Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-09-24
WHAT FRED SAW.
It Was Enough to Bring a Muir
derer to Justice.

The day was very pleasant, but /
could not enjoy it.
Long, weary months had been in
the darkened room, and still they kept
me there, allowing no breath of the
pure, cool air TO reach my feverish
head.
tried to open the window, but /
was not strong enough, and fell back
in my chair, breathing the sitting air,
which every moment became more op-
pressive.
thought could not endure it, yet
how could / avoid it? There was only
one way without danger of discovery;
a step into the hall, and those spiral
stairs would take me to the housetop-
to the observatory.
Waiting until l was sure the way
was clear, l stepped softly into the
hall, and ascending the stairs, though
with much difficulty, | was soon en-
ioying the forbidden pleasure of
breathing the air, untainted with the
fumes of the nauseous drugs that had
been dealt out to me with an unspar-
ing hand all through the long, cold
winter
How exhilarating! wondered that
/ had been housed so long. looked
down upon the group of young ladies
who were sporting on the lawn.
Jenny Magrair was there, the daugh-
ter of my host, the only woman ! had
ever loved But was nothing to her.
She knew not how worshiped her,
and l should keep my secret well, for
she was the betrothed of Gerald Mac
| burn.
How I envied him, and perhaps hated
| him little, for knew that he had not
won her love. She had pledged her
| hand to save her old father from pow
erty.
She had consented to the sacrifice,
and Macburn was satisfied.
Turning away, tried to Danish the
painful, hopeless thoughts that had
been awakened.
Adjusting the telescope, took a sur
vey of the farming and wood land that
stretched far away to the east for many
| miles.
caught sight of two men whom
recognized as Gerald Macburn anc
John Layton
They were evidently in search OF
| game. The glass was small, yet a very
superior instrument, and could sec
them very plainly, Notwithstanding the
| distance.
| presume | should have thought NJ
more about them, had / not know
that, but few months before, they
were bitter enemies. | wondered how
the reconciliation had been effected.
While puzzling my brains with these
thoughts, had unconsciously movec
the glass to keep them within range
saw them stop, and / knew by thci
motions that they were angry
| became interested. l could SEE
them so distinctly that | found mysel
listening to catch their words.
could see their lips move, and say
John Layton's clenched hands. He wa
evidently much excited, but he did no
offer to strike; and if one can judge b,
sight alone, he was inclined to avoi
any alteration. while Macburn ar
peared to seek quarrel.
For full five minutes they stood there
gesticulating vehemently. They wer
some distance apart, Layton all til
while endeavoring to widen the space
and Macburn following him up.
At last Layton, goaded beyond a
endurance, wheeled about and shoe
his fist menacingly at his tormentol
Macburn was SO exasperated at thi
that he raised his rifle and shot him.
saw the poor man fall out of sight
the bushes, and saw Macburn calml
reload his rifle and walk toward th
spot where his victim was lying.
Then l staggered and fell to tn
floor, and all was blank.
When / awoke to consciousness
was in bed. Clothes were all about m
head, and in the dim lamplight saw
watcher sitting by my bedside. 1t wa
nay old chum, Harry Wilmot
"How is this?" said l, when realize
!, the situation.
THANK God, you are coming aroun
again." said Harry; "but it has been
hard case, Fred; you have been {
crazy as a loon for whole week.
advise you not to try the observator
again till you are strong enough
crawl back"
At these words, what / had see
from the housetop flashed upon m
mind; but had my life depended upo
it could not then have told that it w