The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-09
CONTINUED

CONTINUED.
"Violenoe, violence, ahl I have
felt what It is. I am not violent! l
am simply Gods blade of vengeance.
am not a living man as you are; l
am dead, save for the little spark that
lights me to my purpose. You do not
understand me; you can not; you
have not suffered enough to realize
my meaning"
eta! You are unreasonable"
Gam Ip So I am. 1t is we'll that
I am. If I were reasonable I could
not do what is to be done. Behind
me is a desert, a scorched and black
ened way, a life made of cinder by
Kirk Mccullough. Reasonable, rea-
sonablel To kill him is the only rea-
sonable thing!'
Burns's words fell upon Mr.. Yer
mons ears with strange power. 1t
was not the crazed old preachers pur-
pose that struck with most terrible
effect. It was what lay beyond even
the most perfect consummation OF re-
venge. There seemed little proba-
b;lity, indeed, that Burns could ever
do harm to the man he was trying to
follow; but what he might do with
the mere breath of his frenzied lips
was incomparably dreadful to think of.
Strange it is that, although Mr..
Vernon had not the slightest assur-
ance of the safety of his wife and
daughter from even the most horrible
consequences that could come out of
their captivity, he felt their danger
from that source far less than what
would befall them were his past to be
made known to them. Somehow, 80
long as he had Jackson's army with
him he could not lose the hope that all
would be we'll, 30 far as retaking his
loved ones was concerned.
This was but matter of fight. But
the other! That was not to be fought
back, once it should find the way to
reach them. He felt that Burns, in
his monomania, was likely at any mo-
ment to make an end of all this beau
tiful, precious dream of happiness.
Happiness? All! He had been
happy-no man happier-but now,
what was comiIg?. Where were his
wife and dsughtera. He felt his brain
swim and waver.
Suddenly he grasped Burns's arms
again with all his giant strength.
"Tell me right here aud now," he
muttersd huskily, "tell me: Are you
going to betray me? are you going to
disclose the secret OF my life? Speak
Or"
"I will not speak, save to shout for
help, while You assault me like this"
said Burns.
"Forgive me; I forgot"
Mr.. Vernon took off his hands from
the old mans arms as he spoke.
"But you .can see how terrible it
would be. Think of my wife and
daughterl;s'
"Think of Margaret But-but-to
be sure, you never harmed her, and I
owe my life to you and yours" said
Burns. He stood q moment in
silence, and then added:
"Your secret is safe with me 30
long as you do not interfere with
with my purpose. To accomplish
that I would, if I could, destroy
heaven and earth and all that is in
them. I tell you that Kirk MacCol-
Tough shall not live!"
His tone was solemnly awful. Mr..
Vernon felt helpless before him.
They stood there in silence after that
until, suddenly, light flashed forth
from the house where General Jack
son had his headquarters.
'Gentlemen, it is time to be up"
they heard the gruf commander ex-
claim, as if to awaken his sleeping
staff, the redcoats will be upon us
before we are ready, if we don't step
spry. Come, come, gentlemen, fall
out!'
Immediately there was a stir and
hustle in the house. Lights shown at
the windows and the clicking of
latches and the opening of doors told
how promptly the officers responded
to the call of their leader. A moment
later Jackson himself came forth, fol-
lowed by the enthusiastic but sleepy
aides, who were buckling on their
side-arms.
"Ah, Mr.. Vernon, is that you?" he
demanded, as he came near the two
old men. "How goes everything?
Any stir among the redcoats?"
'Not yet," replied Mr.. Vernon,
''save that they seem to be, making
ready for an advance"
''Let them come; we are ready. Who
is this you have with you?"
The general peered askance at Burns
through the fog and dust.
''It is friend of mine," said Mr..
Vernon, without offering further in.
PRODUCTION.
The members of Jackson's staff
were coming around him for orders,
which he began giving with his usual
swift and clear understanding OF what
the moment called for. Meantime
Burns managed 10 disappear.
CHAPTER XIV.
ENos PEEyY'S RIFLE-PRACTICE.