Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-07-18

his soul the bitterness Of all this set |
tied. as his brain drew il in and ana
lyzed il.
Suddenly there was a revuIsion. !
and it was as il the poles of his nature
had been reversed on the Instant
From some source he gathered strength
10 lift his head and shoulders; then.
leaning on one arm. he gazed wildly
around. There was a terrible look IN
his face. He almost bounded TO his
feet aud stood swaying and trembling,
his long legs far apart and one hand
raised far above his disheveled head.
4 dying tiger might have glared "a
did he. and II was with wild beasts
voice that he cried aloud
Il will not die-I will not die--l
cannot die. Kirk MacCollough, while
while You livei"
1t was a grand theatre in which 70
make such speech. The dusky trees
and the lurking Wild things were fit
ting audience. The realism OF the
acting was superhuman. aud 1t was
also superhumanly romantic. The
stage accessories were In perfect hsr-
mony with IL. Loneliness, grimness,
solemnity brooded there, aud the wide
silence was fitting applause. Two Of
. the evil birds took wing with loud
+ tapping and sailed away from the dead
bough on which they had been sitting
: so patiently. Burns was indirectly
awake Of chem, as he rolled his blood
/ shot ewes and shook his head till the
F tangled hair fell over his forehead and
temples.
His strength was but spasmodic.
The next moment he tumbled down
motionless.
Slowly the sun passed on TO the
western slope OF the sky. The hidcous
vuitures returned 20 circle round and
round, lower aud lower. but they did
not dare make the attack They might
, have done IL soon, however, had they
been left 90 their Will.
Once more the old man reused him
self and struggled 20 his feet The
pailor Of death Jared ont OF his face.
the frenzy of death g.itteroi IN his
eyes. There were fragments OF dead
leaves and clots OF earth in his hair
and beard. Again he fling his hand
on high and stood wavering and
trembling. while his voice broke forth
with awful sonorousness.
''Vengeaucei vengeance is mine,
and I will repay"
This timc the theatre held one hu-
man auditor, who stopped short in hi.
walk and gazed with wiie-opeu eve.
at the towering actor ia that wild
scene. At first Barns looked almost
twice his real stature. SO dilated wa.
81 ...rs % Nra
against the dusky spaces and gloomy
trunks OF the wood.
"Wall. take nay hat FOR q soap-kit
tlcW exclaimed the observer. resting
she but, OF his long rifle on his foot
IVY, watts the matter, pars0u
Wat ia all crea ion air We adding
yer:'
Barns started 40 the sound az th,
voice. and half turned 90 look The
eilor, lost him his balance, and dow.
he fell again. his arm still ont
stretched.
Hello Hello-" shouted the man
running forwarIas rapidly as a crool,e,
. leg would permit. ''air We ailin' par
sous"
He half recoiled at the sight of th'
. rough face showed surprise and auicl
. sympathy. He had been accustome.
% open air tragedies, had. indeed
been q star performer In not few, bu
Z here was mystery as we'll as "a catas
; trophe. For lack OF other vent 70 re
81 leve his feelings withal he began q
j swear disapprovingy. iutimatin
: through his Oaths that II would pleas
2 nina % hew limb from limb the ma
. who hurt Parsons Barns.
{ "Parson, parson.". he exclaimed
p stopping over him aud touching hi
g shoulder. "W'at's the matter Of y,
s parson?"
e Then, as he received nc answer
+, be straightened himself up, leaned o
9 his gun and scratched his head wit
G an air OF coutemplative confusion
K Just then, horse gave forth one {
n those casual suorts characteristic
d the genus. It was the animal tn
e. Burns had ridden. Not far away
r was browsing dolesully. with a melai
,t cboly twist In It's cadaverous neck an
r switching its tail this way and tn
J. more by force Of habit than ia r
'r Spouse 81 the attack OF one or ~
l. thriftless flies which were content
worry a skin too tough for their til
J. spears.
r, Eyer, yer, parsonl W'at's TIA
b. meanf" he went on. clustering trii
T. aud shaking the old mans shOuide
D. Cant ye speak TO Teller! Air
.o bad burtr"
M Burns writhcd about, turning ,
NJ grimy face full upon his interrogatc
IN The stare he gave the man fair
n chilled ham.