Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-02-01

As pcopl" walked up in Milton the
"Wednesday morning after the shoot
ing Of Philip Strong they grew con-
scious Of the fact. as the news came TO
their knowledge that t'"Y had been
nursing for 80 years one Of the most
brutal and cowal lily institutions on
earth and licensing it to do the very
thing wl.ich mt last it had done. For
the time being Milton suffered @cnu-
inc shock. Long pcnt UP feeling against
the whisky power burst out. and pub
lie sentiment for once condemned the
source of the cowardly attempt to muir
der.
Various rumorS were flying about II
was said that Mr.. Strong had been
stabbed in the back while ont making
parish calls in company with his wife
and that she had been wounded by n
pistol shot herself. II was also said
that he had been shot through the
heart ANA instantly killed. But all
these confused reports were finally set
IT rest when those calling ut the par
sonage brought away the exact truth.
Tho first shot fired h. the man from
behind the tree struck Philip in the
knee. but the Eall glanced off He felt
the blow ana staggered, but HIS next
impulse was to rush in the direction OF
the sound and diSarm his aSsailant.
That was the reason he had lcapcd into
the street. Put the second shot was
better aimed. ana the bullet crashed in
10 his upper arm and shoulder. shatter-
ing u 90 bone and producing an exceed
ingly painful, though not fatal, wound.
The shock caused Philip to fall, and
he tainted away, but not before the
face of the man who had shot him was
clearly stamped on his mind, He knew
that he was one of the saloon propric-
tors whose establishment Philip had
visited The week before. He was n man
with n harclip, and there was no mis-
, taking his count"nanc1.
When the people of Milton learned
that Philip was not fatally wounded
their excitement cooled little. \
wave Of Indignation however, swept
over the town when it WAS learned that
D
by the minister. and il was rumored
that he had openly threatened that he
would Xix the cursed preacher so that
he would not b" able to preach again
Philip. however. felt more full of
fight against the rum devil than ever
/ AS he lay ON the bed the morning after
the shooting he had nothing to regret
or fear. The surgeon had been called
at once, as soon as his wife and The
alarmed neighhorS had been able &c
carry him into the parsonage. The bal
had been removed and the wound,
dressed. BY noon he had recovered
somewhat from the effects of the op
Grafton and was resting, although very
weak from the shock and suffering
considerable pain.
what is That stain on the floor
Sarah" he asked as his wife came il
with some article for his comfort
Philip lay where he could see into The
other room.
at is your blood, Philip" replied hi
wife, with n shudGCr. at drippcd likt
a stream from your shoulder rs W.
carried YOU in last night. Oh, Philip
it is dreadful, 1t seems to me like III
awful nightmare. Let us move ava!
from this terrible place. You oill b,
killed if we stay here"
"Thcrc isn't much danger If the res
of 'em are rs poor shots as this feel
low" replied Philip. "Now, little wa
man" he went on chccrfully, don
worry | don't believe they'll try
again"
Mrs. Strong controlled herself, Sh
did not want to break down while Phil
ip was in his present condition.
You must not talk" she said rs sh
smoothed his hair back from the pal
forehead.
That's pretty hard on preacher
don't YOU think, Sarah? Ny occupu
ton is gone il I can't talk"
"Then I'll talk for two. They sa
that most women can do that"
"Will you preach for me next Sur
day.
"What, and make myself n target fo
saloon Keepers No, thank you. | hay
half mind To- forbid you ever preach
ing again. 1t will be the death {
yon."
1T is the life Of me, Sar.l. l woul