Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-12-03

stood under q
lamp post. She was tall and dark, and
SO motionless that she might have been
ii statue. Her arms We're folded under
her cloak. A policeman, edging his way
through the crowd, asked her n ques-
zion. She shook her head slowly, and
did not look at him. The policeman
passed on, and the next moment there
were two quick pistol shots, a scream,
and a stampede. The officer ran back,
fighting his way through the swirling
crowd. He found the woman, pistol in
hand, bending over a man lying upon
the pavement. The officer seized her
wrist, and, looking ut him with a
strange smile, as she relaxed her hold
on the pistol, she said:
II am II woman, and l demand to be
treated as SUCH"
When she had been taken to the sta
ton and asked to make Il statement,
she said: my name is Irene Roma.
The name of the man l shot is Roy
Campbell. I shot him because he ought
to be killed. He was engaged to marry
my sister. He did not keep faith with
her, and she died of n broken heart.
He is n brute, and ought to he dead"
Campbell was taken to n hospital.
His wounds were pronounced danger
GUS. An effort was made to interview
him. But all he would say was: 81
suppose she thought she had a right to
shoot me-" He asked if they had put
her in Jail, and appeared to be pleased
when told that she had been allowed
out on bail.
Three weeks later the wounded man
was sitting propped UP in bed, when a
card bearing the name Of Irene Roma
was handed to him. He looked hard at
1t, rubbed his eyes, held it further away,
then closer, and then remarked: 81
don't understand why she should want
to see me. Let her come in"
With n timid, awe-struck air the wom-
an approached the bed. She coughed
in embarrassment as she seated herself
on n chair which the nurse placed for
her. She put back her hair, made aim
less motions in her confusion, and then,
looking straight ut Campbell, said:
II nm awfully sorry l shot you"
Campbell smiled. "And are you sure
you haven't come to shoot me again?"
lie asked.
She frowned in reproof. "You know
I haven't. If you had thought that you
would have told them to keep me OUT
mo, 1 wouldn't. You have come so
far out here that 1 couldn't have found
the heart to disappoint YOU"
"a plaster of sarcasm won't draw out
n soreness, Mr.. Campbell. 1 have suf-
fered SO with remorse that 1 have come
to see If I could not find some sort of
consolation. You don't know how I
have suffered. And l must go through
a hateful trial, too, with everybody
looking at me. oh, I do wish l hadn't
shot you!"
EYES," he drawled, 81 rather wish so
myself. So, you see, we have some
thing in common. But you needn't be
worried ove the trial. I shall not ap-
pear against you"
The nurse had withdrawn. They
were alone. She put back her hair
again, and he followed the movSment
Of her graceful hand-the hand that had
shot him. "No, 1 will not appear" he
went on. 'It is something of q distinc-
ton to he shot by the handsomest wom-
an in L%iverpool." He hesitated as he
saw the tears gathering in her eyes.
II take 1t all back" he said. She wiped
her eyes, and sat looking far away
through a window. The mystery that
lies In the cloudland was reflected IN
her eyes, and he gazed at her. She turn
ed her eyes upon him, and the mystery
few from them.
"Yes. I am sorry I shot you" she said;
'sbut I hate you, and never can forgive
you." sH ~'-' 49,
"Ah. and I am therefore consofed by
the thought that you never can 1ergive
.ne."