The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-02-23


spouse of the other person, who stood
on the path which led to the road
from the country house behind them.
Tho two girls had strolled down the
walk in the crisp winter sunlight, and
they looked as unlike as two people
coutd we'll be.
Julia Stallo turned her head with n
quick, imperious movement rs she ex-
cllimed:
"Why would you not feel sure, since
am sure? Do you think 1 would give
my promise to man who did not
adore me?"
but men may adore of one mo.
ment, and be Indifferent the next"
returned Miss Branch, stopping to
twist more closely about her head the
blue, fluffy mass of wool which pro.
tectcd her from the cold.
THE man whom | love will not do
so. was tue quick reply.
Miss Branch, who was four or five
years Older than the magnificent brn.
nettc, looked at her curiously ia 81.
lence for q time.
Miss Branch was small. One ut
first would have said she was plain,
but might discover that her face pos.
sessed wonderful power of express
sion; there might be concentrated
spark in her eyes that would possess
force in whatever way she chose.
After pause she said quietly:
81 should imagine it might he easy
for man TO be faithful to a creature
like you. Is Mr.. North coming to-
day."
eyes"
81 think you make a great mistake
IN loving any man so much. All! what
is that?"
The exclamation was caused by the
sound OF something rushing through
the shrnb5ery of egergreen5 at the
right of where the two girls we're
standing.
Julia Stallo shrieked a little, and
ehrank to one side, and at the same
moment huge, dark. colorel deg
uashed out from the cedar hedge. His
head was down, his mouth scattered
foam, aud his eyes emitted sparks.
While Julia, who bad sprung away.
had gone directly in the path of
the iufnriated animal, Miss Branch.
who had remained where she had been
standing, was several yards from him.
The brute wns going on with that
answering leap which is so terrible to
see, and he had passed Miss Branch.
who had not moved, toward Julia
static, who seemed petriied with ter.
ror In the spot where she stood.
"For Gods sake, jump out OF the
way" cried Miss Branch, shrilly.
HE will not turnl'
If Julia heard she gave no sign; she
was incapable OF moving.
Miss Branch could not stand quiet
There was dash Of physical COURAGE
ia her which enabled her 60 spripo
iol ward, slipping Oft the crimson shawl
from her shoulders rs she did so. and
then Haunting it full il the face of the
ldeyel animal, who moved one
side, nui wavcred in confusion, while
julia Stallo sank down TO tho oroun1
in heap, and her white face was li;o
the face of the dead, save for the PRO
tru ling eyes of horror
The dog, bnlfied for the moment and
uncertain, now turned toward Mig,
Branch. II was useless for her 70 frv
W Nut fDAC GlhN I't'l INI hfflNH nm /
stood still.
Only for n breath OF time. however
The sound OF q footstrp on ths 'roz n
gravel might have been hslrl by fl,a
girls, if they could have heard my
thing
The footstep was that OF someone
running furiousiy. A man appeared
Flo had pistol IN bis hand. ana
though there was terrible fear i'm
his mind that ho might not ain cor.
reclly, be could not hesta @.
The flash, the report Of the pistol
and the dog rolled over with moan.
h's teeth SGT fast ia the skirt OF lies
brAuch's drese.
10 was TO Julia Stallp's side thit the
man -pranR, hardly elauc,nl IT. Miss
Branch, vino cOoIly drew penknife
from her 20 ,kei, and, stopping, cnre.
fully cut her cre-s away rom the prip
OF the Dying DOGS teeth.
That, 7 suppose, Is Mr. North. a"
che said 20 herseIf, looking 1t him A..
teutIyelY rs he bent on ono knee over
julia, whose sen.es had come back to
~ efficiently TO enable licr % rccog-