Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-01-22

lie looked uae type OF manhood.
wonder he cou-I win woman's love If he
strove for it.
A notebook lay near lis left hard. Most
likely he had been jo,ting down something
which struck ais fancy, When the graceful
shade AMI the murmur of the dis tant sea
had lullei him to sleep-a sleep from which
he would awake only 10 sic p again foreverl
Nay, might have placed the muzzhe Of the
pistol next his heart and nave emit him,
without awakening from one sleep to the
other But had no inten ton of murder
ing the man in cold blood; nor would it
have suited me for him to die without know
ing to whom his death was due. BesiIes
meant it to be a fair duel-a duel to the
death-between us. So stopped, and laid
one Of my pistols near his right hand; then
/ walked back toward the mouth Of the
grot, leaned against a rock and waited for
him to awake.
Not Tor one moment do attempt to dis
guise the deviilsh, vengef nj feelings which
could urge mo Il tais calm manner to plan
and compass this mans death. Now that
years have passed since that day, / do not
even ask you to bear in mind the wrong
that had been done me. l simply relate
what did, and shall not murmur at the
blame which I know Will bs meted out
to me. 9
The man slept soundlv. l wal led; but no
thought of foregoing my purpose entered
into my brain. l waited unit. the dread
that we might be disturbed struck me- /
had gloated over my promised victim long
enough. Now let me act the GROWING act
I detached q loose morsel of rock and
tossed it toward the sleeping man it fell
on his outstretched hand. He started, rose,
to a sitting posture rubbed his eyes; then,
looking round, saw me, and Knew why /
was there. He saw the look Of triumph and
fell purpose on my face; be saw the pistol
in my rignt hand; he sprang. to bus feet and
took step toward me.
Iraised my hand and covered him with this
pistol. He must have looked almost down
the muzzie. ''Stsnd STILL" I said, Tor !
fret
The bravest man may we'll hesitate ere he
rushes on certain death. Eustace Grant
stopped short. My voica, my LOOK, must
have told him that ray threat was no idle
one The steadiness Of my hand told him
tnat should not miss my marx
You have come to murder mer' he said,
in adeep voice.
mo; to kill you, not murder you Look
on the ground behind you; take the pistol
which lies there; then we are equal. Take
it, l say, and face me like a man. Fire
when and how you choose; can wait my
turn"
He turned and saw the pistol, but did not
possess mself of it. He facsd me steadily,
although my weapon was still aimed at bis
broad ore st. Deadly as my hate was,
was ia n to aim re his courage
u think you are mad," he said; ''but
hstel have something to say"
| stamped my foo5. Coward villain!
ia le that pistol, or swear 1 will shoot you
as you stanlr
he STOPPED and picked up the weapon. A
wave OF fierce delight ran through Inc. The
moment o. reckoning was at hanl.
Yet he balked ma. BE held up bis hand
lad fired both barrels in the air. UTTERED
/ cry OF race.
"You 9 MAJ of honor. Isuppose7' he
said gu ca not slay laien;eiess man."
lthfus- iny 4a-t hand in to my pocket and
threw 4 haadiui Of cartridges toward him.
be shoui. not cape ma
lie huried the pistol from him far over
the top OF the rock. Nv hope OF killing him
IN falf flgat was gons. gr TIED my
teeto, aad sw Ora tnat nevertheless h. should
not escape. "Cuw rI! l shouted, WITH
my ngor ;reilosing on The trigger.
lie was soli. for he still stood erect and
faced me. His -4ce grew pale. No wonder,
Tor death was close AZ hanL He spoke; his
voice was 81 ar and distinct
LISTEN" he said, lone moment before
you stain your scul with this crime. Viola,
your wife"
He saisl no mora The sound of her name
reused in me burst of mad fury all my
enforced calm left me- Silence, you
houndf Ishouted.
Grant must have seen the change in my
face. and guessed what it presa ged. Doubt
less life was dear, very dear to him. He
sprang toward me. My finger pressed the
trigger, and the report ram out. My hand
as fired was steady as rock and before
saw the effect of my bullet l knew that it
had done its work
The smoke cleared off Grant was stag
gering to and fro. His hand was pressed
to his right breast. and the red blood was
creeping through his closed fingers and dye
ing his pure white coat Suddenly be fell,
and lay like log at my feet The thing
which l bad for nights and days sighed for