St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-05-17

Geen watching, She knew not how
long, and went to the mantle and
pulled the pendulum.
''Oh, Joy, anything but this awful
suspense!" Her lips trembled as she
spoke. LET US go to meet him."
Eagerly he trotted by her side, his
whole body bristling with the heavy
responsibility which he always as
s11med when in charge Of his wee mis-
tress. There had been no -1eep or
rest for him this livelong dax and he
was only too glad to relieve the ten
sion of long waiting and 60 in search
of the master.
The sun sank behind the purple
dome of the low mountains, and Rob
ert started hon1eward.
AS the few stragglers of the in
furiated mob, VINO were still about
the front entrance, saw him emerge
from the door, their fury broke out
afresh, and he knew that he must ex-
pect the worst. He scarce admitted
even to himself the fear which began
to creep into his mind, but when he
thought of the wistful, pathetic lit
tie figure of his wife holding her
breath and with dim eyes peering ia
to the darkening night, an iron band
seemed to grip his heart and he said,
turning:
"Boys, God knows I've done my
best!"
Il would like to smash that bloom
ing head of him, for putting up that
job on US knights of Labor!'" grum-
bled the one in the lead fiercely.
eyer sowl ye! Yen not be gettin'
another gould sthore out ov the likes
ov U.S." breathlessly threatened one,
with bulldog ugliness, louder than
the rest. Robert calmly realized that
he was facing the chances of death
by going on, with this frenzied, drunk
en- rabble at his heels, growing louder
and more persistent every instant.
Just as he entered the dense shade
of the little ravine at the foot of the
hill an ominous howl, which filled ev-
cry echo within reach, chilled his soul
with terror. for he recognized Joy,
and knew his wife must be near.
Turning and facing the men he
screamed in agony: "Back, you vii
lains!" and he drew his pistol, which
he had hitherto ignored.
Painting, with a wild scream, his
wife ran from out the gloom and
threw herself upon his breast, with
her arms clasping his throat like a
vice.
The sight of the pistol. which Rob-
ert had drawn, loosened the last
bond of restraint in these wretches.
IF it's shooting yell have, We'll
larn vel" shouted one.
With these words he sent an aim
less bullet whizzing through the
gathering darkness.
In another instant Joy, without a
growl, leaped up and fixed his teeth
in the brute's throat with deadly
grip. As he drew his last breath the
villain sent another bullet into the
dogs body and they both rolled over
together, dead, still clasped in con-
vulsive embrace. AS Robert, with his
face wan and painfully set, loosened
the clasp about his neck, his little
wife's brown head fell heavily on his
arm, clinging there with an ominons
weight.
"Dear, do you know that you are
hurt?'
"Oh, Lord, be merciful to us! But
it's the MISTRESS we've hit!" some
ones cries, hoarsely.
The utter unexpectedness of the
shot, and the still more unexpected.
horrible result seems to instantly
bring these savages to their senses.
Robert lifts the sunny head very gent.
ly to his shoulder and bears her soft
ly up the shelving path leading to
their cottage. AS he goes, all the
wealth of her glittering hair falls
tumbling about his arm, and her great
eyes filled with ineffable love are wide
and fixed steadily on his face.
She signs and murmurs YEARLY,
but with pathetic pride:
'It was Joy; my noble dog"
His heart is numb with unknown |
terror, but hearing the sound OF
mems voices he turns with cry of
on his parched lips, al
he recognizes the village doctor.
which the penitent men have eagerly
When the darkness Of the early
dawn had merged into the misty light
Of the morning the physician and
Robert come out of the quiet cham.
Der together. The doctor, before 60
ing, holds Roberts hand for a mo-
nent and says:
"Have patience. Good nursing is all
we need now to bring her safely back
to health and strength"
The critical morning light reveals
The haggard misery of what this
hight of awful anxiety has been to tho
husband. There are gray streaks in
his hair and he has aged years.
The excitement in the country was
intense as soon as the tragedy be-
came known, and even the hardest
criminal of them all, who had been
most bitter was softened by the aw-
Jul blow which had fallen on the man
whom, when they became more rea-
'onable and calm they knew had done
lis best. Later, left to himself, he
evolved and carried out a scheme by
which he restored the bank to it's for
ner financial standard and he had
&c frmer friends than these miners.
The unselfish wife bore the mark
# the murderous bullet on her white
hroat all her life long, and carried
zig ache in her heart for the one who
lad died SO bravely for her. They
aid him under the shade of rose in