Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-10
A Brave Coward.
By Robert Louis Stevenson

By Robert Louis Stevenson.

CHAPTER tContinued)
My vile and J. man and a woman,
aave often agreed to wonder how per-
son could be at the same time SO hand
some aud so repUlsive as Nerthmour.
He had the appearance of finished
gentleman: his face bore every marx
of Intelligence and courage, but you on
y had 20 loGk at him. even in his most
nMiahse moment. to see that he had
tie temper of a slave captain.
never knew character that was
ncts explosive and revengeful TO the
same degree: he combined the vlvaclty
81 the South with the sustained ana
ee2dly hatreds of the North: and both
Gratis were plainly written on his face,
xLict, was q sort OF danger signal. In
person he was tall. strong and active;
nis hair and complexion very dark; his
features handsomely designed, but
spelled by a menacing expression.
a, that moment he was somewhat
galer .ban by nature; he wore heavy
trcwn. and his lips worked. and lie
looked sharply round as he walked, like
u
AnG yet / thought he had a look Of
triumph underlying all. as though lie
haG already done much, and was near
.he end az an achievement.
Partly from a scruple of delicacv-
which dare say came too late-partly
from the pleasure of startling an ac-
1caiAtaRce. | desired TO make my pres
eLce known to him without delay.
: got suddenly TO my feet, and step
ped forward.
Ncrthmouri" said /.
! have never had SO shocking a sur
grise IN all my days. He leaped on me
without a word; something shone in
lis hand: and he struck for my heart
with a dagger. At the same moment
: Knocked him head over heels. Wheth-
o. x was my quickness, or his own I'M
certainty, | know not; but the blade
only grazed my shoulder, while the
4nt and his fist struck me violently
On the mouth.
] fed. but not far. / had often and
eften observed the capabilities of the
SAND Ellis for protracted ambush on
Dteaithy advances and retreats; and,
not ten yards from the scene of the
bcufEie, pumped down again upon the
grass. The lantern had fallen and gone
out. Bat what was my establishment
10 see NorthmOur slip at a bound into
khe pavilion, and hear him bar the
Aoor behind him with 4 clang of iron.
He had not pursued me. He had run
AWAY. Northmour, whom l knew for
HE most implacable and daring Of
Een, had run away!
As thus stood transfixed with
wonder, began to grow painfully con-
Bcsous of the injuries 1 had received
n the scuffie; / skulked around among
AAs sand hills; and. by devious path.
sSRained the shelter of the wood. On
NE way, the old nurse passed again
within several yards OF me, still car
Eying her lantern, on the return Jour-
ney 10 the mansion house of Graden.
This made seventh suspicious feature
IA ths case Northmour and his guests,
- Appeared, were to cook and do the
cleaning for themselves. while the old
wcnan continued TO inhabit the big
amply barrack among the policies.
There must surely be great cause for
bserecy, when SO many inconvenience
were confronted to preserve il.
So thinking, / made my way to the
den. For greater security, trOd out
che embers of the fire, and lit my Ian
4srr to examine the wound upon my
shorlder. 1t was a trifling hurt,
Though il bled freely, and / dressed it
ss wei as could flor its position made
q difficult to reach with some rags
and cold water from the spring. While
vas thus busted, / mentally declar-
% war against Northmour and his
mystery.