Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-08

all was doomed to perform the
bloody work and in he same hour
end his own existence?
Suddenly, with the amazement
that a peal of thunder from a clear
sky might canse one, | saw that
the eyes of all we're bent on me.
l glanced swiftly about the
table; each hand lay open, and in
the palms rhus displayed we're the
thirteen white beansl 1t took q
minute, perhaps, for the full sig
niticence of this fact 10 dawn upon
me. .--~
Then 1 opened my own hand.
"Tbe lot has been drawn"
Pulaskro deep vo ice reached my
ear fainlly, as though from a great
distance, Istill sat at the dirty
table; the candles still sputLered
10 their sockets; the pale, set faces
of my comrades we're I'LL about me
But had lived over my whole lie
again, and it's end was now at
hand.
According TO Our agreement
our leader said, more distinctly
than before, "the messenger OF
death is to take this weapon"-he
drew a pistol from the table draw
er and laid it before him-"and ii
with it do his work. 1t is loaded
with Two SILVER bullets; one is for
his heart, the other for the messen'
ger himself. Is it understood"
| bowed mechanically and receiy-
ed the pistol.
zone barrel for him, the other
for you," repeated Pulaski, "fOr
1t Is agreed that he shall die"
"A,e he mast die" chOrused The
others; but my parched lips gave
forth no sound.
Tnrn, one b> one, my friends
came and embraced me and went
out; but Pulaski passed me with
out word. Oily his fierce glance
seemed to buru into my very sOnl.
"One barrel for him, one barrel
flr mtw | muttered. Staggering
to my feet, l hid the pistol in my
bosom and walked into the tOjac-
conis'S shop.
O,d L.cop was behind the little
counter, as usual, but ] passed
hin without a word.
"Wilt thou not have one today,
FrancOis" he asked. pushing the
box toward me.
He was an old man, aud bIear'
eyed: but he was poor and the
purchases of the little company
who met so frequently in that back
room meant much to him. l threw
bin a franc, aud selecting a cheroot
mechanically went out without nv
change. Oh the walk | began to
tear of mouthfuls of the strong
tobacco aud eat 1t as a hungry man
would eat bread. Then my brain
became Gle ,rer, and was able to
think, and plan, and remember,
once more.
1t was dark when [ made my
way into his garden. 1t was a
beautiful garden, but gardens are
only for the rich. A great wall
was built all about 1t that the poor
might not even see its beauty. All
thugs are denied the poor but
labor; that they have in plenty.
He was IN the habit of walking
10 his garden early in the morning
We all knew that; everybody knew
1t Iu fact, so l concealed m, sci!
beside the path and waited. The
pistol was IN my hOsOm-my han
upon 1t. could not fail to hit the
mark, for he wouId pass within a
yard of me.
'One barrel for him, the other
for mep' | kept repeating, and
thus the night wore away and the
gray dawn broke at last.
First liveried servItOr-aS
haughty as his masier-marched
down the walk and unbarred the
massive gate. Then other tokens
of life appeared about the villa. A
maid was singing about her work
she had a clear, sweet voice. Some
how it sounded like my mothers,
t. ought in what manner | could
not tell. Perhaps she sang thu
same dirty that l had heard hel
sing to my little sister.
These recoIIections brought the
tears to my eyes, but grlppet
the pistol more firmly.
AT last | saw him come from tn,
hall and passed down the marble
steps into the garden. He was
handtome. imposing old man, ant