Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-04-02


The scheming devil, Montalbon. did not
remind him Of it, but by patient work
insidiously persuaded him that he
should be a married man. She even
suggested bride, none other than my
little sweetheart. Her object in this
was twofold, money and revenge By
leading my cousin into bigamous ALI
ance, with her own marriage certificate
as a weapon, she could readily extort
money from him. Her revenge was to
be against the family Of my little sweet
heart, against whom she thought she
had a grievance. Her plotting was en-
.irely successful Ny cousin was hand
some, was away, and once he had be-
como thoroughly acquainted with the
young creole's charms he became so ar
dent suitor that at length she listened
TO his pleading and married him. Then
he was In the power Of the Montalbon,
and she bled him for five years, by
which time little Rose had been born.
Meanwhile had completed my col
lege career, but had not returned to
New Orleans because Of my deep disap
pointment upon learning that my sweet
heart had married another man. At
this time l was in Paris, when one day
l received piteous letter from the girl
wife, telling me that the blow had fall
Gu that tho Montalbon had produced
her marriage certificate and claimed her
husband, thus dishonoriDg the daughter
Of her enemy. The letter also begged
my forgiveness for the wrong done to
me- ] read between the lines and recog
nized the cry of broken heart, tho
bleat Of lamb left TO die on the frozen
plain. I hurried homo with but one
thought uppermost-to have revenge up
ON my cousin. arrived too late. Not
only was the girl dead, but my cousin
had disappeared.
''I heard that he had gone out west,
and thither l followed him. would
get track Of him from time TO time, but
1t seemed fated always that he should
have just left place when confident
ly expected to come up with him. Thus
five years passed, and at last did meet
him. l at once charged him with his
crime and asked for revenge. He laugh
ed ut me and refused to fight. ! then
WhTueu MIN lHut bHOuiu ihho mo Aiio
at the first chance that offered, when /
could do 30 either under seeming provo
cation or else where / could not be sus-
pected.
"Are you not admitting" interrupt
ed Mr.. Barnes, that you harbored
murderous spirit?"
Mr.. Bzrnes, IL all men were punish
cd for their thoughts, tho criminal class
would DO greatly enlarged. You cannot
call mo 20 account for anything except
my acts. At last my chance came.
followed him one dark night ns he went
off prospecting ia an entirely new di
rection; we were In mining country.
He tramped most Of the night. and
pursued. By dawn we were miles away
from habitation. ! then made myself
known 10 him and once more Eked
him 20 fight 1t out. He saw that ! was
In earnest and that he was simply com
polled TO battle for his life.
Under these circumstances, Of
course, he fought NJ the worst coward
would do when driven to desperation.
He decided to use pistols, though !
wished 20 try our cause with knives
confess that ] wanted the satisfaction
OF stabbing him again and again.
wanted TO rec his Dfe's blood flow at
each stroke. IL seemed TO me tame to
stand off at distance and send one lit
tic leaden ball In his direction. Still /
admitted his right Of choice, and deter
mined 10 aim M accurately ns possible
and TO send my bullet straight. You
soc. did not think OF my own life.
had made this vengeance my ono OBJ
ject, and after accomplishing that /
thought there would bo nothing more
for me TO do. Consequently expected
to kill him easily, and did not care II
his bullet found my heart or not. Per
haps ] hoped it would Just as we were
standing up and preparing to fight.
something occurred that almost com
pletely unncrvcd mo and changed tho
whole result He lowered his pistol and
said:
"'Wait moment; | have favor 10
ask feel certain that you will kill
mo. You have been seeking my life 70
long that ] am sure you viii got It. 1t
Is fate but /. too, have suffered in the
laat flyo years. The favor that l ask IL