The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-18

have found the place where meant to be
on the lookout for Mr.. henderson. 1t
was q lonely lane which led from the
main road to his house, aud there under
the shelter of a holly bush. on a stony
slope where he'd have to pull his cob In
and go gently. / stood and listened until
/ should hear him comm along. In my
right hand I'd got loaded revolver, and
my finger was on the trigger; that was
what was goin' to punish him with Tor
breakin' Maggie Kerr's heart.
Invent through it all as | stood there on
the damp grass of the roadside-how the
horse would gallop off when he fell, and
how he would be found in the morning
with bullet in his heart and the life gone
out of him and of the Joy | should feel that
he had paid me at last. 1t Gid not trouble
me to think that his blood would be ON
my head for ever and ever; only said to
myself that by heavens law his life was
owing for hers and that | would be the
one to do her justice.
He was long time comm. The clouds
cleared off and the stars came out. So
much the better. | was hidden where /
stood and he would come riding over the
hill against the sky, SO that | could make
no mistake about him. At last horse
the lane. heard it come nearer and nearer.
and i strained my eyes all | could TO make
positive it was him and no other. Yes, sure
enough. twas Henderson. l could see him
quite plain from my shelter as he drew
rein 10 60 down the hill. He came care
fully, holdin' up his horse, and thinkin' OF
no worse accident than q stumble oger
loose stone. Another three seconds and
he would be level with me. My heart
thumped inside me like a sledge hammer;
the blood fled to my head with a giddy
rush. ] shut my eyes for hal a second TO
collect myself, and, as l opened them, /
raised my arm to shoot
But didn't press the trigger, for in that
second had stood with my eyes closed,
some one had come betwixt him and me,
standin' close up to me, with one hand on
my upliited arm, and, as surely as | tell it
you, il was Margaret Kerr, loollin' just as
she had looked that last time 1 had seen
her, fixin' her eyes on mine with the big
tears swimmin' in them. Her face was
pale as death, but not paler than it had
been then, and her sweet mouth seemed
drawn with pity. AS her hand fell on nv
arm cold thrill ran over me- i could not
stir nor speak-neither did her lips move !;
yet there seemed to ring in my ears a far
off sound OF her voice calling my name.
My arm dropped 10 my side, and we stood
there-she and Until down ut the bot
tom of the hill the horse began to trot
again. Ralph Henderson had got away
with his life, and there was no blood on
my head after all. Then i put out my
hands to take hold OF her-but there was
no one. was alone in the winter night
I'm strong man. and no bastard, but
who can wonder that sank down there
aV.l
ground? / heard my pistol 20 off as l FELL
and there was at the same time an awful
burnin' pain through my body. Then |
| remember no more.
When | came TO myself | was lying on
bed in the Stafford infrmary | couldn't
ask all the questions that came into my
head, for ! wac too weak but bit by bit
l learned how / had been found by the
roadside, nearly dead with cold and loss
| OF blood, and how / had been taken to the
hospital and cared for. told nothing
myself, though l had many thoughts as [
lay there week after week getting we'll.
Some things pondered over which l
can't speak OF, for tho same reason I've
| give once or twice before; but there was
one thought that staid by me all the time,
| which was that Margaret must ha' cared
for me still, else why should she ha' come
TO save me from the deadly deed was
| just about2 You needn't say she came
for his sake-if she had, he'd ha' been
the one to see her, which he didn't, for he
rode on and never knew what had been
hangin' over him, nor how he got by safe
The spring was coming on when / got
my discharge from the hospital.
| LET il be lesson 10 you how you go
about with loaded firearms, my man." the
doctor said, the last time l saw him;
we've pulled you through, you see, but
IL was a nearer shave than you think for. "
Pm much Obliged TO you, sir" | made
answer but didn't tell him that il was a
deal nearer shave than even he was aware
OF.