Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-07-23

and l. The day had been wild and
the few showers Of rain that had fallen
seemed as tears wrung in agony from
/ the clouds ! could see that she was
\ even weaker than she had been the
/ day before.
! Milton she said cannot be
with you much longer"
4 Don talk that way, mother
I'VE should face the truth my son
/ do not fear 10 die but"
But what mothe=?'
She leaned over put her arms about
my neck and said:
4 My son it almost breaks my heart
TO think that / shall die and leave
/ you determined to keep your awful
oath. "
said nothing, Her tears were upon
my cheeks
Milton. why don't you speak2a
Because / 40 not know what to say.
mother"
Say something, my darling
II am a Bronson " l replied
She arose with difficulty and TAX
ing down the lamp told me to follow
her We went out into the night and
toward the grave OF my father She
carried the light above her head. How
like an angel she looked. the dark
ness parting 10 let her pass. One
week from that night l visited the
tree again. There were two graves
under it
Then came my school days and then
NV dars AZ poflaua haH s+y1eo1
hard ana had read many books but /
was Bronson. wore my oath in
an inner pocket OF my undershirt
next 70 my heart and l carried the
knife no matter whittier | went l
had no particular aim in life-that is.
with regard TO what calling / should
follow. Everything was subservient
TO the fuldllmenr OF my vow. A voice
from the grave was constantly sound
ing in my ears. | wrote to friend who
lived near my old home and asked il
Sam Olney were still alive. He ans
wered that Olney had long ago left
the neighborhood and that no one
knew whittier he had gone
One night when was within
twenty live miles of the town where
/ was to settle as a lawyer a furious
rain storm burst upon ne. There
was no shelter to be found and as il
was more dangerous to turn aside in.
to the woods than to stay in the road
continued 10 fight my way. though
the road was exceedingly rough. l
remember that my horse STUN bled
violently. Twas in a house. The
girl noticing my look Of in4Uiring as
constituent said:
We found you on the road where
your horse had fallen ana brought
you here That was night before last
Do you feel very bad?"
Il don't feel very well y l answered.
Has a doctor seen me37
Yes
Did he say l was badly hurt?r
Yes Several OF your ribs and
your right leg are broken.
She was a lovely creature. Her
beauty made me forget my injuries
and she was Sam Olueys daughter.
The days were long. and / was now
able TO walk, but | did not 20 hunt
ing. | did not want to see that gun.
Once / thought II will take it out
and kill him with it but then
thought that the knife would he bet
ter would inspire more terror when
his startled eyes should catch its
CLEAN OF death.
could not tell the girl that loved
her, for in attempting 10 caress her. /
verify believe that | should have
choked her to death Had my VOW
maddened me to insanity
One evening | said to mvself-"To-
morrow morning ! will kill him.
Early at morning / will 90 into his
room and awake him with startling
exclamation. l hal read my oath
over and over of late-had gazed al
the paper while sitting in the woods.
although every word o. it was written
on my heart.
/ can never forget that night I do
not want 10 forget it. ] sat on a log
in the woods The dag had been cold
and cloudy. Suddenly T became aware
Of sweetest and soitest music
looked up startled. snow was falling
on the dead leaves Long / sat there
soothed and softened By that music.
Oh what an appeal on the soul!
returned 70 the house. Everything
was quiet went to my room and sat
down in the dark I still heard the
music OF the snow. My Godn'
suddenly thought am losing my
mind?' l heard someone outside. /
looked out Of the window. and saw
Mary walking in the snow feathered
darkness carrying light high above
her head. ] thought Of my mother.
and in a gasp breathed Of Mary.
How like an angeL, the darkness
dividing 10 Jet her pass"
Il cannot find him | heard her
say to herself when she stepped into
the hallway, separated b. a thin par
titIon from the window where stood.
She had been carrying the light look
ing for me.
lay down. but did net try TO sleep.
Would ! keep my oath2 Yes. at day
light. | dozed of to sleep. though /
tried not TO- and when awoke nv