New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-18

TO thc cold, sardonic smile on IlemSiori lace.
AS Tar aS can calculate, went ON (la"u''
" these checks Will he returned protested ny '"c
mail due to-day or tomorrow.
/ grOancd, the horror ol The shame 80 mean
at hand oppressed my mind.
Garrison Orders. Gibraltar, lDth June, muI-
INJURED iiclnsdori. Is ii quoting 10 himself.
a General Courl-Alaft!al will assemble al
l spraac mp with an oath. W ha' do you m'"H
by playing the fool with ne ? bN--.
Gently, gently, old hoN Sald liclnlSsGoiL,
raising his hand dcDrccatlnsi|. herr NIL w
two prisoners tired At that courtmar'iai tha1 -
if there are any
What do You mean asked, looking earn
estiy at him.
liclmsdo:f laughed.
We haze been through all sorts OF troubles To-
eethcr before now. re said, and shan deseI.
vou in this. ! am in the same sOrl OF In as you
are: the charge viii run much the S'lhe-that i,
if there is charge" he added III the same SO"
Il don't know what you mean, Claude" | said
at length.
IIclmsdorf laughed again.
MY dear boy you know ! have been acting
Paynastcr for Dolby while he was on leave.
wei, DoI6y's leave is up and he is due
| back by the mail expected to-day the mail when
! brings your checks back, in fact.
Yes | said again.
lie will look i'll the treasury chest.for &l1o
! which ought 10 I've there
! looked fiNcdy at Hclmsdorf.
We'll. lie won't find them
! There Il long silence.
! feel sick but with a rush the reflection came
upon me with awful force that was no less {"
! thief than he! ,,.,.,.,
d" What are you going 10 90. aSktu Il'Hns"''i
did not answer. A sullcn despair was filling
my heart ,nind,s ,vort ON Helms
dorf
| looked up inquringly
Helmsdorf pointed to my ,pistol-c9se which lay
table near the wall stared as hS sfe1 hed
| of late fitted like balcful shadows over my nina
| lie proceeded quietly:
They Shall not have more than one pii'oi'cI -
." They shall not have any" broke in ficrcly.
Iclmsdorf laughed loudly-a wild, diScordant
What VIII Won come too, Ncd?r' .,,..
"Ay,' let lis 60 together! | care for nothing
then You are the only being in tins accused
| world for whom care snap of the fingers.
He seized my hand with Il grasp Of IRON ana
wrgR w.t. i, been through all sorts Of things to-
| gethcr. old fellow: won't part now we
| don't leave much There are too many blanks III
the lottery Of this world 70 make il worth living
| in Life is a DcadSca Apple at best! Shail we
stay TO- face thc shame the disgrace the plS'
The boom of a gun came sullcnly over the quiet
| harbor.
The mail was in.
! | uttered an oath and strobe toward the pistol
case lelmsdOrf stopped me,
Steady, old fellow sad he Let's go 10
work quietly. Look here -,
lie led me by the arm 10 the window, when
/ looked out into a large courtyard. - ~
See! There is old Pensoncr Williams light
and will be ten minutes NJ least lighting them
round the court. | know his habits perfectly he
will light all round the court first: and last OF all
| he will light the two lamps on that post IN thc
centre of the yard
| Now. Ned. old fellow, listen 70 me. shall
90 T. my room and get my pistols ready. shall
| write few lines 10 say its nobody S fault but my
! oil I.ll I nrltS f.rpts | lpf hi
! By that time the lamps Will be nearly all lighted.
| / shall watch GA Williams. and when the lights
the rieh,-hand lamp of those two IN the centre
shall go. Wien he LIGHTS ihe lcft-nand lamp yo1
will come too. We might have "A bet" he added
with chastity mcrriment "whicl. lamp he Will
| light first"
is that agreed - asked IIelmsdorf
Oh the black despair in my young heart
! YES answered calmly. and we shook hands
once We felt we should not meet on earth
again.
You remember the story of Give" cried
| lIelmsdorf whose spirits seemed wildly en-
cited. How nc snapped pistol twice al
| his head, and when il failed 10 90 of the second
! time he took il IS a sign from Heaven that ne
was preserved for something famous Ferhap,
something Of the Kind may happen e. one Of Ms.
! His manner changed suddenly. He SciZcl me
| 10y the shoulder and looked straight into my
eyes. have never forgotten his look. and never
! Of years nth the reality o lie
"Good-bv, Ned he said at length. "t till then ,
lie left the room ana closed Tie hOnf. ] h"tri
| him walk down the corridor TO ms room. which
was only four or five from me. ! heard his door
shut and all WAS quict. ! looked out into tie
COURTYARD through my window. II dull.
murliy evening The sounds Of the life and move
mcnt Of the barraci., some distance hey ond reached
me family. making The surrounding stiffness more
marked. The old pcnsioncr was moving his lrd-
der TO begin lighting the second sIde OF The
court. / felt | must prepare. Never in ny life
was | calmcr. I went 10 my plSoLcasc and
loaded my pistols with scrupuiOuS care. That
| finished, took pen and paper and sat down 10
write 10 my father
How often in after years. when the tortnrne
remembrance of that horrible evening comes before
me- have shuddercd 10 think Of the black wicked
ness of my heart at the time. No thought Of
my kind mother seemed 10 come over me only
seemed 10 feel sort OF selfish Satisl1ci .on ~
furnishing my father for his refusal 10 ASST me.
and kind Of relief Mt the near prospect Of re-
lease from my ds2r4cc
GET this You will have heard that | am dead
gave checks on the AGENTS, thinking you would
he sure TO help ne, rs ! was in trouble and as
had told YOu. | wanted The money urgently
As | find from your letter that You have not
placed any MONEY TO my credit these checks
will be dishonorcd.
! "Of course you know this means the loss Of
my commission. my honor. and all that makes
life worth having.
do not blame yol. as suppose you are saying
what is true when You tell me YOU cannot afford
TO help me. | see 40 way ont Of INV trouble but
this, | cannot face t''c sham" before me. Give
my love 10 my dear mother and Efc.
Ever your ancctiOna,e SON.
Edward Enelethorpe'
laid down The pen and looked out OF the
window. Old Williams had Just finished light
ing the last lamp in the court and advanC
ing with his ladder 10 the lamp-pOS in tie centre
Ny heart gave one throb. ! took mp my pistol
and waited He began with the Iight-hand lamp
There was sort of bu2zng in my ears as
idly watched Ny hour WAS then pos poned
brief space. ! saw him ARRANGE The wick. and
then with his taper. light the lamp Hardly
had the fame shone forth when heard souno
like the sammin@ Of distant door The sing
Ing in my ears grew louder. Old Williams dc.
scendcd his ladder. placed il against the opposit,
rest and assembled to light the second lamp, thai
on the left. placed the muzZlc Of my pi,to
between my teeth What was the old mar
fumbling about? Would it never light? 7 wa
quite calm and molionlesS. I rccollcct that
could think quite distinctly | determined
would not touch the trigger ill the lamp wa,