Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-05-19


side, where he had lodged against a
tree. It's mighty lucky it's moon
light, or he'd have frozen to death, If
he's not already. 1 reused the neigh
bors and they're bringing him here
Be quick and prepare the bed"
Father" she asked, tremulously
catching his hands, "tell me right
out. It's james; 1 know it's James.
Isn't it"
eyes, it's James"
The willfulness with which she had
driven him away died now like spark
on the hearth, and gave place to an
anxiety which would have rendered her
helpless to get ready for his coming
had not her father sternly bade her
obey.
The unconscious man was brought In
and placed in the bed. While a
physician, who had accompanied the
carriers. was examining his injuries,
Mary followed the men down stairs
She was thoroughly active and earnest
now, and calling their attention IN the
sitting-room, she said;
'Men, Reginald Brown has done
this. l know it. He was here this
afternoon and he threatened Mr..
Blake. Mr.. Blake was here tonight,
and when 1 told him of Browns threats
he called him coward. At the mo-
ment he called him coward l saw
face in the window there. l told my
self at the time it was only the shape
of the frost on the pane, but now L
know it was Brown looking in. de
heard Mr.. Blake call him a coward, and
ne mas pushed him into the gully for
that and other reasons. Go and do
your duty"
The accusation was as draft OF air
upon their smouldering hatred Of
Brown. The whispers of the life he
had led in the West sounded again II
their ears as loud corroborating voices
There was not man in the crowd tc
whom James Blake had not shown hi
fairness and generosity. Oh course
the scoundrel Brown had committed
this deed He had thought to cover
the act under the probability that
man could easily slip INTO the gully on
such an icy night. One Of the men,
burly, resolute fellow, who had often
denounced Brown, constituted himself
leader and marched the crowd off to
Browns residence.
notwithstanding his protestations OF
innocence, he was rudely taken from
the house, hurried before a Justice,
and lodged in Jail to await the result
of Blake's injuries. These were
broken leg and rib, and an internal
injury which the doctor pronounced
serious. In addition, he had been
almost frozen. Had he not prov
identially lodged against a tree, he
would have been dashed to pieces on
the rocks in the gully, or, escaping
these. would surely have perished IN
the awful cold of the night. The mar
rowness of the escape sent shudder
through all the community, and as the
facts of the case were freely and closely
discussed, opinion as to Browns guilt
became fixed, and Indignation increased
as the horrors of a lonely death III
Blackman's Gully were graphically de
tailed.
Meanwhile, with remorseful solicI-
tude, Mary Graham watched over
James through the long hours of un-
consciousness. He was near death;
but at Irst one day, when she and her
father sat by the hearth, talking IN
alternate hope and despair, the doctor
came down from the sickroom and told
them that the young man would live;
that he had just come out of a quiet
sleep; and that, in view of the serious
ness of the charge against Brown, a
question as to his guilt would not harm
the sufferer.
Mary and her father ascended to the
s;ckroom, and James feebly welcomed
them.
"James," said the farmer, edo not
excite yourself at the question am
going to ask. You know, l suppose,
that Won we're found down in Black
mans Gully. A man is in jail accused
of pushing you down, and word from
vou will decide his guilt. Did Regi-
nald Brown push you into the gully?"
''Brown push me into the gully|
Blake repeated, weakly, but in great
surprise. "Why, what made you
think that? OF course he did not.
was careless, and I slipped on the ice
and fell down myself. "
Farmer Graham hastened away, and
James, reaching out his trembling
hand, asked:
'sMary, 1 know mustn't talk, but
how about my answer9 Areyou ready
yet?"
"Oh. james, how cruel was to
Won" was all she could say but he
knew from it what the joyful answer
was--an answer which he was only too
clad to meet by relinquishing his re-
solution not to come and live on tho
farm. Yankee Blade.