Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-08-20

miseries of unrequited vengeance.
But the grotesque performance which
had been the result of my impatient
words aroused my mirth.
| For long time lay there, fairly
shaking with grim laughter.
When this mood changed sank into
a troubled sleep.
1t was full Of dreamed plans Of retri-
button on many persons for multitudin-
Gus offenses, but they all ended like my
recent reahty-in the death of an over.
jaded horse at the supreme moment.
At length was awakened by O sound
within my room The moon was now
so far to the westward that its beams
fell across the open trap above the ladder
by which had climed to my loft. And
coming up, and half way through the
floor, / saw the body of another nocturnal
visitor.
His face was in the shadow, but his
bulky figure satisfied me that it was my
host
In another minute he had completed
the ascent and was in my room, crouch
ing on the floor, his face in my direction.
Without arising, he finally started to-
ward me, creeping on all fours
AS he advanced saw dangling from
his loose robes small. short handled ak
destined no doubt TO make an immedi-
ate plunge into my skull
This thought sent another fierce tide
Of desperation surging through me. The
sting and chagrin of a thwarted life pur-
pose was likely to end that night after
all One resolution made swiftly.
This man should not be interrupted by
word Of mine The silence should not
be broken by me-my experience with
the other would be assassin having at
least taught me wisdom in that respect.
Assassinl
The word startled me
Would not also have been an assas-
sin, could my will have prevailed
Most assuredly. now came to think
Of it.
True, the man had SO long hunted,
determined to slay him, had imbued his
hands with the blood Of my dear ones,
and had even done them worse harm,
but who had appointed 1ne administrator
OF vengeance, giving me power over life
and death and the right to answer crime
with crime?
With this first true confrontal Of my
real position came an entire reyulsion OF
feeling.
lam glad now-honestly, heartily glad
that my long cherished violent purpose
had ended fruitlessly. The morrow, If
the morrow ever came, should witness
for me return to worthier things than
man hunting, and with this feeling came
another which had not experienced be-
fore in months-an intense desire fol
life.
This brought me TO recollection OF
my immediate surroundings, and I cast
another glance in the direction of my
second visitor
He was still cautiously approaching
me.
When directly before my bed he sur.
prised me by seemingly passing under it,
instead of arising to finish me with his
ak, as | had expected
A minute passed, and another. Still
there was no further sign nor sound OF
him.
What did it mean2 Was ha-- -suaifina
10 en5ty nand 70 naiad tussie with me
when awoke? Or was he, Tartarlike,
bent on getting double pleasure out Of
his foul purpose--first by anticipation,
then by reality?
The suspense was maddening.
Soon could bear it no longef
Pulling myself together for mighty
effort, ! sprang from my bed to the
window and plunged through it to the
grouhd below.
a dense thicket was close at hand, and
into this instantly betook myself.
Scarcely was | out Of sight when the
face of my host appeared at the window
whence | had escaped.
The evil working Of his dark features
which the moonlight plainly revealed,
left little doubt in my mind as to what
my fate would have been had tarried
in that dingy loft much longer.
Fortunately had flung myself upon
my bed with my clothes on, and SO, with
the exception of my hat and my saddle
bags, | was none the poorer for my sud-
den flight. Whether my disappointed
host attempted to follow me have never
learned. Anyway he failed to overtake
me, and long before noon was safe at
Utch-glsd, rather than otherwise, Of
the trying circumstances which had
taken murder out of my heart. Lew
VanderpooIe in Buffalo Express