The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-03-10

pIopoS' an tdii. ucBdIiuIt III Npih'
other point. | am so concerned
about Charley that shall be glad
-
Charley who?" asked Joe Lang
don, almost sharply.
"Why, Charley Brantley. He il
n Of our own party, you know.
You must have seer him.
you mean the handsome fellow
with the long moustache that kept so
close to you the day we rode over to
the mine!'
A conscious blush Redeemed the
lady's cheek.
Yes" she replied; that was
Chrley Brantlcy.'
Langdon saw the blush and moved
uneasily in the saddle.
do you love him, Miss Penn
broke?"
"Sir!"
"Do you love Charley Brantley?"
IT was "A plain question, plainly put.
From another person it would have
been resented as IA most impertinent
one; but even the naughty Miss
Pembroke could not get angry with
this frank, simple-hcarted man. With
hcightcning color she replied
Yes, Mr.. Langdon; | don't mind
telling you that | do love him. We
are engaged to be married
She was not looking at him. She
did not see the gray pallor that crcpt
slowly into his face, or the nervous
manner in which he raised his hand
TO his throat and pulled at his collar
as if it were choking him.
She was looking out over the valley,
too much abashed by her own confcs-
sion TO meet her companlon's gaze.
am anxious about Charley
she said, after IA while. 81 fear his
life is i'm danger"
Joe started and looked positively
Had she read the thought
that flashed lightning-like through
his mind?
But the girl did not see-did not
know. With eyes still averted she
continued
'Charley has such "A temper, and
he sometimes loses control Of it. The
day he went away he caught n man
in the act of stealing his silver
mounted rife, which he valued so
and without pausing to on
slider the consequences he struck the
fellow across the face with his riding
| have since heard that the
man has vengeance on him,
and declared he would Kill him
at the first opportunity. The thought
is SO terrible that | cannot drive il
from my mind, and ! fairly dread
Charlcy's return. Perhaps you could
contriye to save him, Mr.. Langdon-'
"Eh? II don't-did you speak to
me, Miss Pcmbrokc?"
She looked at him now, with an eX-
preston Of surprise. She saw how
lcathly pale he was, and with n
woman's readiness to Jump at con-
she exclaimed
"Iou believe il, too. You think
Charley is in peril! | know you do!'
"Wait n minute, Miss Pembroke,
said the miner, making II mighty of-
fort TO recoycr composurc, and par
Tally succeeding.
"You say some Teller has taken an
oath he'd Kill your-Charlcy Brant-
cy. Who is the %fcllcr, an what's
his Nance
''Thc people here call him whisky
rom.' He is II low, dissipated half
breed. OF course you know him
"Whisky Tom! ! know him for n
drunken scamp and vagabond, y said
Zoe, with emphasis. "Hc oughtcr
hung long ago. Why, bless
your heart, Whisky Tom nd murder
Ms mother for II glass o whisky.
When he says he'll, kill II Teller you
needn't tiatter ycrsclf that he won't
ny his blamedest to do it, jest as
rs he can make u sneak ON the
All I'm s'priscd at is that
le tried to steal II riile-unless he
wanted TO sell il for money to buy
liquor with. He never uses firearms
lohow-couldn't hire him to have
anything TO do with 'em. He does
I'll his shootin' with n bow an arrow.
m he can knock n woodpccker out o
he top of n Californy pine every clip.
Why, Miss Pembroke, you're white
is n ghost!'
ooh, won't you try and save him,
Nr. Langdon?'
Save who?'
"Charlcy. II anything like-likc
hat should befall him it would kill
ne. | know it WOULD
1t would have been hard to tell
which was the palcr of the two, only
or the sun-bronzc ON the miners
1t was Il trying ordeal through
which he was passing, and for II mo
nent il seemed as if he were turning
o ice; but the big, unselish heart
melted beneath the pitcous, pleading
gaze of those eyes that had played
such havoc with it during these
sunny weeks. Joe Laugdon wiped
The perspiration from his brow, con
scious that he was trembling, and
that she would surely notice his agi-
tation.