The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-23


clasp.
"You-you really mean it?" she cried, in
sudden fear. you really love me, not from
pity because II love you so much; but
Because I can't help it," he said, with a
tender laugh. Il love you, dear, with all my
heart and soul; YOU are the joy of my world
TO me! 1 feel that have known you always
-that, lacking you, should lose myself Oh
words are so poor, so mean, to tell you what
you are to me! What can say but that I
love you. Nan? love you! love you'll
with each word he kissed her tenderly
and, looking into his eyes, and reading his
souls devotion there. Mans doubts were set
at rest forever.
She sighed softly with relief, and closed her
eyelids over great tears-tears of happiness
at the wonderful good fortune Fate had sent
to her.
Suddenly the remembrance of Jasper Good
win came into her mind and, trembling a
little, she told Adair of his wild threatenings
Inc look of fierce anger that came into his
race frightened her, and she chung to him
pltlfully, begging him incoherently not to no.
t1ce Jaspers ill-behavior, and Adair soothed
her gently. and laughed away her agitation
altnough, in his heart, he resolved on a day
OF bitter reckoning with the man who had
behaved in so cowardly fashion to an un-
protected girl, and that girl Nan.
Let us go home" she said, after a time
IN, have promised to be in before dusk, and
want them to know how happy I am" she
added, Shyly "They will be glad too for
they are fond Of you I know How could
they help being so? How good it was of you
to come! 1 have been so unhappy"
ut was good to myself, my darling" he
said, kissing her. eff I can help it, you shall
never be unhappy again so long as I live"
Her happiness shall be of short duration
then! This to your heart curse you!" a.
grating voice cried out, and Jasper Good
win, his eyes cleaning with maniacal rage
leaped over the stile and advanced furiousy
towards them.
Wild cry; the sharp report of a revolver
sounded at the same moment, and she sank
moaning to the ground. N'li 'ftf 4
Then Jasper rushed madly on Affair." and in
another instant the latter was struggling in
the grasp of the mailman
CHAPTER TX.
They struggled frantically, each man filed
with terrible rage; but the odds were
greatly against Adair, for he felt, with a
thrill Of dismay, that his strength had not
fully returned to him since his Illness and
That he was growing weaker and weaker be-
meath Jasper's furious efforts.
Screams Of rage and bitter curses poured
necessarily from the madmans mouth; his
lips were foam1ng, his face was pale and dis
torted, and his eyes glowed with demoniac
glee as he noticed Adair's growing feebleness
He seemed possessed of superhuman
strength, for the more Adair struggled the
tighter grew his grip, till it appeared as if
he would crush the life from the younger
man.
Adair resisted him with all his might but
In vain, for, at last, with great exertion of
muscle, Goodwin flung MIN to the ground
and. bending over him, set one knee on his
chest
DO you know what I'm going to do?" he
shrieled, with a volley Of curses. you've
stolen her from me, but you shant have her
for all that! I'm going to shoot you like a
dog-like dog!" and he snarled and showed
his white teeth savagely. Yes, like the cur
you are!-the taief-the tramp!"
Adair felt the muzzle of the revolver touch
his forehead, and he closed his eyes with an
involuntary tremor.
There was no chance of escape for the
path, though it led from the station, was but
little frequented at any time, and scarcely
used at all in the winter season.
Goodwin gloated over his momentary fear
with a hideous, grating laugh.
yes, you shall taste death slowly-you
shall feel the full bitterness of your doom''
he yelled. you took her from me-you
robbed me of her, and I swore she should
having it's recompeEse.
You meddling fool! What need had you
to interfere? 1 tried before to get you out of
the way; 1 owed you a spite already. This
time your thick skull shall not save your
But Adar had been gathering his strength
for a final effort during these brief moments.
A sudden spasm of awful anger at the in
jury done to Nan came to him, and, mad
Gened by the lust of revenge, he dashed away
the hand that held the revolver and taking
Goodwin by SUI prise, grapped with him again
in a murderous struggle, both men rolling
over and over in silence. save when one
gasped for BREATH for strength not to
be wasted in vain outcrieS, and Adair had
Goodwin by the thre at.
For the next few moments time and space
disappeared for Adair and he was dominated
Goodwin
Little by little he felt the mailman s