Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-07-05
A MANNED
HUSBAND.

He was very proud as no tucked the
robes around the fairest little girl In Mar
shall and cannot b. blamed for thinking
he was a lucky man TO have tho fastest
horse as well as tho best girl In the town.
To protect these priceless possessions he
took out his seven shooter and said,
Would you just as soon hold this on top
of tho robe, Constancei"
Why, certainly. I'm not a bit afraid
Of firearms" was the reply. But do you
think there Is any danger tonightr'
mo, IL is not that exactly, for l have
not enough money with me 20 speak OF,
but won't stand the humiliation of hav-
Ing any rufflan go through my pockets"
Are you TO do the shooting, or am II"
I'VE might turn highwaymen our
selves, Z" she continued, with a light laugh.
II hold the revolver while you gather the
spoils. "
Constance, don't talk Of such thing
even In fun. IL gives me cold chills.
Maybe you think can't shoot" said
she, with a contrary persistoncy peculiar
20 some women when teasing the one
whom they care for the snost Nj
Maybe do and maybe DON'T " he re-
piled.
Good evening, like that, " sho pouted.
Olig WIN SOhiiAOy SOu hhoW "hoe
mean. like TO hear you talk of things
more In harmony with your own dear self.
See, little grip
''No don't see want 10 tell you of
some shooting did one time. Arc you
listeningi"
A martyrly yes came from the other
side of the buggy.
We'll, 10 begin with. as you know,
papa has O mad desire 10 raise cabbages,
and every year something kills or eats
them. Two yearp ago the trouble was
sparows. Each cabbage resembled a black
mound as the scamps stole their dinners.
Papa was worried to death. The minute
they were driven they called on their rela-
tives and neiRhbors aud left IA cordial In
vitation to dine with them Immediately
or sooner on papa's cabbagcs
He was thoroughly exasperated and
came one morning and asked who would
shoot Into the dock. He believed II one
was killed tho rest would never return,
and he does not use firearms himself.
ION tho impulse of tho moment vol
unteered. Shouldering the iobert rife,
with which I usually Injured target,
sailed forth To meet my foes. or rather
the foes of the cabbages.
''Popl went the rife, and million
little wings flew from earth and darkened
the air. But, oh, Paul, you can't ima9-
Inc how felt when they brought me I'm
living little thing palpitating with fright
! had injured that which l could not re-
pair. i instinctively held out my hands,
and It's little head dropped ON my palm.
You can guess that "r'1 .lklod it with the
dew keep In stock.
Il never-no, Paul, never-was SO sor-
ry In all my life"
"Therel That sounds like my little
Com
stop therel'' rang ont clear In tho
darkness.
The horses head WAS caught and stop
pedsso quickly that he fell back ON HIS
launches as a man stepped TO the left side
Of the buggy and thrust out a pistol.
Holding his reins In his left hand, Paul
reached for his revolver.
Constance, finding her hands empty,
felt rather than saw In the grim darkness
the pistol that was pointed into tho buggy.
With the natural impulse of self preserva-
ton she put up her hands and pushed 10
from her, thus placing 10 In range Of Paul
instead Of herself.
The man evidently had known people TO
do this before, and although it was impos-
sible to see 10 feet when the pistol moved
he pulled the trigger, and Paul snapped
his O second later
AT the sound of the shots the man hold
ing the bride ran away.
Tho horse took advantage Of his freedom
and started at a mad pace Constance
soon realized the reins were exerting no
influence over him.
She called, PAUL Paulp' but there was
no answer She touched him, she shook
him, and found his hands limp on the robe.
The horse gained In speed, broke into
gallop and stopped abruptly before an old
barn where he Lad been fed some previous
time.
An cd man with q lantern and his wife
with an apron over her head hastened
from the one story house when Constance
cried for help.
"Oh, he's deadi know he isi'' were
her first words TO the old people.
Il reckon not, num-" said the old wom-
an, looking at the still face lying back In
the buggy. He ain't list hisself, but it
pears to mo he'll come round Hero, yer
Joe, give TINT ar light ter the lady and
yer help me lift this yere man inter the
house and thin yer drive for the doctor"
The kind old soul proved n good doctor
herself and applied restoratives, with Con-
staco's-half distracted assistance, the lat
ter giving away to exclamasions Of sorrow
every few minutes.
Look He's dcadi He's deadi" she
said, seeing the utter lifelessness Of one
arm.
"Shot up there, honey" exclaimed the
old woman He am comm to hisself,
and sometimes folks kin understand when
they kan t iist hear But, thank the Lord,
there am the doctor"
Constance retired TO the kitchen, and an
age seemed to pass before the doctor reap
pcarcd
Yes, he will live," the doctor answer
ed her, but Will probably lose his arm.
He Is conscious now. but weak, and in
sists on seeing you before / give him a
quicting lotion for the night"
AS she moved toward the door he added,
BE cheerful, please"
Connie, nre you really safet" were the
words that greeted her
"Of course / am, but you"--
Did he tell you IL has 10 goi" pointing
TO the disabled member. "And you Ger
tainly won't want a crippled husband"
The sad eyes watched her closely.
Il certainly will" was the firm reply,
"ano / am rejoiced you are not more So
riously injured" Then, remembering the
DOCTORS Injunction, she said, "Just fancy
the distinction Of being the wife Of tho
only one armed man In town"
Despite her assumed gayety the good