Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-05-27


began TO drop In, that her situation
was critical. They held q consultation,
and It was decided that II was best for
no one to venture into the house until
after the arrival Of the Sheriff. M
1t was almost 10 O'Clock when that
worthy accompanied by his deputy. Pat
Henning and three other men whom
he had picked up on the way rode pelI
NELL up to the front gate. and hastily
dismounting. stalked bravely toward
the house. At the Sheriff's urgent
request Miss Latimer continued
to rusticate In the back yard
until the trying ordeal should
be over and the would-be assassin
carried away In chains. She was
surprised by the shouts of the men
within, when the prisoner was dragged
forth from the closet and the hand
cuffs clapped on his wrists. Then she
watched for them to ride away, but
for some reason they still fingered.
She could hear the stentorian voice OF
the Sheriff raised In the noisy alterca-
ton with another person, whose voice
was too low for her to distinguish
either the tones or the words. Pre-
sently the officer appeared in the
doorway. She could see by the light
of the lantern he carried that he was
flushed and vexed about something.
Miss Latimer," he said. advancing
toward her, this man insists upon
seeing you a moment. He says there
has been a grievous mistake and that
II he can ony speak few words to
you everything will be all right. You
needn't be afraid. His hands are
bound Will you conner"
Certainly" said Miss Latimer.
She took Harvey's cold hand in
hers and the two followed the Sheriff
into the house. The prisoner was sit
ting dejectedly on a low chair near
the closet door. His head was bent,
and only his profile was visible as she
approached him. But there was some
thing in the very air of the man that
made her start and clutch Harvey's
hand more and more tightly. She
stood before him and he looked up. A
smile passed over his bearded face.
She leaned on Harvey for support
then, but quickly mastering her emo
ton she signified her desire to speak
with her assassin alone. Harvey dis
creetly looked out of the farthest win
dow.
Ellen he said, meekly, 81 wasn't
expecting such a reception at this after
the lapse of all these years. wasn't
counting on being locked up as an
assassin
NO" she returned calmly. Neither
was l counting on your running away
as you did twenty-one years ago You
are worse than an assassin. You muir
dered my heart. You"
She was on the point Of breaking out
a torrent of reproach and scorn, but
in an instant she seemed to be riding
over the yellow road again with him by
her side and the fragrance of the rich,
dark earth rising round them like an
incense. The sudden transition of
thought brought with 1t correspond
ing change of heart, and the love
thrills of the morning pulsed through
her veins suffusing her comedy face
with becoming bushes. She drew a
step nearer and laid her hands on his
why did you come back, john" she
asked, softly.
He attempted to take her hand in his,
but those useful members being for the
time incapacitated for duty he only
looked the eloquence his tongue could
not utter alone.
"why?' he repeated. Because 1
love YOU"
"And was that the reason you left
me?"
ELLEN, Ellen, be just"
CAS- you have been?" she remarked.
"As you alone know how to be-" he
went on. 1--WE been an idiot and ras-
cal. All men are II you'll give them
half a chance. It's their nature. I
didn't know my own mind. A man
never does. Ellen, haven't a word to
say in my self-defence except that l
love you. Neither have word to
utter against the woman l married.
She was dear, good wife. But 1 love
you and always have. Ellen, you'll
have to be good to me. Haven't you
tried to keep me by taking me prison
err" he added facetiously.
do you know your own mind now"
She meant her voice to be very severe,
but 1t sounded like strains of sweet
music instead.
Take these handouts off," he thun-
dered, land I'll show you, I'll kill that
boy of yours"
II know it," walled Harvey, whose
ear had caght the final threat. II knew
he was an assassin-assassin-"
Hush, Harvey" said Miss Latimer.
She stopped down and kissed the
mans dark, wrinkled face-and, oh,
what tender kiss it was! Then. she
went to the door and called the
Sheriff.
II find there has indeed been a mis-
take" she said. This gentleman Is
an old friend who called in my absence.
Harvey drugged him and locked him
up. I'm sorry to have troubled you.
You may free his hands These bonds
are needed no. longer"
"It was a mistake-mistake-
take" echoed Harvey, who stood by
her side.