The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-10-01
the Englishman listened in sympa


FRIEND.
the Englishman listened In sympa-
thetic silence.
Suddenly their peaceful seclusion
was rudely disturbed. While the
stranger strolled through the forest on
the hills fusi1lade of rifle shots rent
the air. They came from the direction
of the little cabin. He fastened down
and soon reached the clearing in front
of the house. In his absence the old
man had been surprised by tax collec
tors. Three of them lay dead in their
blood at the edge of the corn field.
Leaning against a tree stump the En-
ing companion from New York. Col.
Walkers rife had done effective work
The riderless horses feasted on the
tender ears of the corn in the fields.
Nothing was to be seen of the old man.
The stranger, sick with fear over the
terrible tragedy, stumbled into the
cabin. There, ghastly white and with
disheveled hair, lay his old friend.
Blood trickled from several wounds,
and formed little puddles along the
floor. The blue jeans shirt rose and
fell with the labored breathing of the
dying man. He was unconscious. The
Englishman knelt besides him, mois-
tening his lips with drops of the burn
ing liquid which was responsible for
the tragedy. One bullet has grazed
the left temple, another had shattered
the elbow, and the third had pene-
trated the abdomen. The wound was
deadly, there was no recovery from it.
The wounded man regained conscious
ness and Immediately recognized his
young friend.
"These scoundrels have poured more
lead into me than is good for my health.
The New York chap gave me away.
He sent the tax collectors after me.
Well, he is dead. and I'll soon follow,
but before go want to exact prom
Use from you. All my old friends are
dead. They were either killed in the
war or died soon afterwards, and l am
sorely troubled about my little girl
"Your daughter"
eyes, my daughter. have never
spoken about her to any one. I sent
ncI away " d COdfChL III l. LIS
rough. inhospitable life would not suit
her at all. intended to have her come
home when the place was built up
again. For her 1 stinted and saved
and made 'moonshine' whisky. l nev-
er liked the business. 1t isn't fit for
gentleman. Now my daughter has fin
ished her education and is coming here
to see her old father again. She will
not find me alive; but she will come in
to her own. There is $4,000 in the
bank. And now, for the favor I'll ask
of you. It's a dying mans request,
will you fulfill it?''
Eyes, as far as is in my power"
"Then go to my daughter-and make
her your wife,
The Englishman was dumfounded.
He-to marry the daughter of mur-
derer. Had he forgotten that yonder
in the grass lay three men whom he
had killed?
You are going to deny my request"
cried the colonel. 81 know what you
are thinking. Have pity. In a few mo-
ments I'll be dead. Come, make haste.
She is beautiful" he moaned, when the
Englishman still hesitated. "Pure as
the snow and highly accomplished.
You need not be ashamed to call her
your wife,
"Stop," cried the Englishman, torn
with contending emotions. "Do not
make my answer more difficult than it
is. l am no longer free to give love.
On my way over from Havre l gave
my heart to young girl. She gave me
hers. cannot break my word, for 1
love her passionately.
The dying man clutched the English
mans sleeve. ''Then take my orphan
girl and let her live witch you and your
wife. Shield her from harm, and some
day find good husband for her."
''That l will with all my heart"
promised the Englishman. "But tell
me. where can find herr"
"She does not bear ner fathers name.
The stigma of the 'moonshine still at
taches to mine. She was called Josefa
after her mother"
"And what was her other name?"
questioned vehemently the young man.
"Turner--Jesefa Turner"
"Josefa Turner, the girl who prom
ised to be my wife. your
daughter
Like a drunken man he staggered
toward chair and threw himself upon
it. burying his face in his hands.
The moments sped by and with them
the life of the wounded man. When
the young Englishman shook off the
lethargy into which he had fallen he
rose and went over to the Spot where
the old man lay.
He was dead. but over his rugged,
wrinkled face lay the sweet light of
peace.
The Fighting Bells.
One of the family of the fighting
Bells of Augusta County, Va, has died
at the homestead at Long Glade at the
age of 80. He was Alexander R. Bell,
- eve hrothorc hn tooofbou H. 4