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

with Almira, had devised for the escape
of Hamilton. He had consented to al.
low the prisoner to escape in female at
tire, while she was to remain in his stead,
so that the whole continuance should seem
to be her own. 81 am plain man," con-
cluded the jailor, shut I know what's
right 1t amt fair to hang no man on
suspicion--and more than that, am not
going TO stand in no mans way-esp.-
cially friend who has done me favors,
as you have. 60 in for giving every
fellow chance. The tracks clear, MIR.
Hamilton. and the quicker you put out,
the better"
TO his surprise the prisoner perempto-
rily refused the offer.
81 am innocent" said he "but woun
suffer thousand deaths rather than iniure
the fair fame of this confding girl"
go, Dudley, my dear Dudley" she
sobbed; "for my sake, for the sake of
your broken-hearted father and sister,"
'Do not tempt me, my dear Almira.
will not do that whsh would expose
you TO disgrace"
"Oh, who would blame me :"
"The world-the uncharitable world
they who believe me murderer, and
have tortured the most innocent actions
into proofs of deliberate villainy, will not
hesitate TO brand you as the victim of a
cold-blooded ielon. And why should |
fly ! to live a wretched wanderer, with
the brand of cain on my forehead, and
character stamped with infamy o.
He would have said more-but the
form, that during this brief dialogue, had
sunk into his arms, was lying lileless on
his bosom. He kissed her cold lips, and
passionately repeated her name-but she
heard him mother pure spirit had gent
ly disengaged itself, and was flown forever.
Her heart was broken. She had watched,
and wcpt, and prayed, in hopeless grief.
until the physical energies of delicate
frame were exhausted, and the excitement
OF the last scene had snapped the a,tenua-
ted thread of life.
Hamilton did not survive her long.
His health was already shattered by long
confinement and the chatting oc proud
spirit. Almira had died for him--and his
own mothcr-oh how cautiously did
they whisper ,he sad truth, when he
asked why she who loved him better than
her own life, had forsaken him in the
hour of aflliction--she, too, had sunk un-
DEF the dreadful blow. His father lived
wthered, melancholy man, crushed in
spirit and his sister hung like guardian
angel over his death-bcd, and as he gazed
at her pale, emaciated, sorrow-s,ricken
countenance, he saw that she, too, would
soon be among the victims of this mcan-
choly persecution. When, with his las,
breath, he suggested that they would soon
meet, she replied II trust that God
will spare me to see your innocence
established, and then will | die con-
tented" And her confidence was reward.
ed--for God does moi disappoin: those
who put their trust in him. Abou, year
afterwards, wretch who was executed
at Naichez, and who was one of ,hfee
persons named in the commencement, of
this narrative, confessed that lie had muir
dered Saunders, with pistol which he
found at the place where the two friends
had slept. 81 knew it would be so, was
the only reply of the fas, declining sister
and soon after she was buried by the
side of Dudley and Almira. Reader, this
is not fction--nor are the decisions of
God unjust--but his ways are above our
comprehension. s.