The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1915-09-17
CHAPTER xvIII--cea.Inosd


named into q quarrel which reached
its elimination when he mentioned
divers name with a taunt. which the
boy, for ell his obstinate cllnging to
his journalistic idea. did not deserve
knowing my own temper. ! drew
back into the Hollow.
He followed me.
tried TO speak
He took the word out OF my mouth
This may have been with the inten,
OF quelffnE my anger. but the tone
was rasping. and. noting this and no,
Bis words. my hand frightened insen-
sibly about the stick which the devil
Tor John scovilia) had put In my hand
DID no SEQ thiG, or was he prompted
~ some old memory OF boyish guar
rels that be should give utterance TO
that quick. sharp laugh OF scornl |
thaii never know. but ere the sound
had ceased the stick was whiriing over
my hsad--thsrs came a crash and be
Tell. Ny friendi Ny friendi
Next momant the earth seemed too
narrow. the heavens too contracted
fcr my misery. That he was dead
hat my blow had killed him. never
doubted for an instant. knew Il. as
W know the face Of Doom when once
" has risen upon IA, Never, never
F9ain would this lump OF clay. which
Y minutes before had fllled the
,iJ~ with shriiiest whistlinE,
breathe or think or speak. He was
dead. dead. dead! .-And 1. What was | ?
The name which no man hears un,
moved, no amount OF repetition makes
easy TO the tongue or welcome TO the
earl the name which I had
heard launched In full forensic elo
auenee 30 many times In accusation
against the wretehes I had hardly 70.
EaFded ~ being In the same human
claas NJ myself rang In my ears as
though tntoned from the very mouth
OF he'll ! could not escape II. I should
never be able to escape Il again.
Though was standing 10 q famllisr
scene--a scene ! had known and fire..
auented from childhood. I felt myself
a. Isolated from my past and M com,
pletely set APART from my fellows N
tho shipwrecked mariner t0sSed 10
prccarlous foothold on his wave.
dashed rock forgot that other
criminals existed.
In that one awful moment I was IN
my own eyes the only blot upon the
universe the sole sfnhabitant OF the
new world into which had plunged
tho world OF erime--the world upon
which had sat In Judgment before
knew.
What broke the spell1 God knows:
NIL ! can say 10 that, drawn by some
other will than my own. found my
glance travelling up the opposing blum
TIL At It's top. framed between the
ragged wall and towering chimney OF
Epeneor's Folly. saw the presence
I had dreaded. the witness who was
20 undo me,
II Was woman--a woman with a
little child In hand I did not see her
face. nor she was tust ON the roin, oi
turning away from the dizzy verge, but
nothing could have been palmer than
the Silhouette which these two made
against the tiush OF that early evening
sky,
IA long ~ ! could catch n glimpse
ofthia woman's nu,terins skirt as she
retrsated through the ruins. | stood
there, solf.convicted. above the man |
had slain. staring up at that blo,ch OF
shining aky which vas ~ tho gate OF
hell 10 me, Not till their two figures
had disappeared and Il was quite clear
again did the instinct Of selt,presorva,
tion return. and with Il the thought
Of tight
But where could fyr No spot In
tho whole world was secret enough TO
conceal me now. was q marked man
Better to stand my ground. and take
the consequences than TO act the COW.
ards part and slink away like those
other men 81 blood had 20 often -,
IN Judgment upon
Had but followed this impulssl
Had I but gons among my fellows
shown them the marh Of Cain upon
my forehead and prayed. not for In.
aulsence. but parliament. what days
Of snswins nissfy | should have been
spared!
The horror al what lay d my fssl
drove nae from the Hollows An M
stara tell mechanically into the trail
down which I had come tn innceencs
and kindly purpose only few ND ites
before, q startling thought lshc,
through my benumhta mind. Tht
woman had shrwn 40 haste NJ ~
turniag' There had been natural
ness In her movement. dignity and q
grace which spoke ot ease, nc, shock.
What II she had not scent What Il
n my deed was as set unknown, Nigh,
not have tine for--for WHAT did
NOT STOP 70 think: last pressed on,
saying 10 myself. let Providence de-
eide. iff naeet any enc before reach
nzy cwA door NV aoern Il settled Il
W. notlt
" And | dtd not Az ltarned into thu
siaRs froin tits rAsaae heard q sound
faF dosin sht slope. but II wau too dis
tAht u cfests apprehension. and
xsss eAlmly %. forcing myself into