Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-07-11

/ ~ ON WV
II was a plain question, plainly
put. From another person it would
have been resented as a most imper-
tinent one; but even the naughty
Miss Pembroke could not get angry
With this frank, simple hearted man.
With heightened color she replied
Eyes, Mr.. Langdou; | 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 palIor that crept
slowly into his face; did not note
the stony look in his eyes, or the
nervous manner in which be raised
his hand TO his throat and pulled at
his collar as If it were choking him.
She was looking out over the val
ley, too much abashed by her own
confession to meet her companions
gaze.
IL am anxious about Charley
she said, after awhile. 81 fear his
life is in danger"
Joe started, and looked positively
| guilty. 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 temper; and
he sometimes loses control of it.
The day he went away he caught a
ran in the act Of stealing his silver
mounted rife, which he valued SO
highly, and without pausing to con-
slider the consequences he struck the
fellow across the face with his rid
ing whip. | have since heard that
the men has since sworn vengeance
on him, and declared he would kill
him at the first opportunity. The
thought is SO terrible that l cannot
drive it from my mind, and I fairly
dread Charley's return. Perhaps you
could contrive to save him, Mr.,
Lsngdon-"
"EhS IL don't-did you speak
to me, Miss Pembrook?n
She looked at him now, with an
expression Of surprise. She saw how
deadly pale he was, and with WON
ans readiness to jump at conclu'
sions she exclaimed
"You believe it, too. You think
Charley is in peril! l know you
do!'
swat a minute, Miss Pembroke
said the miner, making a mighty eff
fort to recover composure, and par
TALLY succeeding.
"You say some Teller has took an
oath ell kill your-Charley Brant-
ley. Who is the Teller, an what's
his name ?"
"The people here call him sWhis-
ky Tom He is a low, dissipated
half-breed. Of course you know
him."
Whisky Tom / know him for
q drunken scamp and vagabond,'
said Joe, with emphasis. SHE ought.
er to be hung long ago. Why, bless
your heart, Whisky Tom nd mur-
der his mother for a glass of whis-
ky. When he says he kill a Teller
you needn't fatter yerself that he
won't try his blamedest to do il, jest
as soon as he can make sneak on
the Teller. All I'm s'prised at is that
he tried to steal rife-onless he
wanted to sell it for money to buy
liquor with. He never uses firearms
nohow-couldn't hire him to have
anything to do with 'em. He does all
his shootin' with a bow and arrow,
an he can knock woodpecker out
of the top of a Californy pine every
clip. Why, Miss Pembroke, you
are as white as a ghost |"
"Oh, won't you try and save him,
Mr.. Langdon p
"Save who?n
"Charley. If anything like-like
that should befall him it would kill
me. know it would |,
1t would have been hard to tell
which was the paler OF the two, only
for the sun bronze on the miners
face. It was trying ordeal through
which he was passing, and for a mo-
ment it seemed as if he were turn
ed to ice; but the big unselfsh
heart melted beneath the piteous,
pleading gaze of those eyes that had
played such havoc with it during
these sunny weeks. Joe Langdon
wiped the perspiration from his
brow, conscious that he was trem-
bling, and that she would surely no
tice his agitation.
II so be- he said, with another
great effort to be calm-aif SO be Il
should come in my power to dc
Charley Brantley service, I'd dc
it, OF course-for your sakel Blu