The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-14


benches at the end of the wall. saw
her danger and without moment S
| hesitation he jumped into the water and
| swan TO her assistance. Before he could
reach her she disappeared from view, but he
diyed after her and brought her to the sur
face again. II was a difficult task, but he
| managed to swim ashore with her, where he
gently laid her unconscious form upon the
ground while he again showed his bravery
| by swimming 70 the assistance OF her compan-
| ion, w no was also in danger OF being drowned,
| though he was fine swimmer, but when
| danger presented itself his cowardly heart
| handicapped him and he was afraid to trust
himself, This brave man, who was an old
| friend of the woman's, wanted to put her
| love to the test and he made her companion
promise that he would not reveal the truth.
| Phil, you know the rest OIL my story, and
are you not ashamed Of YOURSELF" Per-
haps, after all, l had wronged Langron.
Was it possible that he had told her all
$50 he told you" said almost in a whisper.
"No, not he-it was the doctor. When
you we're down with the fever you gave
everything away; fortunately nobody but
the doctor overheard your remarks, and he
| told me- | could not keep the secret TO NY
self any longer. Why did you deceive ME"
and she leaned her little head upon my
| shoulder.
because you loved Mr.. Langron, and 1
thought it would fret you 10 find out what
| coward he was"
81 love him; preposterousI Why. detest
| him, the low coward! He even had the pre-
sumption TO tell me last week that was in
duty bound to marry him because he had
saved my life He had been very kind TO
US, and did not have the courage to forbid
| his coming to the house, but | was deter
mined to discourage him by degrees, and
eventually | would refuse to see him any
"7Thank heavenw 1 exclaimed. "Thon
| may hope? o, Rebecca, do not drive me
| from you; tell me that you love me just
little bit. Do you" and l clasped her TO my
breast fearing that my words would fright
en- her away from me.
"Of course | love you, Phil; ever since
the doctor told me your secret, nearly three
months ago, my heart has been pining for
you. | was beginning TO think that you
had outgrown your love for Inc. But you
have not, dear, have you?' and the woman
| adored looked up questioningly into my
face.
NY darling" I cried, u love You dearer
than my life And you'll be my little wife,
wont your l asked her, pleadingy.
Ii you want me, dear, and the little
head was lowered bashtuly, but gently
raised it again and sealed our troth with
burning kiss. A noise at the entrance at
tracted my attention, and. looking in that
direction, l saw that the form of a man
stood in the doorway. The night was very
bright and in an instant | had recognized
LangrOn.
''Ha, ha," he sneered; $50 everything is
arranged, my little cooling doves, eh? So
this is your little game-this is why you
wanted to hunt after ghosts with him"
Something in his manner inspired me with
dread, and gently pushing my newly found
love aside, jumped to my feet that might
be ready in case OF any emergency. Langron
continued:
"You have but few moments to enjoy
yourselves, for [ am going TO kill YOU both.
| overheard all and | hate you. | followed
in your trucks as soon as you left the house,
and | was here first"
Il was his shadow then that had attracted
Rebeccas attention.
Was the man mad or what9 He quickly
drew pistol from his pocket and before |
could reach him he fired. l was uIhurt,
but my little sweetheart had fallen to the
ground. l turned to look at her and-I re-
membered no more until found myself in
a strange bed with DIR. Burton standing
over me, where am I?'' l asked.
The physician informed me that was in
bed in MI Springer's house. What horrible
pain | was suffering. Ny head seemed TO
be bursting. The first shot which Langron
had fred killed my Rebecci, the uext two
bullets lodged in my side ana head, and the
fourth Shot blew out the brains of the as
SaSsin himself.
1t was . o'clock in the morning and had
been dead to the world since half-past IL
the night before. My darling was lying
dead in the room beneath, and the doctor
told me that it would be impossible for me
tn look upon her face again. If l made any
effort to move hemOrFhage might set in,
and / would bleed to death. And so il
ended. She was buried two days later, and
| could not see her little face again before
the cruel cot1in-lid hid it from view forever
Langr0n's body was taken TO the Public
MOrgue. and from thence to the undertake
eTS. His connection with the Custom
house rendered it necessary for him TO carry
the pistol with which he had done the
shooting. Six months after my little class
mate was buried landed in San Francisco,
and now, JACK, youEhaye heard my story.
Poor Seagrave! The perspiration was
standing out in huge drops upon his fore
head, and his eyes were damp with tears.
l made him drink a glass OF strong punch
and then escorted him to bed. 1t was then
3 o'clock in the morning, and | decided TO
sit by the fire for another hour and then
prepare myself for hunting, l told my
companion that would call him Wien l
Went out. At o'clock put on my hunting
clothes, and as poor Seagrave was sleeping
souDdly l concluded to leave him undis-
turbed. Sleep would help him to forget his
trouble. l had extra god luck that morn
ing, and when l returned for breakfast
about 10 O'Clock Phil was gone His gun
and rubber-boOts were also missing; so l
concluded that he had woke up after my de-
parture and followed me. l prepared
fTeSide waiting for my friend 10 join me,
when the old man who took care of the ark
suddenly entered. He was greatly excited.
"Oh, sir, a terrible acciden has Happened
Come with me quicklyW he cried in a
frightened tone of voice.
Could it be SeagrayeP Great heavens,
had more trouble oyertaken my unfortunate
friend? / hurried after the old man. and
when we reached the scene of the accident
my hair fairly stood upon end There he
lay, poor Phil; his liie's blood slowly oozing
out from horrible cash in the side Of his
head. While crossing a fence the gun had
gone off and the full charge lodged in his
head. In faint voice he said:
''Good-by, Jack; Pm done for. Ny pocket
keep am going to her"
There was a rafting in his throat, be
| gave few short gasPs and my dearest
| friend was dead. When l examined his
breast pocket l discovered the photograph
of a young woman 1t was not what one
would call pretty face, but there was some
that they inspired love and confidence at
once. 1t was Miss Springer. Enclosed in
the envelope with the photograph was q
lock OF jet-black hair; l suppose it was hers
also. After Phil was laid away in Calvary
| Cemetery wrote 10 his father and mother,
who still reside in Dublin, and gave them
all the facts OF the sad occurrence. l re-
ceiyed an answer thanking me for my atten-
ton, and requesting that if ever l should
visit the Irish metropolis | would not forget
TO take ride out to ClOntarf.
Poor Phil Requiescat in pace.
-
MINISTER SWIFT'S ESTATE.