Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-02-11

Siihlate ttfIlDle enough 10 Sldfue nlAu
Then why should he fear death in SC
beautiful form? But ahl the livingl
This thought sent an icy chill to the
very marrow Of his bones. and, leaving
his Office on tiptoe, he was absent fol-
a good minute.
There was a fiendish glare in his
gray eyes when he returned and
closed the door behind him.
"Hetty is not at home! Thank God
for thatl" he exclaimed. my covered
wagon is at the door The night is
dark, III leave her by the roadside
near Schuyler's house. Who but q
brutal drunkard could strike such q
murderous blow? I'm saved. I'm
savedi"
Ranelagh lifted the dead woman as
II she were a sick child. threw his
cloak over her and, carrying her out
to his wagon. placed her in a sitting
posture on the back seat Then
springing into the vehicle. he drove
away
He had a good mile to go. and halt
the distance had been covered when
suddenly a black figure sprang into the
middle of the road. laid hold OF the
horses head and brought him to
standstill.
Ii was Schuyler Brant
Hello. Or. Harry You're id unso-
eiable this evening. Ha. ha. ha. ha
hal Why didn't you stop and ask q
fellow TO ride?" And ere Ranelagh
could gulp his heart down. the man
had leaped into the wagon beside
him.
I'm at 1t again. DR. Harry" the
man ratified on But. say. has Mary
been to see your" he asked. lowering
his voice and throwing a strange ten
derness into II.
Ranelagh was now fighting for his
own life. and the struggle put unearth-
ly ken into his mind.
"Shi for Gods sake be quiet. Brant,'
he whispered into the drunkard's ear.
she's there behind us on the back
seat. asleep. worn-out It's been too
much for her!"
't0h, what a wretch I am. DR. Har-
ryl" moaned the man, leaning forward
and hiding his face in his hands
At that instant the dead wife lurched
forward and sank in a heap between
the seats, her chin catching on the
back OF the front one.
Ranelagh felt her. and so did the
drunken husband for her head fell
fc,.yta~d ,nt{f ~ foraheod vrouuod
against his back
The doctor gasped and shivered as
n someone had dashed a knife into his
back, down. down TO his very heart
Was all lost? No, not yeti There
was one more card TO play
Dent stir. Brant.' he gulped. "She
is kneeling: she is prayingl She's
praying for you. mani Don't stir Let
her have her sleep OUT" And DR..
Ranelagh seemed TO speak the truth,
for the shaking of the llfeless form
was terribly like the heaving of
sobbing heart
But Brant did stir He half turned
and. patting that beautiful deaths
head, broke out weeping:
Take heart. dear wife, take heart
BY Heaveni I will be a better man.
swear IL. Mary. | will swear it on the
little Bible mother gave mel" And
then. as II some other thought had sud
denly flashed upon him. he whispered:
''Pull up. DR.. Harry. pull up Let me
OUT I'll run home cross lots and wash
up and put on other clothes. Speak
good word for me. DIR. Harry Com
fort herr Drive slowly; get her Gained
down. I'll meet YOU at the door" And
shaking on the influence OF the liquor
Brant sprang lightly out OF the wagon
and disappeared in the deep shadows
of the increasing storm.
Like a poor wretch condemned TO the
peine forte ct duIe, from whose
crushed breast a merciful hand might
suddenly lift the mass of iron. Rane-
lagh heaved a deep and long-drawn
sigh. which sounded like a brother to
the blast which played around him.
Then. having driven somewhat nearer
10 Brant's house, he alighted, took the
dead body of the mans wife. bore II
into a tkicket near the roadside laid
It upon the ground. regained his wagon
and drove swiftly homeward. after he
had turned around in front Of the
drunkard's house.
Upon the preliminary hearing. the
village doctor told how the woman !
had come to him complaining of her
husbands prolonged debauch; how he
had striven TO comfort her and the |
rain coming on. had started TO drive
her home; how they had met Brant; |
how Mary had kneeled and sobbed in
the wagon. and how Brant had leaped /
out and FASTENED across the field.
Ranelagh could not remember that
Brant had said anything about wash
ing up and changing his clothes The |
servant was in the bedroom. undress-
ing. when she heard the doctors wagon /
halt IN front of the house.
When questioned as 10 whether she
heard Mary's voice downstairs. her re-
ply was that she had not. but that she
could hear Brant talking plainly /
that he rushed wildly from one room
~ no.