Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-07-29
WHAT FRED SAW.

The day was very pleasant. but ! could
not enjoy it.
Long. weary months had been in the
darkeued room and still they kept me
there, allowing no breath Of the pure,
cool air 10 reach my feyerish head.
tried to open the window, but was
not strong enough, and | fell back In my
chair breathing the sitting air, which
every moment became more oppressive.
1 Thought | could not endure it, yet
how could | avoid it? There was only
one WAY without danger Of discovery; a
step into the hall. and those spiral stairs
would take me to the housetop--to the
observatory
Waiting until was sure the way was
clear, stepped softly into the hall. and,
ascending the stairs. though with much
difficulty, was soon enjoying the for
hidden pleasure Of breathing the free
air. untainted with the fumes Of the
nauseous drugs that had been dealt out
TO me with an unsparing hand all
through the long. cold winter
How exhilarating! | wondered that
had been housed so long looked
down upon the group Of young ladies'
who We're sporting on the lawn.
Jennie Magrair was there. the daugh-
ter Of my host, the only woman ! ever
loved. but was nothing 10 her. She
knew not how | wurshiped her, and ]
should keep my secret well, for she was
the betrothed of Gerald Macburn.
How enviea him and perhaps hated
him a little. for knew that he had not
won her love. She had pledged her
hand to save her old father from pow
erty
| She had consented to the sacrifice and
\ Macburn was satisfied
Turning away tried to Danish the
painful, hopeless thoughts that had been
awakened.
Adjusting the telescope ! took sur
vey of the farming and woodland that
stretched far away to the east for many
miles
| caught sight of two men whom rec
ognized as Gerald Macburn and Johr
Layton.
They were evidently in search o
game. The glass was small, yet very
superior instrument, and could se'
them very plainly, Notwithstanding tn
distance.
presume should have thought NJ
more about them had not known tina
hut few months before they We're bit
ter enemies. wondered how the recon
ciliation had been effected.
While puzzlug my brain with thes
thoughts had unconsciously moved ia
, glass to keep them within range. ! SAY
them stop, and knew by their motion
that they We're angry
became Interested could see ther
so distinctly that found myself lister
, ing to catch their words,
could see their lips move, and | sa'
, John Layton's cliuched hands. He wa
evidently much excited, but he did nC
offer to strike. and If one can judge b
sight alone he WAS inclined to avoid an
| alteration. while Macburn appeared
; seek quarrel
) For full five minutes they stood Their
! gesticulatiug vehemently, They wei
] some distance apart. Layton all the whi
endeayoring TO widen the space al
Macburn following him up.
At last Layton. goaded beyond all el
A durance. wheeled about and shook h
fist menacingly AT his tormentor Ma
: burn was SO exasperated al this that
Q raised his rifle and shot him.
= saw the poor man fall out OF sight
q the bushes, and saw Mscburp calm
t reload his rifle and walk toward the sp
a where his victim was lying.
8 Then staggered and fell to the foe
!. and all was blank.
When aRoke to consciousness ! W
in bed Cloths were all about my hea
and in the dim lamplight | saw
h watcher sitting by my bedside. II "
:, my old chum. Harry Wilmot.
II How is this" said |. when ! realiz
h the situation
y Thank God. you are coming arou
Al again. said Harry, but il has been
d hard case, Fred; You have been as era
v AS loon for whole week. ! adv
q you not 10 try the observatory again
You are strong enough to crawl back.
e AT these words, what | had seen fr,
., the housetop flashed upon my mind;
ID had my life depended upon it could !
e then have told that 1t was not all "A drea
ID To convince myself inquired For Jo
s- Layton.
Of He is--no one knows where, repl
Z, Harry, ''but you are too weak to eiti
er talk or listen
ne mo. I'm not, Harry; tell me about
He yet hesitated. but ! urged him. a
he yielded
IA John Layton disappeared a vi
id ago, said he "Absconded Is the bet
ed word, for he took with him quite
lr- amount of money belonging to his faith
Id The old gentleman is very wroth, a
he has used every means TO lind him,
al has not succeeded. Fanny Morton-tl
were to be married soon. you know
almost crazy about it, and will not
a lieye that John intended TO do anyth
~ wrong This is all that is known alb
us il. But, speaking OF marriage, did J
.rs know that Gerald Macburn and Jer
ne, Magrair are to be married tomorrow
an John Layton is dead. said |, with
"a. ...,aaNfAt. Vhn4trrl. ft