The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1900-07-06
WAS HE A BRUTE?
BY OPIE READ.

Office buildings and stores were pour
ing their streams Of life into th
crowded streets. 1t was 6 o'clock Il
evening. At Il corner where a human
tide swept like torrent from a broker
dam il woman stood under a lamp. post
She was Tall aud dark, and SO motion
less that she might have been a statue
Her arms were folded under her cloak
A policeman edging his way through
the crowd. touching hls cap (fOr sh
was neatly dreSsed). and asked her ;
question. She shook her head slowly
ana did not look at him. The police
man passed ON. and the next monen
there were two quick pistol shots,
scream and a stampede. The office
ran back, lighting his way through th,
>wlrling crowd. He found the woman
pistol in hand. bending over llIat
lying upon the pavement The office
seized her wrist, and looking at hin
with a strange smile, as she relaxed
her hold on the pistol. she said:
II am woman, and | demand To b,
treated rs such"
When she had been taken tn the sta
tlon and asked to make il statement,
she said: My name is Laura Uoytt.
The name Of the man | shot is Douglas
Brown. i shot him because he ought
To be killed. He was engaged to marry
my sister. He did nnt keep faith with
her, aud she died of a broken heart.
lie Is brate. aud ought to bc dead. +"
Brown was taken To the hospital.
HIS wounds were pronounced danger.
Gus. An effort was made to interview
hm. But all he would say was Il
guess she thought she had il right to
shoot me-" lie asked il they had put
her in Jail, and appeared to be pleased
when Told that influential friends had
given bonds for her release.
Three weeks later the wounded man
was sitting propped up in bed, when Il
card bearing the name OF Laura HOytt
was handed to him. He looked hard
AZ 1T, rubbed his eyes, held it further
away, then closer. and then remarked,
Il don't understand why she should
want to see me. Let her come in"
With b timid, awe-struck mir the
woman approached the bed. She
;oughed IN embarrassment as she seat.
"a herself on Il chair which the nurse
placed for her. She put back her hair.
made aimless motions in her confu.
non, and then, looking straight at
3r0wn, said:
Pm awfully sorry shot you"
Brown smiled. And are you sure
0u haven't come tO shOut me again?"
Ie asked.
She frUwned in reproof. "You know
haven't. Ii you had Thought that,
ou would have told them to keep me
Ut"
mo, | w0uldn. YOU have come SO
ar out here that l couldn't have found
he heart To disappoint you"
"a plaster of sacasim won't draw out
soreness, Mr.. Brown. | have suffered
. With remOrse that have come To
ee II l could not fluid some sort OF con.
You don't know how | have
Uttered. And l must 20 through Il
ateful trial, too, with everbody look
* at me. On, l do wish hadn't shot
Du."
YES" ,"hc drawled, IL rather wish 50
lysclf. SU, see, We have SOMethin in
)nmon. But you need't be worried
yer the trial. | shall not appear
yainst you" Il
The nurse had withdrawn. They
ere alone. She put back her hair
gain, and he followed the movement
her graceful hand-the hand that
id shot him. mo, l will not appear"
went on. 1T Is something 0f a dis
notion to be shot by the handsonlest
oman In Chicago" He hesitated as
saw the tears gathering In her eyes.
take ltall hack, he said. She wiped
'r eyes, and sat looking far away T
rough window. The mystery that y
3 In the cl0udland was reflected Ia y
u eyes, and he gaxed " her. She q
rned her eyes upon him, and the q
ystery flew from them. n
''Yes, I am sorry / shot you" she n
Id; "but / hate you, and can never Il
rKive YOU"
Z 'Ah! and I am therefore consoled by
. thought that you will never forget : \
o." y
''Brute!" she said. Il almost wish
lad killedyou. y