The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-05-18

the road. in 'front.' of me-dead, WIN O
broken neck-thrown, and a first-class
horseman tool
well, you don't think much of that,
do You? Might happen to anyone
that But what do you say to girl
out thefx, who was friendly with me,
dropping off just as suddenly. She was
Yankee farmers daughter, n pretty
thing in a big yellow sunbonnet, and a
white spotted blue gown. Wherever l
rode On the ranch. was sure to meet
Nancy, riding too. liked to meet her
and talk, though we always kept at
arms length, mind You. Well, she died
suddenly-sunstrolle, the settlement
doctor said Yet | began to think it
was something else.
Then went to ranch of my own,
and took a partner. He was young
Scot, full of life and strength. In less
than three months he was dead also
dysentery, the doctor said. but knew
better-I knew it was Stone!" and he
smiled grimly at the bitter joke.
well, ! took another partner" with
agitation Stone went on. He was the
best of them all-the sweetest-tempered
lad that ever laughed-it was pleasure
10 be near him. We lived ten happy
months together, toiling and prosper
ing. And then one day rode to the
settlement. to the bank there, leaving
my partner alone. All our men were
away racketing and drinking: so l
hurried back. 1t was night when
reached the shanty again, but though
all was silent all seemed right. | stabbed
my horse and turned towards the shantv-
door. Then for the first time it struck
me that there was no candle burning in
the room.
"'Will, viii" | called-no answer.
"Shuddering, stumbled in and struck
match. A draught from the open
window at once put out the light, but
not before had seen my partner prone
in his blood on the floor.
he was shot" Stone added. after a
solemn pause. He must have been read
ing that afternoon, for Pendennis. his
favorite book. lay beside him. He must
have seen fight of duck or some other
game come in view. He must have
picked up his gun and jumped to the
window, and the trigger must have
caught against the chair. For long,
sloping wound was in his side-the rife
lay slanting towards him. And there
he must have lain for hours, bleeding,
bleeding to death, and all alone.
"Coincidence-all coincidence, You'll
tell me. my travelling companion went
on, with a gulp in his voice. Mere
chance. of course. and all that; YOU
don't believe in fate, do you? Lucky
men never do"
He would have shot himself by ac-
cident Just the same if he had been
any other mans partner" said |.
Come. man, you've broodeti over these
funeral matters till Your mind is NOR
bid. suppose if this train went smash,
and people YOU never heard of were
killed in the tail carriage, you'd think
it was your fault, eh@''
Il shouldn't be surprised" he said
81 am a kind of a Jonah. know. If |
could afford it I'd always travel by spe-
cial train"
And did you never come to grief
yourself?"
Newer a days sickness all the ten
years-apd Heaven knows | did things
rash enough. But that isn't all. | sold
off that accur>ed ranch and went
seventy miles further up-country. l
didn't take single head of stock or
stick of furniture with me. and | got
n new rig out of clothes l thought
tina; complete change might take
the curse off, perhaps; but ii didn't.
Before | had been at the new place
SIX weeks fell in love. The next door
rancher was a man from Glamorgan,
and she was his siSter-the loveliest
Welsh girl with the prettieSt Welsh
burr that was ever thrown away in a
wilderness. She loved me, too, and
fool and villain-like | married her.
But first warned her people and her
self about the danger. They laughed
at ne, OF course. Yet four months