The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-11-03
HER LIFE FOR HIS.
"a TRAGEDY.)

"a TRAGEDY
A gray mist hung over the lofty
peak Of Terrapin Mountain.
Up from the massey depths of q
gorge pale blue smoke assembled from
the rock chimney of a mountaineer's
cabin. From the door issued a lass
whose 1.-THE and graceful figure seemed
to float over the rock path which led
to the spring that gushed from the
craggy wall of primeval rocks above
her
Il wonder If Cap'n Earle is here?"
she muttered as she placed the pail
she had been carrying on the ground.
Shading her blue eyes from the rays
OF the now risen sun she peered into
the leafy darkness Of the far-reaching
chasm. "He said he'd come eff he
could get away from the men. The
cap'n he'd better be pulin' up sticks
and getin' out O. here cause dads
mad and Jim Helms mad. too. An
when them air two git mad at rev.
enue man thar's show to be trouble.
jim Hetiin an dad he'd just as well
put 1t in their pipes and smoke it,
too, fer the cap'n ein't goin' to git till
he ketches 'enl. Dads done got the
revenue men down on him now for
be trouble roun' Terrapin Mounting
yit."
Talking thus to herself. she started.
blushed and turned quickly as she
heard low whistle. A tall, fine.looll-
ing fellow stepped out into the clear
ing around the spring.
Good morning, Mary; you're look
ing as fresh and as pretty as that
mountain pink. What news?"
The girl blushcd to her ears as she
faced him, hut looked him steadily in
the eyes.
"Thar's goin' to he trouble round;
last night he was goin to kill you for
smaShin' his still on tother mountain.
You better keep both eyes open"
rs that all?" he asked, as he came
closer to her.
Amt that enoughf'
NO, Mary, am not afraid of their
threats. l fear your pretty face and
blue eyes more than l do moonshin-
ers."
Look here, Cap'n Earle: l amt
nothin but poor mounting gal an
| can't read or write. Keep them ere
sugary things fer the valley gals. Say
em to 'em as will taSe 'em."
As Mary said this she turned away.
A tremor was in her heart sob in
her voice. She had grown to love the
handsome officer. She loved him with
the wild and imprisoned fervor of q
nature untaught, unframed. And he,
had he conceived such thing, would
have smiled at her simplicity.
That night, while getting supper in
the little shed in the rear of the cabin.
she heard her father and Jim Hehin
talking in low tones in the main room.
Creeping near the door she listened
to their plan for waylaying and muir
dering Capt. Jack Earle With a heart
humping with terror she served their
supper in silence. AS soon as supper
was finished the two men shouldered
their guns, got on horses and started
away. 1t was dark and staress
night. The wind moancd and sobbed
through the echong pines.
80 Lord. God Almighty. | never
said prayer but THIS once. o Lord,
give me grit 'nough to git to him be
fore dad and Jim does
Ont of the cabin she rushed. dashing
madly over the rocks that formed the
bed of winter torrent. but now gone
dry. Faster she ran. now falling head.
long, but only to rise again and rush
on. At last she gain Il the plateau of
Terrapin. where stood The cabin of
Silas Coombs. Down the declivity she
dashed. As she gained the cabin. turn
ing she saw her father and Jim Hefin
riding TO the house as the great round
silvery moon appeared over the peak
"Open the door, open the door. fol
Gods sake, capn Git on yer horse
and 90, go like satan was after YOU"
Earle rushed out. GraSping her will
one arm. he saw she was faint, he
turned and faced old man Mason and
Jim Helm.
"What do you want?" he asked.
I'VE want you. cuss yer" replied
Hchin. as he made dash for Earle
Earle released his grasp of Mary, and
the two men clnchcd in deadly
struggle Over and over they rolled OF
the galley" each striving to Olsen
gage his pistol from his belt. At last
Helm drew his and, aiming it. would
have despatched the floor with Earle's
brains had not Mary. with scream
Of anguish, thrown herself between
the pistol and Earle. The ball went
crashing through the poorgirl's br, asst
Hefin started to his feet with in ex.
clamation of horror and fed madly
down the mountain, followed by Mas
on, who had seen the mark of the bull
let Earle rose to his knees, and,
catching the dying girl in his arms
sobbed as if his heart would break
strong man as he was,
what can | do, what can | do,
Mary, darling?"
THAR amt but one thing, cap'n,"
the dying girl gasped; ''just let me rest
my head on yer shoulder here. an
an" she hesitated, AN, capn, eff yer
don't mind, I'd like to have yer kiss
me just onct-"
And with his kiss on her lips the lit
tie heroine gave up to her Maker that
life she sacrificed for Earle. Milwau-
lee Journal.