Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-07-14

~ ~ 80 land, there lin
Szss5sSS.>SS. gered only the
- clear dusk that
darkens suddenly into night. Tas air
was fall Of the aromatic fragrance cfre-
sin. and the silence was go intense thar
the cracking sound Of the dry wood, upon
which the fierce sun had shone 81 dsy,
was sharp and cl ear, while every now and
thsn tie chirp Of the grasshoPpsr could be
distinctly beard.
A man lesning against one Of the red
pine bolgs noticed neither silence noz ira
GRANGE: the chipping eff the grssshcppers
did not disturb him. and the fact that the
sun YVES sinking fast b bind him away
over the sisrras did not trouble him in the
least. He was fer too satisfied with his
own position 60 ;hink Of anything but
himself and ,he comforting fumes Of his
pipe 500. he'd his senses infinitely better
than 5alsamic odors.
Presently he pulled cut his watch ana
locked 40 it; then he uttered an impreca-
ton, aud MS lace assumed the expression
that had gained for him from his triends
the suggestive title of G3-fOr-H ,m-Tcm."
tie was not accustomed 10 beng played
false. lie took GU, from MS breast pocket
3 greasy, shabby note book, and, turning
over some dirty papers, found short note,
which he slowly read through; after doing
so he tore IL mp savsgeiy into a hundred
pieces and lang them from him. An ev-
ening breszs sweeping at that moment
through ths forest caught the pieces aud
Whiried th-m away into bush and cram
nv. What prompted him TO commit such
a foolish act 10 was disficult TO say; per
hsps, in spite of bia savsge wrath against the
person who wS5 keeping him waiting, he
felt too sure Of his own position to act
with the prudence that generally guided
him. b. destroying tina. paper be des
troyed the one clew to the mystery of
which that lonely trst among the pines
was tie beginning After venting his an
ger upon the note he drew Ous OF an inner
pocket O woman's dainty handkerchief.
He looked as it for a moment, a fierce
light stealing int MS eyes then lie rails
ed it 20 his lips and. with low Laugh,
kissed IT, As the laugh, insolent N It's
triumph, cruel IN It's pitlessness, broke
upoc the evening air, q tongue OiTed lame
flashed out from thorn bush some yards
behind him, followed by q loud report.
With q Wild cry of pain, "Go-tor-Hlm-
Tom" turned sharply round, the handker-
chief still in his hand, and made plunge
towards the bash Before he cOuld reach
il ne staggered, and, with aTeyoltving exc
Grafton upon his lips and cOnvulslve sob
of agony, be fell face dOwnwards upon the
earth.
The last rays Of the sun vanished from
the sierras and the night fell suddenly up
on the forest. The darkness MD the mo-
rionless figure which was not 70 rise up to
greet another dawn, and closed over the
horrible red stream which gradually
soaked into the earth.
In the east was pale glinmer of light;
but it was too feeble TO penetrate into the
depths Of the forest, where darkness still
fingered, though alresdy the weird melan-
eholy notes and sounds which haunt for
ests at night wege growing siient, as the
animols AID insects who did not care 20
face the light withdrew 20 their hiding
places, leaving bshi0d them that hush
which preceds5 the jnyOus waking Of all
things that love the day.
The dead man was sGll lyiag where he
fell; bat there was a human life near.
Some few hundred yards away young
man had eucampsd for the Eight. be was
sitting up il his blankets, cogitsHng over
his position, which was eminently unsat-
isfacsory; MS handsome eyes were growing
more haggard, his tired face paler and more
dovncast, when Suddenly he cav straight
before him pale figure, sharply defined
against the blackness of its surroundings.
His keen eyes, accustomed to the dark
ness, could, after having once caught sight
Of this figure, even distinguish its outline.
10 stood, a light and shadOwy looking OBJ
iect, at the end Of the opening which be
knew had faced bin when be went to
sleep. The more he stared at it, the more
puzzled and interested he became. 1t was
not an Indian-they never appeared light
against a dark background; II could hard
ly be enc of the miners who formed the
population of Deadman's Flat-they GER
tainly did not walk abroad in etherssl
garments. He did not amsgire it 10 be q
things: but for moment his blood ran
cold IN his veins as the white shadOwy ig
IRE suddenly siided forward through the
darkness, aud came straight towards him
His hand had already iusluctivelY grasp
ed his ride, which was wing close by him,
and be now raised it into position, 10 case
1t should be needed; but within twenty
feet Of him the gliding white form stop
ped.
by George woman"
The exclamation broke from his lips
almost involuntary, as the unmistskable
sound of a wOman's sobs fell upon his ear.
If there had been any doubt in his mind
it would have vanished az the sound OF
TIE shrek that echoed anong the pines,
when, springing to his feet, he plunged
through the darkness to her side.
She turned 10 tly, bat her foot slipped
and she swsyed for second. His strong
arms caught her before she could reach
the ground. and the next moment she was
helpless prisoner in his arms.
sob, please let me"-she cried in q
terrified tone; and then the sweet sound
OF 3 wOman's voice ceased abruptly, and
Mr.. John Smith found himself holding
limp, ssnseless burden. he had frighteu-
ed her into a swOOn.
Auathema,izing his brutality, be car
RED her over to his blankets, and laying
her down upon them struck a light. IL
went out immediately, and before be
could strike another the woman revived
She sat up and broke into such hysterieal
weeping and cries Of terror at finding her-
self In the darkness with an unknown man
by her side, grunbling over his refractory
matches, thst Mr.. John Smith was Eei-'y
beside himself too.
'COms, say, my good wOman-ten