Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-06-30


many pears had been acquainted with Capt
Moron, and knew him 10 have been staunch
| tory ffom ihe commencement of the dispute
| beiwoeh England and her revol;ed colonies.
| The day at length arrived--,he anxiousy
expcftcd day, which was to decide the fate of
/ the accused. The huYt approached, and yet
! tbs witnesses for the defendant did not arrive
AZ last one came The other, but the day
bcfcre, was killed by the falling Of tree
| thus did il seem as Il the last ray of hope
was shut out from the wretched parent
wrctched only In view of the orphan state OF
his daughter.
| The Witnesses were examined. Those
| against the accused testified as earns had
dpne. They were two in number. lie for
| ne defendant stated clearly and distinctly
| vssat the reader has already been made ao-
I ia. ~ u -ii, yet the amount of evidence in
support OF the accusation was such thay tho
court-martial pronounced sentence of death
upon lin. Before the decision was given,
| Isabella had exhibited uncomfortable grief, but
as soon as she heard the sentence which
would consign her father to a disgraceful and
ignumnious death, her tears began To flow !;
her breast swelled with emotion, yet no other
sign of distress did she exhibit Her mind
seemed occupied with some strong resolve
some mighty purpose. Capt Morton was
htIt hiiu'l u SiiulIG pusilu Jay VI On
ccution should come, which was to take place
eight days from the lime sentence was pro-
nounce1. Isabella departed for home with "A
promise of returning IN a few days. Time
rolled away. The fatal period FASTENED to its
consummaiion. The eighth day arrived and the
distressed father in vain awaited the return of
his daughter. No iidinqs of her could be OBJ
tanned She left her home nearly week be-
fore with the intention, as the neighbors sup
posed, to revisit her father. Whittier she had
gone no one knew. Wretched, indeed. was
the parent as the hour Of execution approach
ed. She, in whose life his own seemed
bound up, was absent, and he was about to
die without one farewell embrace of Isabella
The muffled drum proclaimed that the period
had arrived when Capt. Morton was about to
launch into eternity. The soldiers were ar
ranged in order, and their deeply sorrowful
countenances showed their sincere commiser-
| alton for the condemned and the malignant
and revengefu glanccs every where cast upon
the accuser and his accomplices, plainly prov
ed the almost universal belcfof the innocence
of this victim Of private hate and individual
revenge.
The signal was given, the rifles were level
ed to close the scene, when 10, in the distance
a cloud of dust was seen, caused by the rapid
! approach of two horsemen. Orders were Civ
]
less expectation. On, the riders came, swift
as the y,'suntain torreni, nor stopped till their
/ horses stood in front of the condemned. 4
! minute more, and Isabella Morton was in her
fathers arms.
1t would be impossible to describe the joy,
the deep, impassioned feeling which they ex-
/ hibited. In many an eye was seen the unbid-
den tear, and many rough soldier was per-
ceived to wipe his sun-burnt cheek with his
home-spun sleeve, as he gazed upon the af-
fecting scene.
In the mean time, Major Henderson, (for
our other traveller was none else) was in close
consultation with Gen. Marion, who, after lis
tening for a moment, gave orders for the indef-
mite postponement of the execution and the in
stitution of new trial. Major Henderson, in
testimony of the accused, confirmed the evil
dence ofthe former witness; and in proof of
the falsity of the whole testimony of the accu-
scrs stated that il had been scarcely three
wears since this same earns was invested with
| a commission as captain which being corrob-
GRATED by more than half a dozen witnesses,
rendered null and void the whole charge
Upon looking round the accusers were no
where 10 be seen, having upon the discovery
Of their yillainy, silently absconded. Capt.
Morton was now declared innocent and free.
/ With many thanks TO Gen. Marion and the
soldiery for the great interest shown IN his
welfare, he determined TO depart Immediately
to his own house. As he was about TO mount
his horse, lac grasped Major Henderson by the
hand and said "hitherio ! have only known
you as firm uncompromising adherent to the
Republican party, and consequently as my en-
cmy. ] hope, however, (all party considera-
lions being laid aside) hereafter TO know you
as friend. / shall be happy TO see you al
any time when you can make il convenient,
and hope hereafter you VIII regard my house
! as your home" SO saving he mounted his
horse, and. accompanies by his daughter, who
by the assiduity Of MAJOR Henderson, was al
ready in the saddle, rode Off Surely no bill
| low-iossed mariner returning 10 the land Of his
nativity and the home of his childhood after a
long, wearisome, and dangerous voyage upon
the stormy ocean, ever felt sentiments more
exquisitely pleasing than did Capt Morton and
his daughter as they approached their homo
the seat Of so much domestic happiness.
When Isabella heard the decision of the
court martial, 10y which her father was doom
ed 10 death. she felt that there was sui hope
if Major Henderson could be found. She
knew that he could testify 20 the fasity OF the
charge preferred against her father, aud 10 him
she determined 10 60. Where he was, no one
knew Having asrettained the direction he
had taken, size departed from home accompa-
MED by a cousin, boy Of fifteen, and a trusty
negro servant
With the success of her effcrts the reader is
already acquaiuel Three DAYS after their
return they received visit from Major Hen
derson. Il is needless 10 state that the oath
which the father had sworn, was recalled. aud
that the daughters ''plQhied vows" remained
uubroken Al the close Of the war which
took place IN about six months from tho time
Of the occurrence Of the events which We have
IA la.