The state herald., 1894-01-12

|e4D00 s1c oVcu tutS, Uut IOr inc people
present.
bertha" I murmurcd IN a suppl.
eating voice.
Sir" she replied coldly, AZ love
apPles-stolen apples"
After pronouucing those words my
cruel love left the room and ut once
took my departure and returned
home, Arrived there, threw myself
upon lounge and enjoyed tho pleas
ure Of going into terrible rage.
May the Lord pardon me, but 1 be-
lieve l swore like sous-oflicer, so
furious was against my fiance,
against myself, against those apples
and against everything and every
body. How could promenade begun
so happily end so disastrously? Is
the caprice OF pretty woman OF so
much Importance? But was she alone
culpsble? Was / not equally to be
blamed for having surrendered myself
In such scrvile manner to her des pot
ism that 1t was sufficient for her to
assume IL little displcasure In order to
torture me TO this point? felt that
! was miserable coward. 1t made no
difference In my estimation that l had
displayed bravery on the field of
battle felt that was wanting in
true courage. especially the kind that
would prompta misuscd lover to re-
volt and shake of the tyranny of two
beautiful eyes. In thinking OF these
things evoked In spite Of myself the
face and form Of Bertha. Fatal evo-
cation! How beautiful! how scducing
she appeared!
The dear little girl. she had had n
caprice, simple caprice. and had
brutally refused to crafty II.
And all Of this trouble was on nc.
count Of few apples.
Would It be robbery to get those
apples?
One does not steal apples, he takes
them. One steals watches and purses.
And then, where would there be any
proof OF love on my part unless I
made an occasional sacrifice or did
something besides agrcca BILE and pleas
ant things In order to crafty my
loved one?
'.She shall have those apples" said
!. NJ last. rising to my feet, and since
she wishes II they shall be stolen up.
pies.
II was IN unusually dark night and
the wind blew In violent gusts as
started on my GRAND.
In n few moments ! stood In the
street opposite the apple tree. With.
out moments hesitation lcaped
the ditch and clambered over tho wall
into the orchard.
At thr instant raised my hand to
GRASP mn apple very near voice
cried: You theft There you are ut
lnsil"
As pccrcd into the darkness
whence the voice came. saw the
shining barrel OF n gun pointed Mt my
breast
Instinctivcly threw myself Mt my
assailant, who fired Mt the same mo-
mcnt, and bore him to the ground.
ut once relaxed my hold upon his
throat aud springing to my feet, 1 was
about 10 fly. when To my horror he
uttered u deep groan. followed by n
sound which. when once heard, can
never bs forgottcn-thc death rattle
! lit n match ind, falling on my
knees, held II close TO tn, PROSTATE
mans face. Great God, what n
spectacle!
The face OF mn old man. with open.
staring eyes, his long white hair
bnthed In blood, which flowed from "a
gaping wound near his temple, was
what saw by the fiickcripg light Of
my match.
! also saw close beside his head the
sharp and ragged point OF large
stone and tho cause Of his death was
NJ once revealed to me.
The moving lights OF several Ian.
terms In the distance warned mo that
the report OF the old mans gun had
aroused bis family and cighbors,
and. ut once losing nil control over
myself, He'd, like mailman. straight
before mc.
Al the end OF n few steps I brought
up suddenly against the door OF mn
clubhouse. and, pressing on the latch,
] penetrated Into region much
darker thnn the night outside
hastily III u match, and looking about
! saw n lantern hanging upon nail
In front OF me. I III the
lantern at once. mud by means OF its
light discovered Il ladder. which led 10
d lott above.
scrambled mp the ladder and found
myself IN n large room allied with hay,
single window that over.
looked tho fields that shirtcd tho
lawn.
! had scarcely time :, glance about
me when | heard my pnrsuers with
shouts aud yclls approach the barn.
and IN moment they h Il gained tn.
room below.
corncroi and desperate I throw my
lantern nsiic and, rushing 10 tho
sprnnn 10 the ground below.
! ilcd Hike door through the field
lui- rluipiH, ~ oshnnntel, gained
~ ,aal u piece vi wood about u inilu
from town
"a | lay painting upon tho ground
hoard TIM changing Of n hall than