Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-04-07


ude. A fancy took him to look once
more at Tomgarrow, where his meetings
with Molly used TO take place. He reach
IL the narrow lane which led to the little
hamlet and walked slowly up the ascend
ng ground. The gathering darkness.
made him scarcely aware of the ap
proach of another wayfarer from an oppo
site direction until the two were almost
face to face. And then Harrington
reused himself from his reverie. and came
to a sudden standstill. barring the other
mans advance.
I've . word to say to you, Ralph
kingscott," he said, in harsh, decided
tones.
Ralph Kingscott also stopped short.
AL the two men looked into each others
eyes.
What have you to say?" said King
scott.
/ There was a scarcely suppressed i'm
patience in his tone. He glanced up and
down the narrow lane as If he wanted to
estimate his chance of escape from his
interlocutor.
/ Il want a good many things" replied
aannington. doggedly. You have sew
Z eral matters to answer for. l want the
truth of this story about Molly that Lady
Val has been telling me about. You know
as we'll as j do that she never took from
J her fathers house farthing's worth that
did not belong to her. l hear that you
! you Of all people!-helped to throw suspi-
cion upon her.
Kingscott laughed. but his face had
turned psla
Il know nothing about the robbery.
! Appearances were against Molly and
yourself l only agreed with Moncrieff in
thinking that you" kingscott stopped
short. Harrington had seized him in
strong, masterful grip and was shaking
him as q dog shakes q rat
You lie!' he said. And you know
that you lie!'
Kingscott WAS apparently much the
weaker of the two men. He was shorter
and slighter than John Harrington; but
Harrington was out of training, and ha1
lately led u peculiarly exhausting and
unhealthy kind of life. On the Other
hand, Ralph was less courageous than
his old acquaintance. and was inclined
To make his way out of "a difficult position
Ly cunning where Harrington would
probably sink to brutality. His very
lips looked pale in the waning light. while
Hannington's face glowed with the burn.
ing red of anger and excitement.
Let me gow said Kingscott.
You will come with me to Dunkeld.
them
Not I?'
"I'l! make you"
How long is it since you have been
SO fond of your wifef" said Kingscott.
with q sneer.
Ii was an ill-adyised remark FLAMING
.0n's hand closed more tightly than ever
upon his collar. The two men closed
with one another; in the struggle it soon
became evident that Hsnnington's supe
rior weight. as well as his frenzy OF
anger, told in his favor. Kingscott de
Tended himself but feebly.
There you are!' said Huntington al
asst. as he held his opponent down upon
the ground and looked at him with grim
vindictiveness-
CHAPTER XXIV.
He had slightly loosened his hold.
kingscott wrenched his hand free and
thrust il into an inner pocket. The re-
port of u revolver rang out to startle the
silence of the lonely hills. To the man
who fred that shot 1t seemed as If its echo
would never die away. Although the
lonely lane in which he stood was far re-
moved from the habitations of man, he
could not but fancy that the sound would
rouse the avengers of blood and bring
them from scores of hooks and corners
to punish the murderer for his crime.
For Harrington had fallen TO the
ground and lay there as one dead, while,
for a moment or two, Ralph Kingscott-
crouching beside him-watched and wait.
ed for any sign of life. But none came.
He tarned away and strode hastily up
the lane. lie did not want to be seen IN
! the high-road now. He would strike
) across the fields, and take devious route
toward Biairgowrie, thence to the nearest
! seaport town. He meant to make the
best Of his way to Spain.
When Harrington awoke to conscious
ness, he was dimly surprised to find ia
miliar faces were about him. He had
been carried to Torresmuir, for the man
who had discovered him knew that he
had married Mr.. Moncrieffs daughter
, and had taken it for granted that he
! would be nursed at his father -in-law'
house.
, He lay for the most part in a dreamy
, state, not suffering much pain, but grow
ing weaker every hour. 1t seemed to
him that he was wrapped in a sort OF
mist, from which faces occasionally
emerged with puzzling distinctness. They
were all kind and friendly faces, but he
had not energy to respond much to the
kindness. Now it was Stellas soft eye:
that rested on him pityingly; he reused
himself to ask her to forgive him for al
that he had done. Then Alan Moncrief
bent over him and asked him some ques
tions, and to these he did his best tc
reply. But it was hard to fix his atten
ton, to call his mind back from the float
ing nlfsts in which it was enveloped.
Had Ralph Kingscott anything to d:
with this?" Alan asked. There was 1
pause, for the feeble answer came: II
was all my fault"
, "All your fault ?-you had Quarreled 2
"It was about-Molly; I can't tell yOr
now. She never robbed you-nor did 1
/ believe that it was kingscott."
"Yes; believe that 1t was King scott.
"You know that it was not Molly?"
II know-I am sure of IL"
That's right" said Harrington. IN 1
, tone of weary relief, and then his eye
! closed and the mist seemed to have Ell
! quilted him once again.
, When he opened his eyes they reste,
on Molly's white. worn face. She wa
sitting beside him.
"Molly," he said. feebly SIS 1t reall!
, Molly?"
: "Yes, dear Jack"
!, There's something 1 wanted to say
). Will you forgive me. Molly?"
, Il forgave you ever so long ago, Jach
3 When baby came forgave you"
You'll let me see 1.-THE baby-befor
goT
'She is here" said Molly.
: 81 can't see it. Everything Is 30 dark.
i She guided his hand to the little hea
of the child which was now given int
her arms. Then he asked If he nigh
kiss it.
). ut is a girl, isn't iti" he said. "She'
be a comfort to you, Molly. Somebod
p, told me what you were going to ca
, her"