The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-08
SAVED BY HER GOODNESS
THE RASH YOUTH INTENDED TO
END BOTH THEIR LIVES.
THE CLEANING PISTOL WAS IN HER FACE
RufFin Holderfed Objected to Attentions Paid
to Miss ERie Roberts by Other Ad-
mrers. The Police Are Now Try
IL u,u,
ing to Find Him.

but there may be jealousy without loFc'
Ruffin HoIdcrfield seems TO have had
botl-the jealousy in Il very aggravated
form. AS a result the police are look
ing for him, while Il young woman on
Smitbticld street fears for her life.
Fife Roberts is her name. She is a
little lass Of eighteen, with dimpled
checks and sparkling black eyes framed
in blacker curls. 1t is this pretty face.
sole voice and gentle manner that have
won for her Il lover who had rather
die than give her up, and had rather see
her dead than welded to another.
Holderfield has known her for several
years. they have long been sweethearts.
He loved her and he had told her SO in
all the imprisoned sentences an I'M
learned youth of twenty can command,
and she had answered back something
that made his pulse beat stronger ami
the bird song in the trees turn TO an
anthem of hope and love.
That was months ago, and it was but
natural that young Holderfield should
feel a sort of proprietorship iii the young
woman who had won his heart.
But she held quite a different view
of the matter. SHE had some veIy deter
mined notions of her Own-had this
brave little woman.
For she was a woman, with 4 woman
heart-a heart that, though it may all
have been Ruffin Holderfield's. still
loved pleasure and the admiration of
Others.
SO Sunday afternoon she put on her
best frock, carefully arranged her curls.
and when Tim Mangum came along and
asked her to go out for a little walk.
she promptly accepted. AS they started
OH their walk toward the waterworks
little did she dream of the wicrd tragedy
and idiotic conduct on the part of he:
lover that the walk would cause.
II was not far from her home to that
of Holderield. As she passed Mrs.
Patterson's. neighbor, she saw Hoi-
derfield sitting upon the steps with a
number of other young people. The
greetings on both sides were cordial.
But the girl had not gone far before
Holderfield began TO cry, saying that his
girl had gone off with another fellow.
Then he jumped. got his pistol and star
ted in pursuit of them. In the pursuit
he overlook the girls sister, Jenny Rob
erts, and her friend Lucy Levy. He
kissed them good-by. saying he was GO
ing to kill Effie and then himself: that
she had refused to marry him and had
gone off with Tim Mangum: that life
was no longer worth living. but that il
Inc couldn't get her no one else should.
Wen both die together" and brand
ishing his pistol he ran ON up the road.
The couple were overhaken just be-
yend the negro cemetery.
Hold on Effie." he yelled, his pistol
in hand, hold on there. what do you
mean by this? I'm going to kill YOU
God dn you.'
Saying this Tie seized her by tue left
" rjst.
',9Good-by. Ehie." kissing the girl as
she stood paralyzed with fear.
Now and he put the pistol to her
face.
Il could count the balls, as he held it
there, she told me yesterday. "ItI
seemed like an hour"
Now, I'm going TO kill you, God in
you.'
Mangum protested, but The protest
seemed to anger HolderfieId the more.
Yes, I'm gong to kill you and then
myself, and WILL go to hell together
Do you think Ill go to hell. Rulfin!"
asked the girl with remarkable GOODNESS
Then, as by inspiration, she seemed
TO guess ut the cause of it I'LL and she
said quietly, smiling up into the distorted
angry face behind the revolver:
"W-aft a minute, Ruffin. before Won,
do it. / want to teH You something.
There's something l should like for Won
to know before / die"
The pistol dropped to his side
Yes she chirped on as If nothing
had happened, 1--WE got something toI
explain to you" They were now walk.
ing along together.
And what is it, Effie?' ne asked ca
gerly.
You must put away that dreadful
weapon before / can tell you. Here give
it TO Tim" He oBayed willingly.
Then they walked on. No one knows
what was said but those two, no one
ought to know. At any rate much could
not have been said, as soon q crowd Of
people who had seen Ho,dprEcld with
the pistol and heard his threats. came ND.
They told Holderfeld a policeman was
coming after him and so he turned back
and went across country. while Miss
Roberts came back with her friends.
That night on her way to church she
saw him again and he was CRYING and
repentant enough, saying that he mated
to leave Raleigh.
But yesterday she hearl of d,rl.
threats he was again MAKING
ia rather kill her than arytbing
ever did in my life" she heard he had
said. And I'll do it if she ever zoos
with Tim Mangum again"
Later in the day he sent word 10 know.
whether she would marry him Mt once
She replied that she most empl,aticnllv
would not.
Thus the matter stands. If the M.
lice can find Holderlield there viii ho
a sensational TRIAL before the MAYOR this
morning
Women should remember that as :,
persnader kiss always discounts a roll
ing-pin.