Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-06-06

.Haye your stupid brains been
able to get all that there 10 EN- %
returned Simon. "Well, then, let
me tell you, I'd be very sorry to get
jealous of you, but 1 don't want ,on
to waste any more time in that there
quarter. Rose don't like it, and
don't like it. and that settles the
NATTER
aSee here, Simon, said the young
man, slowly snd deliberately ayou
had better go your way, and let me
attend to my own business. This
looks as if you had followed me to
fix quarrel upon me, but it strikes
me you are making fool Of your
self.n
swell, it's my opinion, retorted
Simon, you'll find something else
strike you harder than that !" and
suiting the action to the word, he
drew back his arm, and planted a
heavy, almost stunning blow, full up.
on the face of him he now consider
ed his deadly foe.
Leitchman staggered, bat quickly
recovered himself, and sprung at his
antagonist with the fury of a wild
beast. The next moment the two
combatants locked in fierce en-
brace and both came heavily to the
ground and rolled over and over, in
the struggle of life and death. But
the iron, muscular strength Of Simon
proved more than match for that
of his older opponent, who found to
his dismay that he was rapidly yield.
ing to the grasp which the youth
had obtained upon his throat. De-
termined not to ask quarter from one
he had always regarded as an infer
Tor, he made last despairing effort,
and, drawing a small clasp knife
from his pocket, and forcing open
the blade, struck the youth in his
side, though, being weak from the
contest, be inflicted a light, rather
than dangerous wound. Simon,
reused to fendish fury by the pain,
and what he considered an under
handed attempt upon his lie, sud-
denly released his hold upon the
throat of his adversary, and, wrench
ing the knife from his hand, plung.
ed it furiously several times into the
breast of the latter, exclaiming, with
an oath
"Take that! and thatl and thatl'
you've killed meln said Henry,
in low, feeble tone. "Ohl my
God you've killed me ~
Simon started to his feet, and felt
a strange, indescribable sensation of
awe and terror creep through his iron
frame. Had he done a murder !?
Fad he committed that great deed,
which would make him amenable to
the highest penalty of the law? 1t
was q terrible thought thought
that seemed to freeze his before
heated blood, and send it coldly and
shiveringly to his very heart. Was
he indeed murderer IA being to
be branded with that awful crime
"a being to be hunted down by his
fellows as some wild beast? He was
himself a poor and almost friendless
boy; but he who lay before him
who had fallen by his hand-had
rich and powerful connections, and
he knew enough of the world to be
certain that justice, in his case,
would not be stayed in her course by
any influence which he or his indi-
gent family could bring to bear.
Henry, are you dead 7" he said,
in a voice of agony, as he bent over
the insensible form of his rival,
whom he would now have given the
world to restore to life. "Speak to
me Henry--one word, just one single
woodland tell me you're going to
live, and I'll give up all-I'Il give up
Rose, whose more to me than all the
rest-and I'll go far away, and never
trouble you nor her any more ~
But there was no answer; the
wounded man lay still, weltering in
his blood /; and after looking at him
a moment longer, as he lay there,
pale and CHASTITY, in the soft, silyery
light OF the watching moon, he turn.
ed and fed, muttering as he ran
She's dead he's dead I've kill
cd him, and now I've got to fly
where none can reach me. Good-by,
Rose. If it hadn't been for you, I'd
never have done this deed; but now
it's done, I've got to fly where |
shall never look upon your face
again.
With the speed OF a murderer run
ming from justice, he few to his
humble cabin in the woods, and wax
ing his parents, told them, with rap
id utterances and with tears in his
eyes-the last tears he ever shed
through tender emotion-what be
had done, and all for his passionate
love of the beautiful Rose Walton.
Then seiziDg his rife, and such
few necessary articles as he could
conveniently carry, be took hur
ried farewell of bis afflicted friends,
and, in The very bloom OF youth,
alone, set out Tor the untrodden
wilds of the then far West, never to