The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 72: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

456 THAT MAY APPLE. tage of you in practice; so, to sort of even things up, I’ll let you name your distance and put your back to the sun.’’ ‘I would prefer to leave all the details to you, Mr. Arney,” I replied. " Very well. We'll make it fifteen paces. Can you wheel and fire?”’ I said I could, but it was only true in the same degree that any man who is not paralyzed can turn himself around and shoot off a gun. As for the lightning-like half revolution, sudden statuesque tigidity, and instantaneous accuracy of aim contemplated in the code phrase ‘‘ wheel and fire,’’ I had never tried it then, and have since convinced myself that I could not, firing in that fashion, hit a large barn at ten paces distance, except perhaps by accident. ‘Pll give the word,’’ the old man continued, ‘‘ so as you can hear it, and swing my arm with each count, so that the glint of the motion will catch his eye. He can’t hear, you know. When I raise my hat on ‘ Fire!’ the shadow will fall before him so he will know it’s time to wheel. Does that all seem fair and square to you, sir?’’ I said it did. Talk about your ‘‘ Roman fathers’’ ! I make bold to affirm there never was one of them a grander sight, for gods and men, than that noble old fellow, _ who so calmly and justly, with such considerate courtesy of honesty, went steadily ahead arranging the details to stake the life of his only son as he deemed honor demanded, while his heart was breaking. And I was to shoot first and make sure of my aim! Not if I knew myself, | We went around to the back of the house, and over a little way, toa new clearing, just we four men. As we started, I heard on the porch a sort of . rustling and a soft thump that made me look around quickly. Mary was no longer standing by the pillar, but at its foot was a confused heap of girl and garments on the floor, and the sisters were running to my poor sweetheart’s aid. JI had to go onto be killed. Mr. Arney, when we reached the ground he chose, placed his son and gave him his rifle. Then he stepped off the fifteen paces toward the sun for my position—and I may remark that the distance suddenly seemed very short—and placed me. Just as he was about leaving me to take his post midway between us and to one side, I glanced down at the ground to see that my footing was clear, for I intended wheeling to look my death in the face. In that instant my glance was arrested by the great wilted leaves of a large May apple, or mandrake’’ plant, protruding, in a reversed position from a hole, near the ground, in a low, rotten stump, close beside which I had been stationed. Without thinking why, but obeying an involuntary impulse, I exclaimed, ‘ Hold on!’’ and Mr. Arney came back to my side. I have never been able to explain it to my own satisfaction, but am willing to take my oath to it, that all the while we were going through that painful scene before the porch, the scent of May apples was strong in my nostrils, running through every other impression on my senses, as music is distinctly heard through speech. I could not have been mistaken in it, for the peculiar, sharp perfume is very familiar and pleasing to me. And the books =} a ©) oS,