The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-09-25
REWARD OF COURAGE
By W. HAROLD THOMSON.

~ lftS UiiHh OF atuJhNuls -I&ONfAS tif-
ar one was hero ana the other 2
spaniard
She shall be mine!" Missed the
Spaniard,
You iie.'' said The hero. ilotly: "she
shall be mines herself said 50. -
The season is changed. II is winter.
aud. the snow lies everywhere / lie
everywhere. too, but that doesA't mat
ter. The same river was there. Il had
aever left its bed. and its was frozen.
The hero and young and beautiful
lady were skating hand-in-hand over
the ice, and they were talking 10 each
other.
Violet" he said. when am with
you | am the happiest man alive"
She looked up into his eyes WITH a
look.
And when you are away froas iae?"
The most miserable.
She pressed his hands more firmly.
Poor boy! But even when sou ara
away from me yoa ca. always .hanK
of me-
You are right. nay darling ! Go
think OF you. ana them / an sGlae-
times unhappy. too; for when re-
member that rascally Spapiagd 4ad
think that he may be hoverins near
YOU, my blood boils ara puppies.
why should Nc talk CT hiM9 He
cannot harm US; ana set / am oh,
am so afraid Of MN. Ralph. He has
such a horrible smile"
Ralph kissed her. and so wonn you
Ii You had been there,
Dearly beloved, he whispered.
you are not afraid Of him when anu
here2"
Ha! What Is that dark figure cam
ing round the bend in the river2 II
is the Spaniard.
| Swiftly ne skates towards them, cut
Iting figures OF three and eight feet
Suddenly he confronts them.
You'll" he says, lifting bis eyebrows
and his hat to the lady
| we" answered the bewlldered
couple
/ AA@t Do s0E SpILh ACINn AG6
The hero looked at him so holly that
the ice began 10 melt
No. you Spanish onion" he said,
we do not speak French. How dare
You address us? This lady does not
wish your company and neither do l..
Fly from my sight before | fell YOU
TO the ice.
The spaniard dug the point OF his
skate into the ice.
Il will be even with you some day.
he snarled, then it will be who shall
receive the smiles Is 1t not 80, senor-
tia" he demanded. turning to the girl
She ran over him with her eye. AMI
then ran over him again with tbs
other.
I NO." she said, SO coldly that the
river iroze again. 1T Is not 30, der
spise you"
The william snapped MS teeth like d
dog catching flies and then with hall
muttered curse he turned and skated
swiftly away
A year mas flown since we first me-
the hero and his Spanish enemy, ant
1t is summer again. 1t Is also the wed
ding day Of our hero and the beautiful
young lady
Everything Is ready for the wedding
The sun is shining and the birds ar
twittering and searching for worms
the church bells are ringing and thu
best man is on his way to the church
: Half an hour elapses, and then tn
bride and bridegroom step GRACEFUL.
UP to the altar The bridegroom feel
for the ring in his excitement, am
then he feels for 1t in his pocket Tn
minister Ia just getting ready to pu
on the manacles. when there il a will
shrek from the gallery, and dar
. figure comes flying through the air.
II Ia the Spaniard!
He reaches the ground seemingly IN
hurt, and rushes up the altar step
His hair is disheveled and he has los
/, the stud at the back Of his collar
Everybody except the hero is terri
fed The girl clings TO her lover, III
! minister slips behind his desk and tt
organist in sudden terror, begins
thump the organ.
+ The Spaniard reaches the topmo'
step as the player reaches the topmo'
! note. He turns on him savagely.
Il i forbid, the bannsa he cries, an
4, the music stops. Then he turns c
\ our hero
] Militant" he hisses. will You gi'
i her up" ..,.. .....
y The hero looks at him, and the 81
/ 4. trembles on his 1.-THE hero'sj arm.
q mo, ] viii not give her UP. 81
Il IL mine forever!'
y With a euick gesture the Spanial
d produces shining revolver from h
pocket. He points II at the couple, al
the hero leaps in front Of the girl.
For the last time, will you give h
re up?' yells the william
is The bridegroom folds his arms.
"a mo. viii not give her up"
"Then you diet" the Spania
e. shrieks, and he fires.
Il. The bullet flies through the here
ID hair and leaves him scatheless,
III still stands smiling, and when t
Spaniard sees this, he gives one IL
Il, groan, and holding the barrel Of I