The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-12-08

grlpped the palpitating throat.
For a second it was u mere trial of
strength, and then George Crater seemed
to come back to life from some dim land
betwixt life and death. The blood was
trucking from his lips. He felt as If he
had fallen from some great height. He
stumbled to his knees, and cropping touch
ed the face of man-his adversary
dead.
He took the body bene nth the arms and
dragged it backward to the mouth Of the
tunnel. 1t was essential that the mine be
cleared for the passage of the men who
had to occupy and hold it.
was awakened from Il half slumber by
Georges voice, and | remember still the
singular break in it which brought mo to
my senses like a cry Of pain.
"You chapsl" he said. "I've killed
BirdP'
We stood looking at him in silent hor
ror. He was covered from head to foot
with red, powdery earth His clothes were
torn; his face, scratched and bleeding had
more of anguish in it than | have ever
seen in human countenance.
We went out with him, and it was my
duty to certify that Bird had been killed
by strangulation. have never seen the
/ body of II hanged man, but imagine that
/ George Crafer's strong fingers had the
same effect as Il rope and II drop The
spinal column was severed
Crater told us his story then, and he
has never altered it in the smallest partic-
ular since. |, for one (and | can lay my
hand on another half dozen) am ready to
swear by all that is highest and hottest
that Crafer's story was and is true. But
what does that count in the worlds esti-
nation? Nothing. The world judges for
itself from newspaper reporters second
hand opinion, done into better English by
night editor who wants to get home to
bed.
The whole thing was a mystery and one
of the questions should like answered in
the hereafter is, What was Bird of the
guides doing in that miner A singular
item of evidence was the fact that he was
dressed in his pajamas. He had actually
gone to bed before he crept out past our
sentinels The enemy had abandoned
their earthworks. Had Bird discovered
thisH We knew that he was ambitious
He was anxious to distinguish himself by
hook or crook. Had he discovered that
the hill men were leaving, and with a
foolhardy courage had conceived the idea
of creeping out to their lines where he &C
tually discovered the mouth of the mine
which George Crater had suspectedS
cannot say. Various opinions were put
forth. Some held that Bird had walked
in his sleep. Others were silent. dis
liked that silence. Mrs. Tangler led this
faction 1t is a woman's trick to be 81
lent before ones face and very talkative
behind ones back.
ut is wonderful" said Crater to me-
that same night, show easily mans life
may be ruined"
And that was all he said It was use
less to pretend that did not understand
We both knew that his career was finished
We got away from that fatal Oak bun
galow and in due time reached civiliza
ton. Almost before we were in safety
was called away to Europe, and thus
missed the trial and that other trial by
wagging tongues that awaited George
Crater. Public opinion went against him
Public opinion, one finds, likes it's senti-
ment-but the sentiment must not be
pure. George Crafer's story was taken up
and twisted from one cunning tongue to
another until it became hardly recogniza-
BILE. The general tone of it was tragic
and reyengeful. 1t grew into n tale of de-
liberate murder committed by disap-
pointed lover, and Edith Tangler's name
was dragged in.
Two years ago was on Brighton pier.
had fled there because the parade was
too highly scented and colored for my
simple taste. A small, curly haired boy
thought fit to fall over my foot. picked
him up, and while brushing his front
tried to persuade him that this was en-
tirely a laughing matter. Twas only do
ing this when a frou frou Of silk and fur
made me look up.
A comfortable little fair haired mother
was standing before me.
Edith" said, for | had known her
very well at Nauog.
Yes" She looked at me with a GER
tain scrutiny which belongs to mothers
and some other women. 81 heard you
had been wounded again." she said Sc
verely. "You are here to recover"
"Yes-and your"
"Oh-I am here with the children
they have had measles very nicely"
There were thousand questions on my
tongue. | suppose some of them were in
my eyes, for she spoke at once with lit
tie cooling laugh which opened up whole
world to me and answered all the ques-
lions.
"You know, +" she said, 81 asked George
to marry me all the same. "-EXchange.