Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1891-11-24
WHAT FRED SAW.

would take nr in the hons.top-to the
observatory
Waiting until | was snrr the way was
clear. stcpi-d sofil, into the hall. aud.
ascending the stair. though with much
difficulty. was so0n enjoying the for
hidden pleasure II breathing the FIRE
air. uniain,ed with the fumes % the
nanseou. drugs that hal been dealt ont
To me with an uusIaring hand all
through the long. cull winter.
How sHhilarating' ! wondered that
| hal b.cn housed ~ long ] looked
down upon the group Of young ladies
who wrrr sporting on the lawn
Jennie Magrair was there. the daugh
ter % my ho~t. the only woman ! ever
loved. but ! was nothing 30 her She
knew no, how I worshiped her. and !
should keep my .eerr, well. for she was
the bstrothed % Gerald MAcburn.
How envie,i him and PERHAPS hated
him little. for knew that be had no,
won her love She had pledged her
hand 10 save her old father from pow
rrty
She had consented To the sacrifice and
Macburn was satisfied
Turning away tried % banish the
painful. hoT-lcs- thoughts that hal ben
awakened
Adjusting the telescope ! took sur.
yry 81 the farming and woodland that
stretched far away 30 ths east Tor many
miles
caught sight Of two men whom rvc-
ognitei a. Gerald Macburn and John
Layton
They we're evidently In search oi
game The glAs- was small. yet very
superior instrument. and could see
them very plainly. Notwithstanding the
distance
presume | should have thought no
morv about them bal ! not known that
but few months b.iore they were bit
ter enemies wondered how the recon.
citation hAi been effected.
While puIIling my brain with th-se
thoughts had uncon.ciously moved the
glas. 10 keep them within range. ! ssw
them stop. aud knew by their motions
that they were angry.
became interested could see them
- distinctly that found myself listen
ing % catch their words
could see their lip- move. and ] saw
John layton. clinchsd hands lie was
evidently much excited. but be did no,
ofcr 10 strike: and " one can Judge by
sight alone he was inclined 90 avoid any
alteration. while Mscburn APPEARED 10
seek a quarrel
For full i've minutr. they stood there.
gcsticulating vehemsntly They wer
srme distance apart. Layton all the while
.ndeayoring to widen the space AMI
MAcburu following him M
At last Layton. goadei beyond all en-
dunncc. wheeled about and shook bis
tisi menaciugly =, his tormentor Mac
burn was ~ eiaspraied st this that b.
raised his rife and shot him
! saw the poor man fall out Of sight IN
the bushs-.. and law Macburn calmly
reload hi rife and walk toward the .po,
where his victim was lying.
Then ! staggered and fell 20 the door.
and all was blank
When awoke % Consciousness ] was
In bed Cloths were all about my head,
and in the dim lampligh, ! saw a
watcher sitting 10y INV bedside !, wa.
my old ehum. Harry wilmot
How l. this said l. when ! realized
the situation
Thank Go,l. you are coming around
again. aid Harry; "bui II has becn a
hard case. Fred: you have been as crazy
a. a loon for a whole week. advise
you not 20 try the observatory again ull
You are strong enough To crawl back.
At these words. what had se.n from
the hous-top dashed upon my mind; but
had my life deE-nde'l upon !, could NO,
then have told that IL was not all a dream
To convince myself inquired for John
Layton
"IIe i.-no one knows where, replied
Harry: but You are too weak to either
talk or listen.
mo. rm not. Harry; tell me about u.
lie yet hesits,-i. but urge'i him. and
he yielded
John Layton disappeared week
ago said he. "Ab-condeI d. th. better
word. for he took with him quite an
amount of money belonging 10 his father
The old gentleman IL very wroth, and
has us-d every means to ind him, bat
mas no, succeeded. Fanny Morton-they
werr TO b. marricd son. you knows
almost crazy about IL. and will no, b.
lie,- tina, John intended TO DO anything
wrong This IL all that II known about
H. but. speaking Of marriage. did you
know that Gerald Macburn and Jenny
MAgrair are 10 be married tomorrow
John Layton Il dead. : said l. without
answering his question. though u had
sent pain through my heart that was
agony 10 me lie 10 dead. Harry WI
mot
Harry CARED st me. pityingly.
There, Fred. wouldn't talk any
more ssid he. "You are very weak
yet Try and sleep.
"You think am still crazy. Harry
Don't. Fred. don't! n you ever er'
pct to get of this sick bed you must b
more reasonable.
Ny question was answered. iturned
my face TO the wall and tried 10 deter
mine In my own mind whether wa
sane or not
went to sleep thinking OF Il, and
when Awoke the sun wAs going down
Harry. who had been out during m,
sleep. had Just returned. and his en-
trance had probably walked me.
slow do you feel now. fredr sais
be, drawing chair TO the bedside.
"Much better and stronger, Harry.