Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-10-04

Jack, mute with terror, staggered to
the gray clad figure and clung to it.
ner expressive eyes bent on me, n min
gled flame of reproach and wrath.
My hand rested ON my holster. i
moved not. spoke not. but stood star
ing at the group that stared at me.
This man, whom had been hunting to
XIII, whom Helen had stimulated me 10
pursue. against whom she had even
voluntarily pledged herself to aid me
In my revenge. had now suddenly ap-
peared as her brother.
Il was wounded" said the officer,
"at Fort Donelson and was brought
here to my fathers house. / am unable
to endure the fatigue of flight; there
fore am compelled to surrender"
Captain Stanforth, I have been
hunting for you for months"
ME"
"You."
"What for?"
A hush came over all. as If about to
listen to sentence of death.
| ITO kill you.'
| There was a brief murmur among
those looking on, then they stood
breathless, waiting for the next scene
In what promised to be a tragedy.
Only Helen knew what my words
meant l saw a spasmodic culver pass
over her as l had seen death touch a
comrade who had been shot in battle.
Then, gathering her forces, she stood
still, her face denoting the smothered
fires of a volcano
MAY ask, SIR" said the officer, pale
but calm, why you desire my death?'
1.-THE wrong, the brutal wrong you
did"
l know not why some demon of bar
barism should have come to me at this
critical moment when Of all others
should have shown gentleness and |
magnanimity. Here was an opportunl-
ty to make n graceful acknowledge
ment Of Helen Stanforths service and
sacrifice. perhaps to heal the breach
between us. threw it away. My
abandoned purpose was rekindled--l
was crazed by Helen's treatment. l
drew my revolver and brought it to
bear on my unarmed enemy.
"Coward!' cried Helen.
l turned to her scornfully. "Who
babe me pursue this man to the bitter
end?"
a."
"Who promised to aid me"
a."
"Who now begs for her brothers ljfe
at the hands of southern renegadeW
az? Never" She sprang between
me and her brother. "Fire"
She stood glaring at me, beautiful in
her uncompromising fury. was be-
wildered. entangled in the meshes of
her beauty, her relentless will power.
Then suddenly cold chill swept over
me, as blighted frost across q land
hot with the rays Of a tropical sun. l
stood aghast at what l had done.
had returned her inestimable service
by miserable attempt to force her to ,
beg for her brothers life. had lost ,
what hope had cherished Of a recon-
winning her. l threw my {
weapon into corner and was strding l
from the room, when Captain STAN '
forth, freeing himself from Jack. cried: |
I'm the name Of God, what does all /
this mean?" l
1T means. Captain Stanforth." e
said, turning. that on n certain night b
In east Tennessee party of Unionists a
ON their way north were ambushed by t
citizens with shotguns. A body of t
cavalry came down to II
kasr frxn tab ,r
at is false. l led my company to h
he scene you mention not to attack, q
)ut to protect"
1t was now my turn to stand stupe u
led Had been all these months fol- u
owing an error? II
II came on the ground" Captain
,tanforth continued. Just in time to u
witness the most diabolical sight I d
yer saw in the south. One incident II
f that terrible night I shall always l;
murder that I punished G.
With my own hand. ! saw woman II
wing for protection to a man who
TODD near her A cowardly cur beside n
lie fired. and she fell through her pro-
actor's arms. l drew my revolver and Sc
hot the murderer dead" u
You shot the murderer"
I had no tongue for other words.
his man, dear to Helen, dear to Jack, CT
ear to all this household, was not only
lnocent of the crime had imputed to at
i'm. but was my avenger. | took one q
.ep forward and seized his hand. VI
"Thank Godr' W
"You have been mistaken" 10
$50 far mistaken that had it not til
cen for these two women l would u
ave shot you down where you stand" IN
strobe to the door, rushed down the
ltch to the gate, mounted my horse ca
I'D without once looking back at the nc
lping crowd behind me galloped down m
lie road after the advancing army. tn
tn