evinced his earnestness,
"and that he must keep away =
"Do not trouble yourself, Mr..
Gordon was the chilly reply, and
the girl turned away towards the
house.
Will watched her until she en-
tered the house ; he sighed as the
door closed. 1t seemed to be shut
ting him out forever; life would be
very dry to him deprived of all the
tender hopes concerning Alice,
which he had been nursing for
months past.
lie was still standing before the
gate when Henry Bemer came
along the walk.
AS Will caught sight of his rival
something very like a curse rose to
his lips. Will was leaning upon
the gate, and he did not move
when Bemer attempted to open it,
Much against his will, the cashier
was forced to glance at the dis
appointed suitor, and in doing SC
raised his gold.mOunted ye-glasses
"Ahr he drawled, in affected
tones, Zone of the factory hands
Move aside, fellow, l wish to enter
Will was in any but a patien
mood at present, and this wal
more than he could bear.
Lifting up his brawny right fist
he knocked the dude over the gate
"ThereIp exclaimed the yOunI
mechanic, a short, disagreeabl
laugh breaking from his lips, "yoI
wanted to get in, and you are in.
Martin staggered upon his feet
with a swelling lump upon his fore
head and malignant glare in hi
eyes.
"You low born scoundrel y h
exclaimed, in a peculiar hissin
tone. 81 shall be even with you fo
that blow. I'll fix you"
"What will you o." will d'
manded, scowling in the man
( face.
"r'n make you suffer-" was tn
Z vindictive reply. 81 know yo
, well enough you are a lover
pretty little Alice, inside there
and he waved his hand toward Ii
house where the girl sat watchin
the men, with a futtering hear
"You may guess IN what shape IN
revenge may manifest itself"
3 His expression of countenanC
was bad-horribly so, and vi
couldn't miss his meaning; and
convulsive chill wrung bis heart.
"You vile rascal ~ he began, bl
the cashier turned upon his hee
and an instant later entered u