Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-05-18

| uuueF TIE CIRCUMSTANCES.
81 mentioned the matter to him.
'Oh! he replied, purposely raising his
voice that Haughton might hear,
when gentlemen want to fight they
don't stick at trifles of that sort 1t
was then 1 made the fatal mistake I
should have refused to bear alone The
responsibility, but boys are SO afraid
of appearing cowardly.
"Haughton saw me hesitate. Never
mind he said; L don't care Then
he gripped my hand a moment and
continued, BE her friend, George, fcP
my sake. Goodby.' Then he took up
his piece.
Il c. ! recall as though it were but
ycstertGy those two men standing
face to fa"o in the depth of the track.
| less jungle with the fiery Indian sun
beating u7Jn the handsome, fearless
face ~ the younger, while his foe
Stood with lowering brows and eyes
| cleaning with the deadliest hate calm.
ly measuring the gallant, soldierly
form outlined against the tangled
shrubs with their network of luxuriant
| creepers.
"At the word three they were to
fire.
"At the word one I trembled in
every limb as my own husky voice in
tensified the grim reality OF the scene.
but Haughton stood as calmly erect as
though on parade.
"'Two" The ponies looked up laZily
from their browsing and gaZed with
wondering eyes upon the strange spec
tacle. My tongue cleaved to my pal
ate and the perspiration stood in large,
cold beads upon my forehead
'Threev
81 scarcely recognized my own voice
as the word fell on my ear. Both pis-
tolls flashed simultaneously. Haughton
staggered forward few PAGES and
fell into my arms, shot in the throat.
The blood poured in torrents through
mouth, nose and ears. Ignorant as 1
then was Of such matters, felt that
he was done for. / laid him on the
ground and looked into the depths Of
his frank blue eyes, and they turned
to meet mine with the old loyal look,
and he tried to smile bravely.
"Hls lips stirred, but no sound es-
capped them. The film of death dimmed
his vision, his heart that had but
short while before throbbed so gayly
with the vigor Of young, joyous life
futtered n moment, and then while the
graceful, supple limbs stiffened ceased
to beat forever.
Barnet stood apart, smiling disdain-
fully, while his steely eyes gloated
over the rigid, lifeless form and the
pale, glrlish face which would never
again brighten at a woman's smile
nor win maiden's heart.
"'Gor I said, and he turned away
with the brand of Cain upon his brow.
1 never saw him again. He obtained
six months leave and, prudently TAX
ing hint from the colonel, he did not
rejoin his regiment.
"Duty has often found me tough
work to do, but God knows I would
prefer to face battery of artillery to
delivering again Haughton's last mes
sage to the girl whose favor had cost
him his life.
"'Take me to him. she begged when
I had finished my story. The awful
thing she said appalled,. tried to
persuade her, but in vain. And in
the gloaming led her heavily yelled
past the sentrles to the chamber Of
sdeath to bid the dead soldier a last
farewell.
II opened the door for her and she
| passed in. And as I stood outside I
| covered my ears with my hands to
| shut out her convulsive sobbing. And
the endearing terms which he had
never heard from her lips now burst
| from her unchecked in the agony Of
| grief.
"a day or two afterward his funeral
procession wended its way along the
dusty road to the little cemetery, The
route lay past the Pritchards' house,
and though they tried to get the girl
out of the way all their efforts were
unavailing. And her screams of an
gulsh rising above the shrill wall of
the flies and the solemn roll of the
mutIled drums struck pain to many a
heart, and lusty soldiers bowed their
heads to hide their emotion. Fainter
and fainter grow the screams of the
girls hysterical grief, till at last they
sounded like an echo of the mournful
strains of the funeral march, and then
the rattle Of our farewell volleys as
we laid, him to rest told her that her
lover was done with earth forever.
"Years passed, and when the Mutiny
broke out ! was again in station at
GhaZnapore. Old Pritchard was dead,
but Milly still clung to the old spot foy
the sake of the gallant tenant of the
little cemetery. Dark days were COM
ing, and mindful Of Charley's last
words I offered her the shelter and
protection Of my love for his sake and
her own, So one morning stood with
her before the altar in marching order
and while 1 made the old formal vows
I swore in my heart to redeem the mad
folly of the past by my love. And II
years of devotion could atone, then
| Ia trn NOD to1 ,es,, C,@I,