The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-27

prit IN the presence OF those before whom
he had walked in honor from childhood.
; As the trial proceeded the confidence OF
his friends diminished, and those who
doubted became confirmed in the belief OF
the prisoners guilt. Trihes light as air
became combinations strong as proofs OF
Holy Writ, to the jealous minds of the
audience, and one fact was linked to the
other in curious coincidence, until the
chain of corroborating circumstances SEEM
ed lrresstlbly conclusive. His recent nii-
macy with the deceased, and even the at
tenlions which friendship and hospitality
had dictated, were ingeniously insisted on
as evidences Of deliberate plan of wick
edness-long formed and gradually deve-
loped. The facts that he had accompa-
MED the deceased on his way--that he
had lost the path in country with which
he was supposed to be familiar-his con-
duct on hearing of the death of his friend
the money-the knife-caused the most
incredulous to tremble for his fate. But
when the breast-pin of Hamilton, found
near the body of the murdered man, wa.
produced-and pistol, known to have
been that of the prisoner, was proved to
have been picked up near the same spot
but little room was left, even for chari-
ty to indulge benevolent doubt. Nor
was this all-the prosecution had still an
other witness-the pale girl who safe by
him, clasping his hands in hers, was I'M
cxpectedly called upon to rise and give
testimony. She shrunk from the unfecl-
ing call, and buried her face in her bro
TIERS bosom. That blow was not antici-
pated-for none but the cunning myrmi-
dons of party vengeance, who had even
violated the sanctuary of family conf
dence in search of evidence, dreamed that
any eliminating circumstances were in the
possession of this young lady. AT the
mandate Of the court she arose, laid aside
her veil, haggard with anxiety and terror.
In low, tremulous accents, broken with
sobs, she reluctantly deposed, that the
clothes worn by her brother on the return
from that fatal journey, were torn, soiled
with earth, and bloody An audible muir
muir ran through the crowd, who were
listening in breathless silence-,he pri-
sOner bowed his head in mute despair
the witness was borne away insensible-
the argument proceeded, and after an clo-
quent, but vain defence, the jury brought
in verdict of guilfy! The sentence of
death was passed.
The summer had passed away. The
hand Of autumn had began TO tinge with
mellow hucs the magnificent scenery of
the forest. II was evening, and the clear
moonbeams were shining through the
CRATES of the prisoners cell. The unhap-
py man, haggard, a,,enua,ed, and heart
broken, was lying upon the wreiched pal
let, rejecting alternately upon the early
wreck Of his bright hopes, the hour of ig-
nominy that was just approaching, and
the dread futurily into which he should
soon be plunged. 1t was the season at
which his marriage was TO have been So
lemnizcd. With what pride and JOY had
he looked forward to this hour And
now, instead Of the wedding festivities,
the lovely bride, and the train Of congra-
ulaling friends, so often pictured in fan
cy, he realized letters, dungeon, and a
disgraceful death The well known tread
of the jailor interrupted the bitter train of
thought. The door opened, and as the
light streamed from a lantern across the
cell, he saw female form timidly APP
preaching. In moment Almira had
sunk on her knees beside him, and their
hands were silently clasped together.
There are occasions " hen the heart spurns
all constraint, and acts upon its own die
tatcs. careless of public opinion, or pre-
scribed iorms-when love become the alb.
sorbing and overruling passion-and
when that which, under other circum-
stances, would be mere unlicensed i'm
pulse, becomes hallowed and imperious
duty. That noble hearted girl had be-
lleved TO the last, that her lover
would be honorably acquitted. The in
telligence of his condemnation, while it
bligh,ed her hopes and wilhered her
health, never disturbed for one moment
her conviction of his innocence. There
is a union of hearts which is indes,ructi-
BILE, which marriage may sanction, and
nourish, and hallow, but which separation
cannot destroy--a love that cndurcs while
life remains, or until the object shall prove
faithless OF unworthy. Such was the af-