The Republican., 1894-08-23

| OF wooden steps that lea To the ground
had no one upon them. | went down
a step or two and peered about me, but
the darkness was impenetrable l
shouted out, to know who was there.
| but no answer came. The rain beat
| in my face, and the wind was so strong
| that | could scarcely stand. | reen-
tered my box and closed the door after
me. it was. then, and only then, that
the conviction forced itself upon me
that what | had seen was an appari-
ton, mere delusiOn on my part.
caused by the morbid influence of the
storm and by my brooding over old
times.
But no matter whether the face I
had seen was real or imaginary, it had
set me off dreaming of the past once
/ more, and for the next few moments |
allowed my thoughts to take me where
| they would.
They carried me back to a time when
/ had gone down to that quiet little
| Welsh village to do my part in putting
/ down new line. ! was smart and
active-a good-loolling youngster. too,
| in those days; so. who could wonder
| that pretty Nancy, the beauty of the
village, transferred her affections from
her Yol1el lover to me. Matthew Holt
was a powerful young giant, but un-
gainly enough to look at. An unman-
nerly cub, too, in my estimation, and
| had treated him accordingly. Yes, it
was in that direction that my con-
science reproached me, when l re-
mem bered how | had lost no oppor-
tunity of placing him at a disadvan-
tage and asserting my own superiority.
Not content with winning for myself
| the prize he coveted. | must confess
that there were times when | took a
malicious pleasure in making my un
| happy rival smart. | have seen his
eyes blaze with passion, and his
brawny fists double themselves ready
for a blow. And yet. he never laid
hand upon me: and | knew that his
forbearance was only for Nancy's sake.
My pretty Nancy! How well I could
remember the pride with which | car
ried her off as my bride from her viii
lage home, and for while life was
very sweet. But it was not long be-
fore death claimed her. and she passed
away, leaving only a tender memory
behind, which, as the years went on,
seemed almost like a dream.
| l sat staring fxedly into the fire,
living over those old times again. and
wishing. alas, an idle wish. that had
acted differently, when suddenly a
cold blast of wind swept through the
room, blowing the gas about and maxi
ing the fire flare. The door must have
come open. l thought: could not have
have shut it properly. | rose to secure
it, but before could turn round, I re-
ceived violent blow upon my head.
1t was dealt with such force that | fell
| heavily to the ground and for a mo-
ment lost all consciousness.
! When ! came to myself found that
l was lying on the floor. bound secure
ly hand and foot. The door of the
signal box was shut, and standing be-
fore me, but with his eyes fixed on the
levers, was Matthew Holt. He looked.
as he was, years older than when we
had last met, but could have sworn
TO that big, loosely y-made figure and
that shock of red hair anywhere.
In an instant | had realized the
whole situation and seen how com
pletely | was ir his power. Yes. the
hour of reckoning was indeed at hand.
He had come. in all the strength of his
brute force, to take his revenge He
seemed suddenly to become aware that
/ had recovered my senses, for he
turned and looked at me. and as met
the pitiless expression in those savage,
bloodshot eyes my heart turned sick
and faint within me-
After contemplating me in silence
for moment he said, sneeringly: 80.
Mr.. Frank Bryant, you remember me?"
Yes. | remember YOU" | answered.
speaking as calmly as | could: land
although there was not much love
lost between us in the old DAYS | never
then thought of you as coward-one
who would take a mean advantage of
his enemy. Come, Matthew Holt. I'M
bind me; let us meet on an equal foot
ing, and | will hear what you have to
say,'
He threw back his head and laughed,
a short, mocking laugh that was not
pleasant to hear. mo, no, nv fine
gentleman; you don't come over me
with any of your smooth-tongued
speeches" he said
There was another pause, during
which he drew a bottle from his
pocket, uncorled it, and drank. 1t
was strong spirits, l could tell by the
smell of it. l shuddered. This was
not likely to improve his mood In
deed, at the first glance | had noticed
in his eyes that savage reclllessness
which comes of the madness born of
drink.
He replaced the bottle in his pocket.
and, drawing the chair into a position
! from which he could see me. sat down.
'Do you know why | am here?" he
asked. ! made no answer, and he went
on: ~ will tell you. / am here to
take my revenge for the brutal way in
which you treated me in days gone by.
Yes, Mr. Bryant, the tables are turned;
l have the upper hand now"
And for the sake of foolish BOYS
taunts you would risk bringing the
charge of murder upon your head" |
returned, bitterly.
You think | intend to take your
life" he said, coolly, but you are mis-
taken. To kill you would be to end