Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-11-17
"Perhaps he'll get killed?

do. No-no-there's nothing for it
but for me to take the law in my own
hands. Good night, Kid, I'm going
to Sleep"
The next day Bill was struck on the
head by piece of she'll in the early
part of the engagement.
A man, who had hitherto kept care
fully out of sight, ran forward, and,
picked him up, started for the rear,
carrying his insensible body.
The Kid, who was leaning against
the tree bandaging his shattered left
arm, looked up as they passed him.
"Why, it's Bill, he cried. ''Say,
pardner, where's he hit? Is it bad?"
'In the head don't know"
answered the stranger.
''Poor old Bill" said the boy, with
quivering lips. ooh, amt this war a
horrible business? 1 don't want any
more of their --fghtingr'
He hsa stood the pain of his own
wound without whimper, but the
sight of his friends bloody face was
too much for overweight nerves. He
broke down and sobbed like child.
''Brace up, Kid; perhaps it amt as
bad as it looks" said the stranger.
ooh, that's all right for you to say"
answered the boy. "What is it to
you? But he was my pardner, and
care something about it..
The arms of the stranger gripped
his burden convulsively. He turned
a savage face upon the boy.
''Shut up, you fool!'' he said; then
added in different voice: 'Give me
lift with your good arm, will you; I
feel kinder sick"
The Kid took his friends feet under
his arm, while the stranger supported
the shoulders.
So they staggered on until they
came to the field hospital.
There they laid the wounded man
down with all possible tenderness.
The Kid went to hasten surgeon.
As Bill touched the earth his eyes
opened, vacantly ut first, but with
gradually increasing intelligence, fury
gathering in them the while, until
they bent upon the stranger with alb
solute ferocity.
The other gazed steadily at him.
at last said Bill, between his teeth.
eff could raise a hand I'd kill you'll"
"Will you listen to me a minute?"
answered the other. 81 only ask you
for little time, and every word shall
be Gods truth
A weakness swept across the
wounded man. Life lost its intensity.
He nodded YEARLY.
"Well, BILL" said the stranger, in
a halting, abrupt fashion, 81 was
bad lot-there amt any doubt of it,
and that my feelings toward Sally
were wrong 1 amt going to deny, but
don't be too hard on the girl. 1t was
all my fault. led her along so quiet
and easy that she didn't suspect me.
That she didn't understand right away
is true, too; but, Bill, we're all human,
and you know had the trick of pleas
ing women. AS God is my witness,
Bill, it didn't go as far as you think.
Then, and when she understood fully,
she wouldn't let me so much as touch
her hand. Still she felt, poor little
soul, that she was to blame in the
matter, and she worked and talked
to me, to show what an awful thing
we'd done. She brought up how good
you'd been to both of us, until saw
Il saw.
''Then enlisted right away-that's
the reason 1 came down hereto see
if couldn't get out of it all in
decent sort of a way, for am sick of
myself sick. And, Bill, I'll
never go back-I feel it in my bones
but even if 1 should 1 couldn't
trouble you any more, for the girl gave
it up of her own free will, which amt
little thing on this earth, where
none of us are angels. might change
again--I know it-I never was either
good or bad long at time-but Sally
is different kind. You'll never have
cause to doubt her again, that's sure"
The wounded man looked at him
with sad eyes.
"You always were liar" he said,
simply.
.'That's so, that's so," asserted the
other, eagerly. "But not this time,
Bill. I wish I could tell with my
dying breath; then you couldn't help
but believe me-"
The words had hardly left his
mouth when there was ripping sound
in the bush, instantly followed by
sharp ''thwuckw A piece of cloth
leaped from the strangers breast. A
fountain of blood spurted after it.
His eyes were filled with wonder.
He stood erect--so-for fraction of
time, then the muscles gave way and
he came crashing to the earth. A
second later he raised himself upon
his elbow, struggling with the hurry
and confusion of his mind He fixed
his dimming eyes upon his enemy,
gasping:
I'm gone, Bill-all true-so help
me--God! i Forgive"-
And he was dead.
Bill covered his eyes with his hands.
The vengeance which we gloat over