The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-11-03


as recovered my presence ot nisid | lur-
ried forward and opened the door The
light fnm within showed me that the kttls
highi Of wooden steps thai led to the ground
had no -,,ne upon them went down .
step or two and peered about me but ihe
Z darkness was inrenetr,ble shouted out.
to know who was there, blt ~ answer
cane. The rain beat in my Face AMI the
wind was -trpng that could ~tat,.lg
stand. reenicrea my box and el,sel the
+ door aiier me. II sa. then eHl,, then
that the conviction forced itself uIpn ine
ilai what had seen VA. M a.i,ariii,n. !.
mere delii>iun ON my par. caused hf ,he
morbid influence Of the sturm and BIZ 1ny
brn~ling over ull times
i'ill no matter whether the face had
seen was real Or imaginary, !, has! -t.t me
"T dreaming Of the past once more and
ltr he next few Inoinents | allowed mg
thiaghtS to take me where they would
i'hcg carried mc back 10 It time VIXEN |
had gone down to that quiet litde Welsh
village 10 do my part in. putting down i
new line. was smart and atyive--,t .en,s;l-
! lo'king ya.ui~stcr. too, IN those i.,gs 50.
who cu,ild wonder that pretty Nancy Tie
beauty Of the village transferred her ai-
fectitns from her yokel lover 10 me Mat
thew ilolt was powerful Young giant but
un@ainly enough to look At Au unman-
nerly cub too. in my estimation. and
had treated him accordingly. Yes. it was
III that direction that my Conscience re-
preached me when [ remembered how
had lost no opportunity of placing him at
a Disadvantage and asserting my own SIT
periority Not content with winning for
myself the prize he coyc;ed. Imust confess
that there were times when took mali
cious pleasure in making my unhappy rival
smart have seen his eyes blaze with
passion aud his hrawny fists double them
selves ready for blow. And vet he
never laid hand upan me; and | knew
that his iorbearance was only fnr Nancy
sake.
My pretty Nancy How wen |, could
remember the pride with which carried
her oil as my bride from her village home.
aud for while life was very sweet But
it was not long before death claimed her.
and she passed away. lean ing oIly a tender
memory behind. which, ss the years went
IN. seemed almost like dream.
sat staring tixedly into the ere liy-
IN over those old times again. and wish
ing. alas AN idle wish that had acted
differently when suddenly a euld blast ai,
wind swep; through the room blowing the
gas about aud making the fire flare. The
door must have come open Thought; /
could not have shut i; properly /
ruse to secure it. but before c,uld turn
round received a violent blow upon my
head 1t was dealt with such force thar
fell heavily to the ground. and for a mn-
ment lost all consciousness.
When came to myself found thu;
was lying on the floor bound securely hand
and foot. The tloor Of the signal box was
shut. and standing bei;re me bur with his
eyes fixed on the levers. was Matthew Holt
lie looked. as he was, year. older than
when We had last met bat could have
sworn to that big loosely-lnale figure and
that shock of red hair anywhere. In an
instant | had realized the whole situation
and seen how completely | was in his
power Yes. the hour If reckoning wa,
indeed at hand He had come. in al the
strength Of his brute force. to take his re-
venge. lie seemed suddenly to beromc
aware that had recovered my senses for
he turned and looked Il; me aud as met
the pitileSs expression in ;hrc savage,
hloodshot eyes my heart turned sick and
faint within me.
After contemplating me in Hence for a
moment he said. sneerinsly 80. Mr.
Frank Bryant you remember me
Yes, remember you answered
speaking as calmly rs could: 'and al
though there WAS not much love lost be-
tween us in the old days | never then
thought Of you as Il coward-sne who
wolild take Il mean advantage Of his enemy.
Come, Matthew Holt, ,u,bind me- let rs
meet on an equal fcoting and will hear
what you have to say
lie threw back his head and laughed a.
short. mocking laugh that wa, not pleasant
10 hear No. no. my fine gentleman;
YOU don come over me with amy Of your
smooih-tnngued speeches. he said
There was another pause during which
he drew a bottle from bis pocket uncrrk
ed it, and drank 1t was strong spirits.
could tell by the smell of il. | shuddered
This was not likely to improve hi, m,nd
Indeed at the first Glance | had noticed
ia his eyes that savage reckless,ie7s which
comes Of the madness born Of drink
He replaced the bottle in his picket.
and drawing the chair into a position frnn,
which he could see me sat dowu Do
you know why | am hcieg he asked
/ made na answer. and he went On II
win tell YOU am here To take my re-
yenge for the brutal way III which you
treated me in days g4ue by le9 Mr.
!irsant the tables are turned have the
upper hand nov
And for the sake Of fi.elish buy :
,aunt, yon wouil risk bringing lhe charge
Of murder upon your head, ! returned
bitterly,
You think intend to take your life.
he said coolly, but You are mistaken.
To Kill YOU would be to end your misery
and there are many things worse than
death Ii would be harder foryou to live
with stain upon your name. Ruin and
disgrace would bring your proud spirit
down