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

let yerselt think of sech things.
guess Mister Brantley amt in sech
danger but what he'll take keer of
hisself all right. It's time for US to
be movin' down the mountain. Wen
have sharp appetite for breakfast
after the ride, ! reckon; but it won't
do for you to carry that white face
lack to the hotel. You'll skeer
everybody out of years growth"
Then, after they had started off at
brisk canter, he said:
"What do you say to race, Miss
Pembroke /? Let's see which OF these
horses can take the rag OF the bush
in mile stretch"
And away they galloped at a
reckless rate of speed, leaving a
cloud of dust in their wake.
1t was the next day after this oc-
currence that Joe Langdon stood
leaning against the trunk of a huge
tree, just beyond the limits of Blaze
away, absorbed in thought.
He was alone, and he could scarce
~ have looked more pale and bag
gard if be had just risen from long
wasting illness.
81 don't know what ails me, onless
I'm goin' starin' mad )" he muttered
to himself. II didn't think it nd
strike me all of a heap to know that
she loved some other man, but that's
jest what it's done-blame my skin
if it ain'tl I'm blowed if I under.
stand myself at all. It's the fust time
| was ever kerfummixed by a woman,
an | reckon-I reckon it'll be-the
last
He made movement as if to
wiring his hands, but seemed to
check the impulse as if he we're
ashamed Of his weakness.
"Joe Langdon, your a blamed fool!"
be said, unconsciously speaking
aloud. you've got the brass of a
road-agent to go fallin' in love with
fine lady like Laura Pembroke.
But how can a man help it I? She
makes Teller forget that he's moth
in but rough cuss; an she could
mt talk nicer to the President him
self than she does to me. / don't
know what I've been thinking OF all
this time. / amt fit to be mention.
ed in the same day with her, an
here | am in love with her. / can't
bear to think of her going away"
"You can't, eh?' interrupted a
sneering voice. "If that is the case
it is time you were being taught a
lesson!n
Joe looked up with start. Char
ley Brantley stood before him, tall
and handsome, with an angry CLEAN
in his black eyes.
The miner felt himself growing
weak to think he had committed the
browning folly of betraying his se-
cret to this man.
$50 you are in love with Laura
Pembroke" continued Brantley with
cutting sarcasm. II have heard of
your persistent attention to her dur
ing my absence. And you think you
can't bear to see her go away from
here. That is bad, truly
wait a minute, Mr.. Brantley,'
SAID Joe, his voice husky. "You
have heerd what l was foolish
enough to say out loud, an there's
no use in my denyin' it now. I do
love Miss Pembroke, but / didn't in
tend to let her know it, nor you. l
know she amt for me; I know she's
to be your wife,
"And knowing that, you have the
imprudence to tell me that you love
her-you, low, miserable specimen
of humanity, too ignorant to realize
your own audacity y cried Brant-
ley, his temper getting the better of
him. ''You're scoundrel, sir-a
dog
"Stop p If Joe Langdon's face
was pale before, it was CHASTITY now.
"Stopp he repeated, and his voice
was terrible from its very calmness.
"There amt but one man on earth
that can call me such names as that
an live--an' you're that man. But
you mustn't do it ag'in, sir-by the
Eternal you mustn't do it ag'in, it's
only her love for you that saves you
now"
"You threaten me, do your" cried
Brantley, in white heat of passion.
you threaten me-"
Whatever was in his mind to say,
it remained unsaid, for at that in
slant Joe Laugdon sprang upon him
with the quickness of thought, and
bore him heavily to the ground.
The attack was so sudden and I'M
expected that Brantly WAS not pre-
pared for it, but with a furious curse
he struggled to his feet and drew his
revolver.
He was about to fire when be
heard a woman's scream, man g
shout, and strong hand seized his
arm and held it.
drop that pistol" cried stern