018

hammer. T'wo blows, and the door will e smashed to atoms.”

“You would break down the door, would vou. vou scoundrel 2 Be off, or T owill send for the police.”

“Send for them,” eried George, his hlood

botling with righteous indignation. = We will soon sce who s o the night. You

will have to explain why vou have locked Tertschka up. Fveryone shall know that vou have tl-treated her from childhood. that vou have stolen from her the wages which she gamed with so much labour. They shall also know how you oppress the feeble, and how you enrich vourself with the sweat and blood of the poor Tabourers confided to your charge.”

Creorge stopped. proaches

The truth of his re- stung his adversary into frenzy, The overseer's face turned livido With a lke that of a wounded bully, with foaming mouth and glirmyg eyes, he sprang at his opponent with his knile.

roar

Creorge, on

ORI OSEPRANG AT IS oPPoNENT WEPH HIs KNIFE,

the other hand, scarcely knowing what he did, had grnpped his hammer 5 it flew aloft a dull blow resounded through the reom, and the overseer, struck full upon the chest, stageered and fell backwards on the ground.

For an mstant a death-like silence reigned. Gieorge stood Tike David over the dead body of Goliath,

• Rest he erted suddenly) as ol

returning to himsell 3 and rushing o the

Rest b

THIE STRANLD

MAGALINI.

door he broke it open with one blow. are free ; our tyrant 1s no more.”

“ My God!" she shricked, as she rushed out and saw the body lying stretched upon the ground. * He is dead ! Oh'! George ! George ! what have you done? - You will be dragged to prison as a murderer.”

“So be ittt Nay, I will render myselt up to qustice. I will answer for my conduct to the court. My comrades can bear witness that the overseer attacked me with o Tante and that T struck i self-defence. Go,” he added, turnmg to the men. “Go (o the police and tell them that George Huber, the stone breaker, has killed your overscer.”

V. "ok Tour months George lay i the prison fortress of - Wiener Neustadt awaiting his trial. Then he and s witnesses, amony whom was "Tertschka, were brought before the court-martial.— "The followinmg sentence wis passed

“ George Huber, formerly a soldier m the rzth Regiment, having pleaded cutlty of causing, by o blow, the death of the over- scer at Semmering, 15 sentenced to a years 1mprison-

“You

ment. bBut taking mto consideration

the evidence of the witnesses, who swear that he only

acted o self-de- fcnee, alter the highest provoca- tion, and his

cexemplary conduct whilst 1n the army, coupled with the personal testimony of those who know him, the Court

reduces his sen- tencee Lo the four months ol 1m-

prisonment which he has already under- vone in the fortress of Wiener-Ncustadt since his arrest.”

Two days after this George and Tertschka were sent for to the colonel’s house. He reearded them for a moment 1n o silence. Their sad story had touched him to the heart, Round these two poor creatures, tortured by the miseries ol existence, shonc the radiance of a love pure, deep, and