Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-09-11

notulng reNe' oy the l8nt Oh lhLetnai
fires
William was dragged to the foot Of
the tree the moment he had said shoIt
prayer.
i have request to make, said the
youth, as he took small note book
from his pocket and tore of leaf,
which is that you will let me write q
few words, and that, after nv death,
you will send the note to my vessel.
The idea seemed to rather please the
robbers than otherwise.
we intend to send word to your
rascally officers of your execution,
said the leader of the band.
Nay, that is not all. l have more
than mere statement of my death to
make
You will let us read the note after
you write it?'
Yes, on condition that you will
not read it until after my death
Agreed; we have no objections to
that shouted several, simultaneously.
The youth wrote few lines. Then
no rose.
Perhaps we had better read the
note now, said one of the robbers.
Yes, yes, cried several of his COM
panrons.
They attempted to snatch the note
| frop, tho r,r; arc vrocn
my last wish is defeated cried
William. well, let it be So
And he flung the pager to the winds.
The gale catching it, carried it far
away.
The robbers despaired of finding it
at least at night.
Hang him at onceI was now the
cry.
They surrounded him, utterln 6
fierce cries, and making wild gestures.
One of them had meanwhile pro-
cured rope, which he now secured
about Williams neck.
The other end Of the rope was then
thrown over a high branch of the
tree, to be seized BY several OF the
band.
'Haul!' shouted the leader.
The men hauled, and William swung
from the tree.
At the same moment, a strange
rumbling noise was heard, a meteor
l,ka HoSh xuao soon
AN eartquakel shouted the out
laws in chorus.
The mountain rocked and swayed.
The outlaws rushed from the spot, to
seek refuge in the lower land, where
there was not so much danger.
The shocks of the earthquake lasted
full hour. Rocks were dlslodged
and went rolling along with the din OF
thunder, crashing through the shrub
berry and into the gurgling waters far
below, while many trees were torn up
from theit roots, to be sent trembling
down.
In the morning Bernard, who, un.
disturbed by the shocks had remained
all night in his hut, rose to depart for
the town. Ruin greeted his sight on
every hand. Finally he caught sight
of paper fast to a twlg. He seized
it and perused its contents, which were
as follows:
DEAREST BERNARD:-He who followed you
to sea as William Marvel was none other than
Selma Hathaway. She meant not what she
said on that night when she refused you, Tor
she really loved you as her life. She meant
to let you know who she was before the end
of the voyage, but an event has happened to
prevent her. She has died to save you! Long
before these lines reach you, her spirit shall
have fed. The mountaineers will have hung
her on one of their trees.
SELMA HATHAWAY.
Bernard's astonishment may be I'm.
agined. He rushed wildly up the
mountain in search of the remains OF
his lost Selma. He found her, but not
dead. The earthquake had uprooted
the tree to which she was hung, in
time to save her life. The false beard
was p!ucked from her face, the dark
stain rubbed from her skin.
Bernard recognized now the we'll
known features of Selma.
The sequel may be guessed.
They safely reached the schooner,
and Berauard at once sailed for home,
never again to doubt the love and
faith of his well-tried Selma, who soon
became his bride.-Augustus Cunstock.