The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-11-04

stood under a
lamp post. She was tall and dark, and
SO motionless that she might have been
statue. Her arms were folded under
her cloak. A policeman, edging his way
through the crowd, asked her a ques-.
ton. 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, 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 at him with a
strange smile, as she relaxed her hold
on the pistol, she said:
Il am woman, and demand to be
treated as SUCH"
When she had been taken to the sta
ton and asked to make n statement,
she said: 'My name is Irene Roma.
The name Of the man I shot is Roy
Campbell. shot him because he ought
to be killed. He was engaged to marry
my sister. He did not keep faith with
He is brute, and ought to be dead"
Campbell was taken to a hospital.
His wounds were pronounced danger
GUS. An effort was made to interview
him. But all he would say was: 'I
suppose she thought she had right to
ch 10 1,o.l 4
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
card bearing the name of Irene Roma
was handed to him. He looked hard at
1t, rubbed his eyes, held 1t further away,
then closer, and then remarked: II
don't understand why she should want
to see me. Let her come in"
With timid, awe-struck air the wom-
an approached the bed. She coughed
in embarrassment as she seated herself
on chair which the nurse placed for
her. She put back her hair, made aim
less motions in her confusion, and then,
looking straight at Campbell, said:
Il am awfully sorry l shot you"
Campbell smiled. "And are you sure
you haven't come to shoot me again?'
he 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, wouldn't. You have come so
far out here that l couldn't have found
the heart to disappoint you"
"a plaster of sarcasm won't draw out
a soreness, Mr.. Campbell. l have suf-
fered so with remorse that I have come
to see if could not find some sort of
consolation. You don't know how
have suffered. And l must go through
a hateful trial, too, with everybody
looking at me. Oh, do wish l hadn't
shot your
''Yes," he drawled, 81 rather wish so
myself. So, you see, we have some
thing in common. But you needn't be
worried over the trial. l shall not ap-
pear against you"
The nurse had withdrawn. They
were alone. She put back her hair
again, and he followed the movement
of her graceful hand-the hand that had
shot him. NO, | will not appear" he
went on. at is something of a distinc-
ton to be shot by the handsomest wom-
an in Liverpool" He hesitated as he
saw the tears gathering in her eyes.
81 take 1t all back" he said. She wiped
her eyes, and sat looking far away |
through 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, am sorry / shot you" she said; |
''but l hate you. and never can forgive |
you"
"Ah! and / am therefore consoled by |
the thought that you never can forgive
me-"
"Bruter' she said. 81 almost wish I
he'd killed YOU
when n woman almost wishes a
thing. she wishes 1t doubly," he replied.
81 don't know but there is some truth
III tHdt, SHS dsStutSu. but WDiC
beast you were 10 treat Florence so.
How could you?"
Because / was a beast, I suppose"
"Ies, you were. She was taken i'll
With fever shortly afterward. but it was
1 broken heart that killed her." Her
.yes shot shafts of hatred at him. But
didn't come to reproach you," she
said
'Then why did you Gomez" he asked.
''To ask you why you could have been
80 heartless. l simply want to know.
Was it because you have no heart at
III?
at was because I had too much
leart"
She darted fierce look at him. "Ah!
t was because you loved another wom-
in."
"Yes. Florence made me promise to
ell her if-if should love any one bet
er than did her. 1t was not my fault
f another woman set my soul afire,
when Florence had only warmed my
leart. God knows fought against it
With all my strength, all my philosophy.
But at last l had to tell her, and left