The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-07-14

have looked moro pale and haggard il
be had just risen from o long, wasting
illness.
81 don't know what ails me, onless
m goin' starin' mad, ;" he mutterel to
himself. 81 didn't think il 'ud strike
me all OF heap to know that she
loved some other man, but that's Jest
what it's done-blame nv skin il it
amt! I'm blowed if 1 understand
myself at all. It's the fust time 1 was
ever kerhummixed by a woman, an
L reckon-I reckon it'll be-the last. >
He made n movement as if to wiring
his hands, but seemed to check the
impulse as if he were ashamed of his
weakness.
Joe Langdon, your a blamed fool Z"
he said, unconsciously speaking aloud.
You We got the brass of n road agent
to go fallin' in love with a fine lady
like Laura Pembroke. But how can a
man help it. She amt like other fine
ladies. She makes Teller forget that
he's nothin' but rough cuss an she
couldn't talk any nicer to the Presi-
dent himself than she does to me. I
don't know what I've been thinking of
all this time. L amt fit to be men
toned in the same day with her, an
here L am in love with her. l can't
bear to think of her going away"
"YOu can't, eh?" interrupted a
sneering voice. eff that is the case
it is time you were being taught n les
sonl"
Joe looked up with start. Charley
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 com nitted the crown
ing folly of betraying his secret to this
man.
$50 you are in love with Laura
Pembroke" continued Brantley, with
cutting sarcasm. ''I have heard of
your persistent attention to her during
my absence. And you think you can't
bear to see her go away from here.
That is bad, truly"
''Wuit minute, Mr.. Brantley," said
ice, his voice husky. "You have
neerd what l was foolish enough to
say out loud, an there's no use in my
denyin' it now. [ do love Miss Penn
broke, but / didn't intend to let her
know it, nor you, l know she amt
for me; l know she's to be your
wife"
"And knowing that, you have the
imprudence to tell me that you love
her-you, a low, miserable specimen
of humanity, too ignorant to realize
your own audacity ~ cried Brantley,
MS temper getting the better of him.
''You're n scoundrel, sir-a dog"
GGCEO,,
pale before, it was CHASTITY now.
",otopi" he repeated, and his voice
was terrible from its very calmness.
''Ihere 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'n, it's
only her love for you that saves you
now"
''You threaten me, do you?" cried
Brantley, in a white heat of passion.
"You threaten me-"
Whatever was in his mind to sny. it
remained unsaid, for Mt that instant
Joe Langdon 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 Brnntley was not pre-
pared for it, but with furious curse
he struggled to bis feet and drew his
revolver.
He was about to fire when he heard
n woman's scream, n mans shout, and
a strong hanl seized his arm and
held it.
'Drop that pistolr' cried stern
voice. ''You wouldn't shoot n man
when he's DOWN.
What had happened? What did it
mean? Was that Joe Langdon living
on the ground with an arrow duiver-
ing in his side? Was that Laura Penn
broke kneeliDg beside the PROSTATE
miner? Was this Mr.. Pembroke who
had grasped his arm and wrenched the
| pistol from his hand?
Charley Brantley realized these
things gradually, like n man waking
from n nightmare.
'YOu told me to save him, Miss
! Pembroke, said Joe, family, as the
weeping girl Fitted his head to her lap.
/ "Hou told me to save him, an I've
/ done it. / seed that wretch, Whisky
Tom, lurkin' behind tho bushes Won
| der, with his bow drawn and m arrow
p'ntod ut Brantlcy. 1 knowed what it
meant, an knowed Tom never missed
his aim so II jumped onto Brantloy
an pushed him out o the way an took
tho arrow myself Good bye; don't
cry for me. I'm glad it turned out
tins way. ] hope you'll be happy.
Good-byo-go bye
And Joe Lnngdou was dead
1T was merely mn episode; and after
n handful of citizens had ruu.tho muir.
dcrer down aud hung him to- the near
est tree, after tho fashion of Western
justice, the event was not long re.
. mCmbCrcd
But there wcro two who never for
. got it-Mr. md Mrs Brlutloy.
Iron Mountain Split.
/ "A report has reached T,hDr,r, Cf;t-.