Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1904-02-12

at the gate, the figure Of a man and of
woman (whose voices he knew in
lovers embrace
What was that noise?" the woman
asked, intensely, drawing quickly away
from the other.
'Nothin' but bunny in tn BRUSH"
Dudley whispered, amorously. We're
goin' out after game to-morrer-me an
Hatfleld-pore devil, looked so lonesome
as druv by this evenin' thet just had
T. ask him t. come along"
There was long silence.
Bill" said the woman, at last, now
that we're engaged and goin' to be mar
ried, I've got to 'fess up. You know
this spring we all thought Hatfield was
dyin' of consumption. Well, l tried to
be good to him, brought him little
cookin's, you know, an tried t. tidy up
his house bit. Well, he'd look at me
kinda funny all the time, sorta pitiful,
an yet can't exactly tell how he
looked. l took 1t JUS tn same as any
nurse would a fever patient-allowin'
fur him, y know. An one day he said
be wished l could always be aroun' thet
little cabin O. his'n, an the words scared
him. an he looked out at the rainy
peach blossoms for long spell, red as
any lamp shade. Another time he said
I was the kind of a woman that the
supreme intelligence intended the breed
to be-strong backed and soft handed!
Or somepin' like thet An then his
cough eased up and he TUX to work, and
didn't go no more. Two or three times
he came here in tn evenin', but mother
TUX care Of him, an was allus piclin'
plums or cannin' peaches. An thet's
ALL"
Dudley laughed.
"I amt afraid of pore Hatfield a-cut-
tin me out" he said.
But be nice t. him t'morrer," the
woman whispered, hastily. He's a
PORE sad feller, an harmless as"
Harmless as a rabbit" Dudley nm
ished.
A few minutes before four the next
morning, while it was still black night,
! Dudley drew up his rig at Hatfield's
gate. There was neither sound nor sign
Of light in the shanty, so the driver made
huge noise and prepared to wait.
Scarcely 80 seconds passed before Hat
field appeared in the clothes he had worn
the night before. Dudley turned his
lantern upon the gaunt figure.
"Co an git yer rubber boots," he COM
manded, laughingly. Cant do 'thout
'em."
o1Do c;I +1,- nd In
utes later was driven rapidly toward
Titman lake The horse was fastened
on the high rail and Dudley led the way
to the cove.
you've got the best gun" the man of
experience explained-"12-gauge ham,
merless. Press down that little lever on
the left side an you cock her. . No
don't cock her yit. She's loaded"
They had a mile to walk. The day
was gathering.
"Ssh-h!" warned Dudley. We're
purity nigh thar We don't want t. slyeer
'em! BY cripes, but ye're a fool with a
gun!"
did you say that you press this left
lever down to coc1r the piece-both bar
rels?" Hatfield easped
"Sure," whispered Dudley. "The
la1-e's wonder. Dye see tt?"
Titman was ahead, showing up pearl
gray in the dswning, like the mist which
hangs over bog.
"S-sh-h!" warned Dudley. "Thar's 8
flock down in the cove-hear 'emi
Well get bunch-fust shot!"
They crept on. Dudley turned at last
his body bent behind an artificial blind
in the edge of the bluff over the cove
His arm was raised to further command
silence.
Hatfield was crouched, too. The
nerves of the man wrung horrid scream
from his throat before the crash of the
gun.
That instant 1t seemed that the whole
lake ratified and clac5ed, but the SOUND
was merely from the cove where tn.
vast flock was risir 2. . Hatfield saw
the other sink upon his gun, his chin ant
, throat blotch of deep color.
Two or three hours later Hatfield!
brain assumed command of survivins
faculties. He was two miles away OF
the far shore of old Silver. He wa
. harboring world of ancient pas
, sion = that of killing himself. Th,
lake was there, but 1t did not ap
peal The Enife in his pocket Mortified
!, He wanted one more shell. Dudley ha,
given him two, but both barrels wer
: empty. There were innumerable she'll
] on Dudleys body. He started back, run
: ming.
The place was changed. Dudley wa
i not there! Other hunters had come t,
| the blind. Hatfield searched on hi
hands and knees for one dropped shell
Thus he was found by those who requires
, him.
The twelve wise men adiudged him in
sane after many dsvs. but the woma,
: who knew most, yet who had done n
l wrorg-remained to weep. - Chicas
Tribune.