The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-07-18

talked. "rhe old kpsnt died, to be- sure.
but have you forgotten how Well. ho
got into trouble with another old fellow
over some land. and the other chap foll
uron him, urarmei though my fptrlnlhnr
was, and slew him. As he trll he turned
ha head aud gased Oh the wound which
was In hts right side. aHd which he tore
the clothing from, aud after one glaaoo
he covered his eyes with one hand.
shrleling on, something about the Moor'a
head an he dld no,
There In tie shadow ot his castle ne
dicd few minutrH later. and when IN.
feryaatH came running ia mud him hav.
ms heard his death porvams they knew
the nrn. curse had fallen for from tho
ssapins wound IN their maRIrr'S site a
clio, ot blood had risca and taken tho
form OF head And to their excited
imagination and from the color ~ tho
dark fluld II to'k upon itsslf the Ftar,ns
hlanec to tbs Moor whom tho kpiaht
had slaia as numerically as his enemy
had ius, put an end 10 hls life
Then tlsy remembered the eursc, ana
looked az each other frightened asd awed.
The old knights only son lived 90 So ~.
when one day ho wounded himself IN the
arm Ito thought nothing NJ Il untii the
Mo0r's head appeared. when hu ioal hla
30 for generations Il ran. ANA never oacs
has tho eldest son ot the eldest son dlea
auEht but violent death. and hla
death has always becR preceded by tho
appearance Of this silent mssaenEvr. who
has nsvrr given false warning That
ia the legend. and I'm sorry 10 Say
sometimes iced 90 II my death would
have 10 hc violent one 10 carry out the
wrrtc,ted curse. nrtns The sldss, soH ot
my fph.r u would sud with mo were l
TO die now"
II tr,tat 80, but pray hc little cheerful
and haik something else besides dying
Just 10 accommodate the charming mala.
diction. You are good FOR many many
years Yet. and=bo careful. ThorndyFr
The other man was lunEtag At heavy
old bronze plaque which hunE Oh tho
wall opposite him "a Cafwln spoke. Il
the sword bent and snapped hack again
at each thrust IN manner unpleasant
TO tho latIer's ears, au n forbotinE come
evil Indeed. haNily had he spoken when
there WAS a sharp crack of breaking
steel and the point u the weapon whist
led back from tho wall rhorndyks
snrang aside but too late The rusty tip
~ tho sword. broken oniy an inch or
two from the point. had alrrady reached
him and sank deep into bis breast lost
below the heart ard with suppressed
groan OF pain h. tumblcd into hIa friends
arms
Carrying him to the cushioned seat fcar
tho fireplace, carwin tore the coat anil
shirt from about the wound ami. taking
a firm Strip upon the htt OF utcol. which
just showed itself above the wound. he
withdrew II slowly with his muscular
fingers end hurled /, iato the glowing
nrc
A. he dd 30 Thorndyke opcned hR
eyes and struggled to sitting position.
though The other atrovr TO keep him
upon the plliows
"Oh, hcpyrAi" screamed the wounded
man Wildly Look. carwin. look II is
1t Is the Moor'a head And III ITO
stoppcd. shiyer passed over his now
damp body. and hr swayed against tho
wall ana from there down TO tho couch
dead,
Carwin. with curious light IN his eyes.
glanced about the room an an animal
might. and then back at the Moor'r head.
Then he swept onc hand down over his
frlends bare breast and tore the cloth
from the wound, squeezing Il vloi0ualy In
his hand ~ he did 10.
4 moment passed during which thera
was no sound save the deep ana nervous
breathing Of tho nina erpuchng ucaida
the dead body Of ThorRdykc Thca slowly
the head appeared again. and again p~
swept II on and crushed II with hia
hand.
A third time the head came. and Car
win with staring eyes and chalklIkc face.
staggered 10 his feet Then. with ono
mad look az the horrible thing. he rushed
to tho door. and wrcnching II open,
screamed for help.