Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-05-31

sounded low and musical-''we have
determined upon twenty thousand
scudi as the sum for your ransom. /
dare not send one of my men to COM
municate with your people. You,
believe, are friends, and would not
leave one the other to the fate which
would await him should you betray me.
Therefore ! give one his freedom. My
men shall conduct him to an easy road,
and there await his return. If one
week from this time he is here with the
money in his possession, both shall go
forth free; if he fail, then his COM
panion dies at daybreak, shot through
the heart. You may draw lots which
may go and which stay"
In silence the young men took from
his hand the slips of paper held out to
them. Hal was still to be the prisoner.
'1t's all right, old fellow" he said,
grasping Ned Esmond's hand. "lt's
only a weeks solitude. I've had it
many time on lonely hunting ex-
pedition, and my worst anxiety will be
dissipated when l know that Eflie's
fears are set at rest. There'll be no
trouble about the money. You can
easily raise that; and l daresay I'll
find these fellows jolly enough COM
panions in the meantime. Tell my
darling how long to see her. That is
all. Goodbye. God bless YOU"
"Shot through the heart"
1t was this sentence which rang in
Ned Esmond's ears.
1T will be, after all, but a moment.
He will think some accident has over
taken me- If l save him do l not
doom myself to torture, which is to
that one moments facing the fatal
muskets as Tantalus to Paradise? l
will tell her he is already dead, and,
perhaps, consoling her in her grief, l
may teach her the lesson she never
shall unlearn." "
But no suspicion of hope and happi-
ness within his heart rested on the
white, impassive face with which he
awaited his friends betrothed. With
quivering voice, he told his sad story;
how one was lost, the other saved, and
he, that other, had hastened to her to
unburden himself of his sad duty.
II would it had been otherwise, Miss
Effie," he said at last, as the girl S
pallid face, with eyes as yet unblessed
by tears, was lifted to his, strained
with agony; then silent, fearless, with
bowed head, she passed out of his
sight while somewhere from the
shadow voice seemed to say: 'On
your brow you bear the brand of Cain!
Murderer and starting as though ex-
pecting to see the bright, boyish face
which last had smiled on him, now con-
front and bid him answer for his
treachery, he hastily left the room.
Six days and nights, but the mes
senger had not yet returned. The
chiefs face locke d grave as his eye
swept the distant hills. There had
been ample time, but somehow the
thought of ordering a bullet through
the heart of his young prisoner, who
had borne his lot so cheerily, in whom,
spite of his own lawless life, he had
recognized some traits such as were
planted in his own breast, smote him
with a keen sense of pain. But his
word had gone forth. The example
must be made. At daybreak, unless
the messenger returned, the execution
must take place. But when the sun
had sunk to rest the scout sent forth
returned alone. The prisoner, then
must die. 1t was as though the bullet
had already found its way to his heart
when he realized the man whom he
had trusted had deserted him. On,
hope was left him. He asked to bt
brought into the presence of the chic
and left alone with him.
my friend, the man l trusted ha'
not returned" he said. "Either deatl
or treaehery has kept him. Let me
before l die, learn whtch. Let m,
place on the lips of one to whom
have pledged my troth my kiss ant
blessing; and l swear to you by tn,
love l bear her to return hlther il
three days, to lay my ransom at you
feet, or bare my breast at your bul
let's"
For a moment there was silence
With the blue eyes raised to Heaven
and as though compelled against hi
will, the chief answered:
60! In three days l await yol
here!'
"Effie, did all that l could. vii
you not think of others in your griefP'
and Ned Esmond's voice sank almos
to whisper as he sat by the side o
her whose pale face and deep, moan
ing sobs testified to her loss.
"Can 1 ever forget you were hi
friend or shared his loveP" she an
swered. "Oh, forgive me if l seen
selfish, but his voice seems ever call
ing to me TO help him. Last night
heard it in my dreams" (sobs chokin;
her words): "'Effie! Effier he said
Hal Hal! did you ever call before il
vainP"
"Effier'
Both started to their feet. Her nam
indeed had sounded through the room
In the distant shadow a tall figur
stood, figure which, springing fol
ward, received in its arms the faintin,
girl, and stood white and stern cor
fronting the covering man.
, "Villain Traitorr' he said, in low
scathing accents, while the man slun
! from his presence, knowing God ha
not lain the sin of murder. in tn
worlds sight. at his door, though non
5 the less should he have it to answer a
: the judgment bar.
\ "Mv owni my dsrliDoi'' were III