Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1889-10-19

H to murder.
Il White-Heart Ledge was high, per-
II pendicular wall Of granite rising about
the river, the top crowned with dark
| spruce trees. 1t received its name from
\ peculiar mark, where mass white
quartz appeared, half way up the
ledge, in the form Of a heart
Late in the afternoon l was upon
the sandy shore beneath the ledge and
at almost the same time Laban Adams
made his appearance. We were both
anxious to be thought brave men. He
did not speak to me, nor did | speak
to him. Our seconds conferred awhile
together, and then Price came to my
side.
Must this thing go on ?" he asked.
told him that did not know how
it could be stopped lied, for did
kngw.
He informed me that if | would
make the least overture Of peace he
felt sure that Adams would accept it,
ri think" he said, "that Adams is
sorry for what happened. You struck
him and he cannot retract."
"And he called me liar"
IL know he did, and that he did
wrong, in fact, there was wkong upon
both sides Offer him you hand, and
| think that he will take it without a
word of explanation"
No. | would not do it.
And why not 2 wanted to do it.
My heart urged lue to do it. The spirit
of my dear mother, speaking in those
old lessons of love and blessing, urged
me to do it. And another spirit cloth
ed in younger, starry love. urged me to
do it. God, speaking through His Son,
urged me to do ii. The law of the land
urged me TO do it.
And yet l would not | was afraid
that men would say | was coward. o,
what precious coward l was.
"You are both good shots,'' added
Price, sand if you fire together you
may both fall"
But l dared not offer him the hand
of Cancellation.
IOlu MIN 1 was ready.
He went back to Watkins and pref
ty soon they measured off the ground
twelve PAGES.
We we're to stand back to back those
twelve PAGES apart. We were to turn
at the one we we're to raise our pistols
at the word two and at the word three
we were to fire. [ caught the eye of
Laban Adams as | took my position,
and was sure that no angry passion
dwelt therein. For an instant the in
pulse was with me to throw down my
pistol and offer him my hand. / was
sure he would not refuse me. But |
had not the courage to do it. l would
rather do the deep damning wrong,
than to do that simple, Christian act of
love.
Our seconds hesitated, as though
they saw what was passing in our
thoughts but we offered no word, and
they proceeded The word one was
given. cannot tell all the feelings
that came upon me at that moment. [
stood face to face with my brother; in
a moment more we were to offer our
hands to the Internal stain, | thought
of my mother in her distant home; /
thought Of the scenes of my childhood,
bright and promising; l thought of
the holy love that had beamed upon
me since | had grown to mans estate !;
and thought in one short moment
more, the black pail might cover it
all.
Watkins was long time in pro-
nouncing the word two. He evidently
hoped that one of us would reenl. But
he hoped in vain
Only breath held back the last
fatal word but that word was never
spoken. AS we raised our pistols,
sharp agoniz.d cry, as from broken
heart, burst upon the air and in an
other moment two slighr shadows fit
ted upon the scene. was prisoner.
Laban Adams was pI isoner. Our
pistols lay, undischarged upon the
sand.
Two gentle maidens, who loved us
better than we loved ourselves, ani
whose love had led them to deep anx-
iety in our behalf, had guessed our
secret. Love has sharp eyes. Clara
Wolcott knew Laban's hot temper
when under strong excitement, and
she had feared something of this kind
from the first She had only to wills
per OF her suspicion to Mary, and two
sleepless sentinels were upon US.
Those two warm spirits, with their
cries and their tears, melted the ice
crust and our hearts found the surface.
20. in Gods name, be enemies no
more!" implored Clara.
"By the love you bear us-by the
memory Of all you hold dear on earth.
and you hope to meet in heaven-cast