The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-05-17
rose to their feet.

rose to their feet.
The dagger fell to the ground and neither
could get it, The contest became one OF
endurance. The men We're fighting for life.
They struggled, turned and twisted, and
fought with maddened desperation until
Allen finally struck his antagonist on the
head. The blow staggered him, and another
brought him to his knees.
Following up this momentary advantage,
Allen struck three or four more blows and
felled him to the earth. Enraged and furi-
Gus at the sudden attempt on his life, the
young editor seized the dagger which lay
on the ground at his side, and raising the
cleaning blade to drive it to the heart OF
his assailant, he cried:
"Now we'll see which dog shall dep
A piercing shrek rose on the air, and a
slender form clad IN spotless white flew to-
ward them and seized the uplifted arm.
"Oh, don't, don't in Heavens name,
don't murder himi'' cried the beautiful
girl. at whose solicitation he had gone to
Frenchtown.
"Bertha -Bertha you here!" gasped Al
len, starting back in surprise, not I'M
mingled with horror, when he reflected
that he was about to take the life Of hui
man being
"Oh. spare him, spare him. In the name
of the Virgin let there be no blood shed !"
plead Bertha, wringing her hands IN agony.
Allen stool transfixed and dumb with
amazement, while the dark-whiskered man,
to whom her al oearance was not such an
inexplicable mystery. rose to his feet and
in voice of suppressed thunder said:
1T is very kind of you TO save my life
after plotting SO long to take it."
"Oh, Heaven-I never-never dreamed it
would come to this'' groaned the beautiful
girl still wringing her hands in agony.
The master turned upon her much as a
cruel father or master might upon child or
servant, and in tone OF muff1ed thunder
said
"Wc've had enough of this-go home"
In his excitement and rage Allen could
distinguish strong foreign accent in his
language, which on ordinary occasions was
not perceivable.
''Not while you threaten each other" she
answered, sobbing bitterly.
why did you follow mes Did not tell
you to stay within re house!'
:" I know-I know; but if had not come
you would have been killed." she answered.
still sobbing.
Z" 1t makes but little difference he an
swered, with an oath. Turning upon Allen
an eye which in the darkness blazed with
the fire of an angry tiger, he said in a tone
which trembled in it's earnestness: at
would be better if you leave this country
and never come back. Young man, you be
very FOOLISH very rash not to have followed
the advice Of the village, and let the mys-
terry of Turkeys Point alone"
He wheeled about, taking the arm of
Bertha, and was gone, leaving Allen gaz-
ing after them in wonder and amazement.
evil wonders never cease?" he asked
himself. "This strange mystery will drive
me to madness, and how am l to solve it?"
He happened to think Of the dagger which
had doubtless fallen from his hand when
Bertha had come so suddenly upon them,
and thought he would take it, as it might
prove clew to this strange mystery.
He stopped to pick it up, but it was no
where to be found, it was gone. Where,
how had it managed to slip away! Either
the tall stranger Or Bertha had taken the
knife, and he was satisfied it could not have
been the former. With all his soul on fire
with jealousy, and tom and racked by
hundred conflicting emotions, he started
down the bill toward the village
ooh, Bertha, Bertha, gone, left me with
out word, after all I have done and suf-
fered," he groaned, as he fastened to the
village.
But Allen had schooled himself to bear
his sufferings without a word of complaint,
and next morning was in his office as usual
During his absence another issue Of the pa
per had been published and circulated. He
sat down at his desk and glanced over his
mail. There were few unimportant let
tiers, one or two from old acquaintances,
congratulating him on the success of his
enterprise.
smile curled the lip of the editor as he
thought how far from success this venture
in the newspaper business had come. To
ali inquiries about his absence he answered
that he had been suddenly called away on
business. Not word of ais strange ad-
venture did he breathe to any one, and
those who saw the young man sitting SO
calm and business-llke at his desk never
dreamed that he had come so near losing
his life only the night before at the hands
OF the master of the stone house on the hill.
"Back again, are your" said Miss Hop
kins, with a smile on her shriveled face 81
am so glad you have come, for 1 really think
l have gem Of poem this time"
"What is the titles" Allen asked
"Loue's Young Dream," the old maid
answered.
Every touching indeed" said the editor,
with becoming gravity, partially uncon-
scious of what he was saying
ooh, sir, have shed tears over it," said
the ancient maiden, enthusiastically sit
was late in the evening, and tired of the
tolls of the day had retired to rest and
as lay on my bed thinking what 1 could
do to advance the interests of the esters
RepubAc-I am always thinking of you''-
she parenthetically added, looking very
tenderly at him-''I was suddenly seized
with desire to write. l beieve-yes, sir,
verify believe that a voice called on me to
write that poem The voice of fame-'
"Please read it, Miss Hopkins" No ed
ltor In his sober senses ever asks an author
to read his or her productions, so the reader
can imagine how desperate was the condi-
ton of Allen Gray.
snow, Mr. Gray" said the old maid, with
a feeble attempt at blush which failed
however, to appear on her powdered check,
lido not say it is splendid unless you really
think So You are such person to flatter,
especially young girls"
Allen was too deeply, too painfully an
nOyed by the complications in which he
found himself to observe the coquettish
manner of the poetess, and with no other