Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-05-19

One evening III the sprlnCtime he told
Ethel of his love, ANA asked Ler to be his
wife.
Il cannot answer that question, dear
JIM, sail the girl. Myself is the only
reward which | can offer any man,
because / have naught else. So l have
long ago made up my mind to keep
myself to offer, if needs b., as reward
Kansas. If it We're not for that firm
resolve, / would say Yes at Once-for,
jim, You deserve my love and all / can
give you. Bat do not ask me, dear.
Perhaps Kansas will be captured, any
hov-and soon-by some one who will
never think of reward. Then-well,
don't think badly Of me, Jim, dear; two
things would make me a happy girl;
vengeance on Kansas, and the right to
call you my husband"
Pars0n Jim heard these words sadly
enough, but he thought too much of
Ethel and her resolves to seek hastily to
turn her from her purpose, even for his
his own benefit.
Early in the following summer, toward
sunset, Ethel sat on the porch of the
parsonage quite alone. The parson was
away, and had been away all day, and
might not return until the following
evening. One of the men from the
Gulch approached and doifed his hat.
''Parson i'll, MISS
"No. Zeke; lie is away to-day.
"Well, | WIZ Jest gJin to tell him
that we've got news that Kansas is like
ly ter be up ter mischief way about ten
miles along Their valley ter night. It's
the first time we e'er got pointer as
ter Kansas iric' :, an some Nv us
thought rs like enutf we might make up n
little crowd to down his nohs. Parson' s
mostly same fer bizncss that's right an
squar, - came up to tell him.
Ethers eyes flashed, and the warm
blood coursed quickly through her veins,
as wild thought occurred to her. She
could ride like an Indian, and she was
a dead shot: Parson jim had taken a
special delight in making her good
horsewomn and clever with pistol.
81 will 60" she said. "I'm not going
to ask if | may go; I'm going, Zeke."
''All right, miss; only it's risky wor.
an not fit for ladies. Mcbbe ther par
son wouldn't like fer yer ter go."
"lcs, he would, Zeke-yes, he would;
don't you know-don't you remember
all about my poor father | will go, and
If | get within range of Kansas l will
shoot him without mercy
So Ethel joined the party of fifteen or
twenty armed men who rode out that
night FOR the purpose Of capturing. if
possible. kansas and his desperadoes.
They rode IN as wide line as the valley
would permit, 50 that no company of
horsemen might pass them unnoticed,
AMI this plan proved q good one. About
10 O'Clock az night they Cspied four
horsemen, evidently awaiting the coach,
and closed in upon them. Zeke insisted
on keeping Ethel Windship back, and
made her promise to stay with him if
the boys could effect a quick capture.
But, no; the outlaws knew that certain
death awaited them should they be cap
tured, and re solved to fight dearly for
their lives. There was a sharp, quick
interchange of pistol shots. Three of
the robbers and three of their pursuers
fell from their saddles. The fourth des-
peradO put spurs to his horse and DASH
eel rigat through the crowd of miners,
vino, IN their surprise at his action, al
lowed him to pass. The desperate man
emptied all the charges of his revolver
behind him as he galloped, threw
the pistol down and drew another from
his belt. He ride in the direction of
Ethel and Zeke, and they could see that
he was a magnificent man, with long
black hair and black mustache.
kansas - muttered Zeke.
Ethel no sooner heard that detested
name than she leveled a revolver at the
man riding rapidly past. 1t required
steady arm and sure eye to hit such
mark; but she did it. Click-bang-
and bullet lodged in the brain of the
highwayman. A dozen men rode up and
iftel the man. He was dead.
They lad him back on the ground,
rest, proceeded to examine the wound
in his temple. To do so he brushed
back the long hair and found it was false
Then he looked closely at the heavy
mOustache; that also was false; SO he
pulled both wig and mustache from the
dead man. As he did so a long and
piercing scream rent the air and Ethel
Winship threw herself upon the corpse
of the highwayman.
go my God, my poor Jimmy poor
Jim. / have murdered you!" and then
she tainted.
"Parson JIM" almost whispered
dozen men.
One of the slightly wounded rufians
who also stood near, between two of his
captors, nodded his head and said:
"ies, Parson Jim. He fooled you boys
badly. We call him Kansas"
When they lifted the girl from the
dead body Of Parson jim, or Kansas
Ethel Winship's lover and the slayer OF
her father-she, too, was dead. Kansas
was punished and Ethel's father was
avenged. - CTdlQJtFs' JoHrnd'.