Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-08-29

and remember with pride-for Mary
Mayfield, the handsomest girl in
Dumbledon, for whose hand George
Kempster, lance corporal, and my
self were erivals, were present--that after
getting thirty-two at 200 yards and
twenty-nine at 500 yards, 1 finished
up at 600 yards with thirty, making
my score ninety-one, a good perform
ance in those days, and for the time I
was hero.
George Kempster was down next,
and | am ashamed to confess that it
was not without triumphant glance
and smile toward Mary that l saw
him finish with twenty-five and total
OF eighty-four.
The marker had been hit in the eve
by splashing bullet and George AID
were selected to take his place.
went unwillingly, L must allow, for
Mary was there.
George strobe away to the butts in
such manner that | often had to
break into trot to keep pace with
him. Not word did be speak, and
when 1 asked him what caused hiu
hurry he looked at me with such dis
dain, as | thought, that I eubsided a!
once, and to tell the truth, felt rather
ashamed. The target, heavy iron
plate, stood supported by stout girders
some six feet from the bank of earth
in the rear. In the middle of the
plate-to be more precise, the six
inch "bull' itself had been cut out
from the remainder of the target, and
when shooting was in progress was
fitted to its place by heavy bolt that
dropped from above.
The reason for this coptrivance |
once heard was that whom q prize
shoot took place for live pigs and
poultry, the unfortunate animals were
placed in the aperture and were
claimed by the marksman who killed
them.
had made the plate look spick and
span and had gone behind in the
shade to rest after my labors, when
suddenl y a heavy hand was laid upon
my shoulders and another on my
mouth, and before I could move was
thrown heavily to the ground. 1
tried to shout, but something was in
my mouth, and as 1 recovered from
the shock of the fall l recognized the
face OF Kempster, though sadly
changed, and hot and cruel.
He had a rope, and was binding my
arms to my side, rolling me over and
to and fro as though I were dog.
Then he ran to the mantlet, and |
tried to rise; but my limbs seemed
numbed, and before / could scram-
bic to my knees he was back and had
struck me to the earth again. When
next looked up he was standing be-
side me, and I felt my limbs securely
bound together. He was mumbling,
and I listened.
Miserable little cur!' he hissed.
"You thought you'd rob me of her,
and win her for your own. l saw you
smile and show your vulgar pride
when failed at 600 yards. I saw you
make sign with her and laugh to-
gether at my discontinue? Miserable
houndl Do you know, coward" he
whispered, leaning over me. ST asked
her last night to marry me and she
refused? Perhaps you know why!
Perhaps some one had poisoned her
mind against mel Perhaps it was you.
Yes, you sneak, villain, coward"
As he said this his eyes seemed to
start from his head, and every moment
expected the heavy stick he held in
his hand to descend ON my upturned
face. In vain l attempted to make
signs-to deny his assertions, and tc
calm his anger.
"Do you know who shoots next?'
he asked.
Ibid remember. Itwas Corpl. May.
field.
II see you do, he continued. "It
is Mayfeld, ard / see you thrill at the
name because it is her name. Ha, ha
Fred will shoot we'll to-day, because
there's living bull, and as his bullet
strikes the black the people will cheer.
and his sister will smiler'
EeA,ens What did he mean2 Why