Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-06-24

4 blind Mans shot.

]
says Nj. Quad. He was facing me, with
his Winchester lying across his saddle, and
was evidently waiting. His head was in
clined to the front, like one listening in
tently, and as rode up he cried out
"llello, sOldier!'
"Hello to your
"This is White Horse ford"
"Yes.n
"There is a lone cottonwood to the left
and a large rock to the right?'
Cant you see that there is?''
"No, | have been blind for the last year.
| These landmarks used to be here, but
| didn't know what changes might have
taken place"
rode closer to look into his eyes. The
| lids were closed as if in sleep and had a
BLUSH appearance.
"The flame of a towards gun did it,"
he quietly observed as he dismounted.
"Will you lead me to the rock? All, I'm
all right now! Never mind the mule; he
won't stray. Opposite me on the other
side is dead cottonwood, with one side of
it blackened by fire."
eyes"
"Now, look to the east over the trail
running along the opposite bank and tell
me if you can see anybody
Eyes, do. About three miles up is a
man coming on horseback"
"Thank you. l am in time. Sorry to
bother you, but if you were blind I'd do
as much for you. AS soon as you can
make out the color of the horse tell me
what it is
at is bay l answered him as the
horse came nearer.
us he riding fast?'
eyes"
docs he wea. black felt sOmbrero?"
"No; a white one"
"Ah, that's good Now, then, please
keep quiet
lie stood behind the rock with his rifle
in his hands and bent his head to the east
to listen. From the smile on his face
think he heard the footsteps of the coming
horse while yet a mile away. The river
was only few yards wide at that point,
with a wagon road running along the other
bank east and west. Only the one man
was in sight.
Hes coming fast, observed the blind
man.
yes, at a gallop."
"Now he's passing the twin cotton
woods?"
Eyes"
"Now he's at the curve where the waters
of the spring run down?'
"Yes'
"Now he's on the straight stretch to the
ford?"
yes"
bay horse, white felt sombrero, long,
black hair and bushy, black whiskers?"
eyes"
Good! | can't miss him.
Up went his rifle pointed straight at the
dead cottonwood opposite. The big rock
hid us from sight of the flying horseman
as he drew nearer, but he did not appear
to be looking around him. He was lean
ing forward in his saddle and gazing straight
forward. | did not realize the situation
until too late to interfere. Had | been
told in plain words what the blind was man
there for | should not have put forth a
hand. He would have turned on me and
killed me otf-hand had | meddled. For
two or three seconds the rock hid the
horseman. Then he shot out into view
from the western face. The blind man had
been holding his rifle to his face for ten
seconds. He could not see the sights, Blu
it was the natural way. His hearing serv-
ed him as well as my vision. On the in
slant that the rider was i'm line opposite
he fired, and the man threw up his arms.
lurched right and left, and finally pitched
headlong to the earth.
''Will you kindly come over and see if
he is dead?' asked the blind man, as he
lowered his rifle.
| mounted and forded the stream The
man lay on his back, arms outstretched
and his hat thirty feet away. His eyes
were shut and his jaw falling From his
eight side the blood was pouring on the
sunbaked crust, while his right hand clinch-
ed the barrel of his rifle with death grip.
rode back and said he was dead.
Thanks, many thanks" replied the
blind man. 1.-The boys routed him out
above this morning, and | was sure he
would pass this way
"Who was he?"
1.-The coward who blinded me- viii you
please lead up my mule? All, here he is
l can get along nicely now. Good day to
you, sir, and l repeat that l am much
obliged-very much obliged, sir"
And he rode off to the east and left me
sitting on my horse staring after him and
wondering if had dreamed it all.