Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

Us. The old man stood still whoro
! no was. He was like stone. | look
! ed at him for n moment and thought;
! then | turned round and won't to tho
! barruom. Tho old man followed.
Just IA got inside tho door l saw
the girl start back and hOr hand
drOD for shu saw that it was Fingall.
Ho was looking ut hor very strange.
II was the rulo To empty the gun in
to a man who had been sentenced,
md ulrnndy Fingall had heard his
/ God have morCy!
"Fingall said to her in muf1led
voice:
Fire Cynthier
Il guessed what she would do. In
! a kind of u dream she rpis"d tho piS-
| tOl up-up--upt till could 500 it was
out of range of his head and sho
! fired. Onol two three! four! fivol
! Fingall never moved II muscle. But
the bullets spotted tho wall at the
| side of his head. She paused aftCr
tho five, hut tho arm was still hold
out and her finger was on tho trig-
ger She seemed to bo in dream.
ThCrU were only six cham bCrs in tho
gun and of course ono chamber was
empty. Fcnn had its bnllct in his
! lungs, as We thought. Some ono be-
side Cvnthi0 touched her arm, push
ing it down But thcro was another
! shot and this time. because Of tho
push, the bullet lodged in Fingall' S
skull"
Piorro paused now. but waved with
| his hand toward lhomist which now
hung high up like II canopy between
tho hills.
"But, " said Lawlcss, not needing
bullct?"
Mon niou, it is plain! Fingall
did not f''o the shot. His revolver
was full-ovory Chambor-when
Cynthio first took it.
"Who killed the lad?"
"Can you not guess? There had
been words between tho father and
tho boy. Both had fierce blood The
father in II mad inmate, fired. The
boy wanted revenge ON Fingall, and
to save his father laid it ON the 9th
or. Tho old man? Vol, | do not
know whether ho was coward or
stupid or aShamcd-ho lot Fingall
take it.
And Fingall took it to spare the
girl, ch?"
ssJHr,. f1n ,,i,.1 JIn ly,>Ax,, 4 ~
good for her to think that her father
| killed his own son.
And what came aftor?"
1.-The worst. That night the girls
father killed himself, and the two
werc buried in tho same grave. Gym
THO
"Fingalll Fingall Oh, Fingallv'
"YOu hear? Yes, like that all the
timo as sho sat on the floor, her hair
about her like cloud, and the dead
bodies in tho next room. She thought
she had killed Fingall, and she knew
that he was innocent. Tho two were
buried. Then wo told her that Fin
| gall was not dead. She used to come
and sit outside tho door and listen
to his breathing and ask if he ever
spoke of her What was the good of
lying? If we said he did, She d come
in to him, and that would do no
good, for ho wasn't right in his
mind. BY and by we told her he was
como, hut staid at home, just saying
his name over to herself Alors,
things take hold of wOman-it Is
so strange. When he was strong
enough TO go out, | went with him
the first time. Ho was all thin and
handsome, as you can think, but he
had 10 memory and his eyes were
like n child's. She saw him and
came out to meet him. What does
n woman care for the world when
sho loves altogether? Well, he just
looked at her as if he'd never seen
her before and passed without a sign,
though afterward there camo trou-
Bile III his face. Three days later he
was gone, no one knew whore. That
is two years ago. Ever since she
has hron looking for him."
lis she mad?"
Mad? Holy Mother, it is not good
to have ono thing in the head all
the time What do you think? So
much all at once! And them
Hush, Pierre! There she is, Law
less said, pointing to a ledge of rock
not far away.
The girl stood looking out across
the valley, a weird, rapt look in her
face, her hair falling loose, staff
like n shepherds crook in her hand,
the other over her eyes as she slow.
ly looked from point to point of the
horizon. The two watched her with
out speaking. Presently she saw
them. She gazed at them for a min
ute, then descended to them. Law.
less and Pierre arose, doffing their
hats. She looked at both a moment,
and her Dyes settled, steadily glow.
ing, on Piorre. Presently she held
out her hand to him.
Il knew you-yesterday," she
said.
Pierre returned the intensity OF
her gaze with one as deep and strong
$50, so, Cynthio, he said, "sit
down and cat. ."
IL" dropped on knee and, drew 6
sc0nc and some fishes from tho ashes
She sal facing them, and taking
from II bag Mt her Sido somo wild
fruit, ate slowly, saying nothing.
LaWleSs noticed that her hair had