Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-11-16

MUM was splendid joke, il tickleC
my fancy so. On! on, The hedge,
swept past me. the dust rose behind me
IN clouds. The villages ran by my sid,
IKE Come moving panorama, and the
STARS peeped out in the heavens. 1t was
Saturday night, and passed through
a busy town. The main street was
crowded, but | few by A little child
rushed across the road, and my horse
trampled il under his hoofs. But
could not stop. On! on! whispered
the devil; what matters child's life p
Presently, when / reached the open
country again, my horse stumbled and
fell. was thrown 10 the ground. NV
horse was dying. / wept, for loved
that mare. Muriel used to love her,
too. How often had her dainty hands
earessed her sleek and glossy coat My
| journey was ended. IL seemed But,
no; horseman came riding needless
ly upon as for the night was dark. and
stumbled over the form Of my steed.
He was thrown. helped the beast TO
Its feet again, mounted il and rode on.
The wind was rising. and presently
spot or two Of rain began to fall: the
sky became overcast 4 storm? Per
iaps SO, aud all the better, for was not
my heart stormy also? | crossed
stretch Of moorland. and then the rain
began q pour. ! rode on. Not a star
shone now. the way was dark; the
wind howled, the thunder roared
"A few more miles and was not vet
of the heath Soaked TO the skin.
mechanically saw the trees swaying In
the fierce wind and heard the branches
creasira and eraaking 10 the tune Of:
On! on, Nou md again forked
lightning flashed through the leaden
sky. Illuminating the sparkling rain
then ali was black once more
~And Then suddenly my horse slippe,
II had collided against some vehicle
which remained stationary in the road. |
The force Of the collision unseated me.
and ] CROPPED around the covered car
riage like a blind man feeling in the |
dark. and then lighted upon the closed |
door. We were in the very center Of
the lonely heath, miles from any hab.
itation. Could il mean highway rob
berry?
Il tremblingly touched the handle OF
the carriage door. Who's that?' cried
a mans voice above the thunder.
started and shivered. Merciful heaven,
the man! Ny body on fire, my eyes
burning as with fever. made no reply,
but peered in. and al that moment the
sky burst into a brilliant radiance.
started baek--that pale. wan face in
the corner Of the carriage which the
lightning had illumined-i was my
wife's,
"'Muriel. Muriell' shrieked.
There was no answer.
Muriel Murieli' I shrieked again
but still there was no response, and
the eyes Of my darling remained steadi- !
y fixed into vacancy.
with a passion that nearly tore me
,sunder I cried out to the man. who.
seeming half-dazed had the while been
gazing at her tenderly. elasping her
old, lifeless hand. :
You've killed herl You've killed
ieri'
HE turned into fury al that. G
ave mott he cried. I swear by God
We mott The lightning struck her at Z
iour agoi n
It's a liel' ] screamed. and my yoic.
eemcd 10 pierce beyond the din OF tlt,
dement's; and. gripping him by ID.
hroat dragged lm from the carriap h
I'D straugied him til be was dead, +.
And that is all : reverently co,
red Muriel up aud atJ. but since the
be villains relatives have been ON u.
rack. They say Killed him-that a.
lad. Dozens. scores al times they've "a
early had me. and 1iark. they're con h
ig uow!"
Hurcombe. who during the recital Z,
ad remained spellbound. moved un- m
isily BOZ his chair.
n hear nothing" be said at last; and ri
zen, recovering himself, adroitly =
irned 10 ring the electric bell. But the n
sitor had prevented him.
Don, do that. he said. in voice so
I'm thai the actor manager, aston p
he'd. looked up quickly.
The man was smiling quite naturally "
I'd suuely.
mir. Hurcombe." he said, as you've %
peatcdly assured me, I'm perfectly e e
ne" a.
WHAT" gasped the manager,
founded at hearing his own name pro- &c
,mCcd ~
Elm sane. repeated the man. y ne
isl youll excuse the trick I've played ia
,on YOU. a rick brought about by u
cessity and The urgency Of my caso. u'
actor, I've been ont Of an engage We
aut for months: and, hearing this GU
,rning Of the illness of two members pa
your company. determined ! would an
her secure the engagement or end WI
e ~ poverty off Waterloo bridge. All
\ at the theater I've been trying tC
| your ear, but no one would take up
name. / looked too seody, | sup =.
Se. The thing was hopeless, and
liked toward the river; bat the wa
looked SO cold. II YOU had only been a"'
L 10 give me a chance felt should
- ,.-,.,-r.l a .,tesess in the mart which TO