Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-10-31

riedly mounting their hofoos thog E1de
OF, one calling back 10 her:
We've got him, Sissy. Thets Tom
road. SOS to head him on an meet
we'uns heah."
The pursuers proceeded down the
right-hand road beyond the forks. from
whence the shots seemed to have come,
where the road makes sudden dip into
4 dry ravine Down there . man Hes
still In death, his cheek pressed heavily
against the delicate ferns that grew
luxuriantly out Of the cool shadowA
The trees meeting overhead almost eD
clude the light but now and then .
recreant bough, straying from its plac1
through bidding of the gentle mornind
breeze, let's in feeble ray Of sunshin4
that touches up the dead mans fac}
with a pallid coloring. The noddin4
ferns caress his pale cheek in vain1
The morning songsters sing their lay1
to unhearing ears. The pines and hemi
locks mingling their foliage with th3
poplars, and bowling their good mornS
lngs to the beeches and young hickl
prizes, sough Ia vain to arouse or sOOth4
the sleeper. He will never again takd
sognizance Of earthly things. nor inhald
the beauty and vitality Of his native
mountains-his spirit has gone before
the last tribunal A round hole in the
center Of his forehead shows where
the messenger Of death has entered,
bringing its inevitable summons. His
.louch hat lies where It has fallen q few
feet away. his right hand still clutches
a pistol. his finger within the guard and
grasping the trigger. His garb is the
same as they wear who find him.
He had sought unfairly to take hu-
man life. and with his own had paid
the penalty. Coming from farther
down the mountain to meet his COM
rades and seeing the fugitive he had
ridden aside into the ravine, intending
to slay him unawares as he passed.
But he had seen the interceptOr, and
was prepared, and as the other fred at
him going by he too had fred In return,
and slew him. 1t was but a moments
work to exchange his steed for the
fresher one Of the dead man and ride
furiously forward again. The horse
deserted. frightened at the realization
Of something wrong and scared at sight
Of the dead man, gallops back to be
met and caught by the girl.
But now, heartbroken, overwhelmed
and frightened at sight Of the inani-
mate body they shortly bring up the
road toward her she fees stricken and
crushed, thinking 1t to be the other
one And thus 1t is for days and long
weary days, until by chance she learns
the truth.
The wars over. Another bright
A man rides leisurely up the
road; where 1t forks he catches sight
Of a woman's form sitting on a faIler
tree. where she has evidently stopped
to rest.
"Mawnin. Miss Sissy" he says. Al
the sound of her name the girl looks
Up quickly. and then as quickly dowr
again, flush surmounting her usually
colorless cheeks.
'Mawnin', Bob" she quietly re-
spends I'VE lowed up ter our hous,
IS how maybe you'uns had forgot us
How's your NAV" quickly changing
he subject.
Hit did look bad in my not erkum |
min ter see you all afore now," he rei
oins, ignoring the last question. But
I had ter kinder straighten up around
home bit afore got out much"
Il thaut you wuz killed wunce, Bob"
'he ventures by way Of further con.
Tersation. Instantly he dismounts
eaying his horse standing in the road |
md goes up and sits down beside her
"why did you'uns think that!" he
lsks.
Il wuz ergoin' down ter your maw's
IN stopped your critter in the road ur
har that time an then they brought
le'un that wuz killed, an'-an'-" she
.ould 60 no further at recollection OF
Ter misery.
AN did you keer. sissy he asks
Gaming eagerly forward.
You warn't dead" she protests.
well, then NV ther fac that yot
.haut 1 wuz deadT'
She answers him nothing. "A few dry
caves futter in the autumn air and
'all at their feet. A wild grape vine
mods its approval and swings in the
breeze. and the branchesso of the trees
overhead rustic with the gambOls Of
young fox squirrel. A hame-crestec
flies to a dead pine and be
gins plugging unmolestedly away. Ht
puts his arm around her and draws heI
TO him.
"Who writ that thar note, then, Sissy
that wuz showed under ther door tha-
night ter warn me? You will tell me
that, won't ye? An who tuck keer Of
my nanny when she wuz sick? Sissy
arm draws tighter-"won'
you marry me" She hides her face
against his breast.
You air shore good at AKIN Ques
lions, Bob" she says, "an' love ye."-I
Louisville Times.