The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-12

down upon him. 1t brought a vision
of Rachel's sweet, pure face TO his
mind. She had promised to trust him
always; she had repeated the word
over to him many times. Great sobs
shook his frame.
II will not be coward" he said.
81 will at least do what l can to free
myself from the false accusation which
is sure to fall upon me. will get
away. I will leave the place at once.
I will tell them first at that cottage
near that there Is a dead mans body
to be buried"
Guy had seen very little of the dark
side of life.
This was the first great crisis, the
first real pain that he had ever known.
and it was fast bringing out the noble
side of his character. He determined
to act so as to save another from as
much pain as possible. Il. turned
away from the sea. but the minutes
had flown. He was too late! Steps
were coming down the road from the
town; lights and voices, the regular
tramp of feet and the changing of
swords were fast drawing near.
Guys first impulse was to run in the
self at once.
IF l fly and they chase me like a
fox or hare they will at once think
me guilty. No. l will walk quietly
toward them and tell them what has
happened. I am innocent. and must
not act the part of a murderer"
The steps grew quite close, and four
gendarmes stopped in front of him.
No. n
party. "a gentleman who was on this
road few minutes ago has just sent
us here. He heard shot fired and a
cry. He said he saw you shoot and
then throw the revolver over the cliff.
Monsieur, he described your figure to
me, and surely it is you | saw quar-
reling few days ago on the cliffs with
another Englishman?"
II have seen no one" said Guy. II
am an innocent man. There is the
dead body. A shot was fired suddenly
when I was standing by him on the
edge of the cliff. What gentleman in
formed you of this?"
Monster. ! do not know; a stranger:
possibly traveller passing by this
spot on his way between two towns.
Probably he was seeking nights
shelter in one of our hotels: he was
Mortified, he directed us to come here"
The gendarme bent down over the
still form.
And here is the mark of the bullet"
he said, land. Mon Dieu! l recognize,
without doubt, the same gentleman
with whom you were uuarreling the
other day, and we find you here, as
the gentleman described. fear 1t will
be hard case for you, monsieur,
very hard case; you will come with
us at once"
Certainly" said Guy. II must come
with you, but ! am innocent. thank
God! | am an innocent man."
TWO of the men stopped behind with
the body, the others marched one on
each side of Guy down the lonely road
and through the town.
stop" cried Guy. with a look of
agony on his face as they passed the
hotel facing the sea- he realized how
hard his case would be. Unless the
true culprit chose to come forward
ne, Guy, was sure to be accused as
the murderer of his friend. He hoped
for justice, for a trial which would
| result in his innocence being proved,
and yet he saw as the officer of the
gendarmes had said. said IL would be
a hard case. a very hard case.
Il must leave a message, n note,
anything for-for one whom I love.
You will not deprive me of this one
comfort"
Guy felt for paper and pencil. He
had only pencil. In desperation h
tore off his cuff and wrote a few
words upon it.
ITO be given to Miss Rachel Her
| bert.
~ sad thing has happened to me-
| darling. ! am wrongly accused of a
wicked action. l trust all will come
right. Trust me, dear one, as you
| promised; your belief in my innocence
will be my one comfort and support
God bless yon and help us both
From Guy"
| The officer calmly read the hastily
written lines, then handed the cuff to
| the porter at the door of the hotel.
The little procession passed on un-
/ der Racheps window and terrible
weight of grief seemed to bow down
| Guys spirit and to chill his very heart.