Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1934-06-01

girl in the world. I deserve to be
killed for exposing her to it. I
stand here tonight to expiate it in
my blood. Nancy Virginia is my
wife, gentlemen, and 1 love her.
II have always loved her. and | am
glad-I say this facing death here,
so you know-I'm glad and proud
that she bears my name.'
Mr. Gordon caught at his son
gain. "You hear him? He speaks
like a man. He loves your sister.
He married her. Confound you,
you donkey, you, you're making a
public scandal. Lomax, help me
take this boy home! Richard, go
n the house," he shouted, what
d'you mean by standing up there
for this lumox to shoot at?
You're a brave man. | take off
my hat to your courage, sir, but
live had all l can bear! Rod
Gordon, he's married your sistser!!'
elias he?" Roddy breathed heavi-
fly, his face rigid. II want to see
the license. | want to see the certi-,
jficate of this secret marriage, |
want to know if he's made a dupe
of my sistser."
Richard met his look squarely.
His own face was hard now.
"You can see them all. We were
married in church. But we'd
better settle our differences now.
Do your duty, gentlemen, l &C
cepted his challenge and I'm
ready"
"This can't go on!" Haddon
gasped, coming forward. Il want
to say
Richard threw back his head.
All right. Haddon another time!
Give us the signal, gentlemen"
Lomax caught hold of Roddy's
father and held him by main force.
Mr.. Gordon was struggling violent"
Ily.
Damn you, tomax, unhand me
-Roddy, you young devil, you
Give the signal, Haddon,' said
the major sharply, 81 can't hold
this old octopus forever!'
Roddy sprang to his position, his
weapon cleaning in the moon
light. Richard faced him. Had
don shaken and gray, began to
count.
Zone, two, tn"
Suddenly a whitehead figure
sprang out of the shadow of the
shrubbery: Like a flash it leaped
between the duelists. Nancy COW
cred Richard with her own body.
"Srop!" she cried, painting,
you'll have to shoot me first,
Rod"
Roddy recoiled, his mouth fell
open, his eyes fixed themselves on
observation-disclosures, startled, mad
dened with surprise. There was a
terrible moment of silence.
God, you love him. he gasped.
His father, broken loose from
Lomax now, had him by the arm,
he wrenched the pistol from the
boys relaxed fingers. Roddy sag
ged over against him, while Nancy
still faced him, her face as white
as a star and her beautiful hair
tumbling about her shoulders.
Roddy was dumb.
Mr.. Gordon dragged him along.
'Come!" he said husky, and then;
you young fool, you, she loves
Ihim-you've made trouble enough,
let 'em alone!!" he whispered.
Roddy was still speeches.. He
yielded to the older mans force; he
let himself be dragged away, Lomax
and Haddon following them-as
dumb as he was. They walked
slowly. Twice Roddy stumbled
His ears were singing, but he heard
his fathers voice, after a moment.
"'You young donkey!' and then
t broke and grew husky; someth-
ing melted in him. He looked at
the boys detected face.
"I'm proud of you"
Roddy was silent his head sagged
with his shoulders his face burn
ed. He knew now the price his
sister had paid to keep him out of
Jail and the iron entered his soul.
He had come at last. % the begin
ming of repentance.
The father and son went slowly
and the other two, Lomax and Had
don melted quietly away toward
the river meadow.
Richard stood still, rooted to the
spot, his face as white as his shirt,
his eyes were on Nancy, and hers
were fixed on the distance where