The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-05-02

ask you to pray for repentance and for
giveness.'
you hate and lespise me now, Will
lam. and so you should, for am a muir
deress y
Anne Anne my love is no, chan
ged, but am wretched. will never for
sake you, so heI p me heaven, bu, remem.
Der my words
He left the house. The next time
William Clayton and Anne Morelle met,
was within The cell Of a prison.
Suspicion looked to him as the murder
er, for he was the acknowledged lover of
Anne, and her wrongs, and proud, vim
vlndiciive spirit were well known. lie
was arrested. Anne few to his cell-she
was no, base enough to save her life at
the expense of his, and would have re-
f veaed the whole TO the world, bu, he
persuaded her tina, he was in no danger.
He was innocent, and so it mus, appear.
A just and impartial jury were TO pro-
nounce upon the case and he trusted to
his innocence, and their discrimination.
He was safe.
The trial was opened. Circumstan,ial
evidence wen, strongly against him, and
his pcr,urbed and haggald looks we're no
witnesses in his favor. The current of
feeling outside the court, was also against
him, but still he succeeded in persaading
Anne he was in no danger.
lie was condemned TO die, but even
then his courageous love did not lorsake
him-he checrluly spoke fhope to Anne
long after he had no hope. And how
could she believe he would be executed,
so good and SO generous, and innocent
too
Something would happen, some evil
dence would yet be found that should es-
lablish his safety, without compromising
, her own; and his unwavering devotion,
so cruelty tried, had won he own more
/ worldly hear, TO renewed interest in
, life, and all polla,ed as she was. she even
r dared to dream again of earthly happiness.
| Life was again dear to her, but TO Clay
ton all its beas,y was gone forever. Love
, was TO him heavy chain, that he could
only lay off with life and he would die
with her secret unrevealed, her life spa
red, perchance TO sincere repentance,
= and there was also melancholy pleasure
5 in dying for her. But the horror Of a
, public execuion--,hc disgrace-,he mi
; sery of friends-and worse than all TO a
: sensitive and noble mind-to die crimi-
2 minal. Friends would never, know his
: innocence-,hey would be tortured by
| the dealh--,hey would be maddened at
the idea of his guilt. But should he con-
1 Tess, would he not then be the murderer
: of Anne!
1 Day after day passed, in these agoni-
: zing thoughts. Night after night came
but 10 bring narrowing dreams of the gal
). lows and its rabble crowd-he stood on
D the fatal plank. -Fiendish eyes slared
=. upon him with savage fury, and he felt
: that few words from his d Is would
i change their lerocily TO pity. But these
words were not spoken, and the sacrifice
: went on.
The hangman's fingers were about his
s throat, and those savage eyes cleaned
n with impatient JOY, and he never before
$ felt how demonical man may become I'M
a.! der the influence of bad passions. lie
C struggled in the last stern agony, and
d awoke to find the reality coming nearer
h day by day.
C In this mournful state, what wonder
It that the balance of the mind gave way
J. Tortured, as the captive at an Indian sac
h riice was never tortured tried. as tho
v mind Meier can be by mere physical SUI
G lering, what marvel that indistinclncss
|, came over the moral sense, and reason
T. held feeble sceprc
c Nigh, lay solemn and still upon tho
o earth. The light was dlmly burning in
the cell Of the convict; how he longed tc
IS look out once more upon the tranquil
II stars 1t seemed TO him that his burn
d ing brain would grow cool and calm be-
It meath their soft ligh,-bul il could no, be
(. The only window opened into the pass
II age, and not upon the holy lyanquilisine
It sky.
The door opened, i, was not the jailor
# but Anne MoIelle. She threw back he
J. bonnet, and even by the dim light, Clay
:. ton saw how few weeks had wrough
n on her beauty. Deep lines were on tina
= face once so lovely. and threads Of silve
g were already amongst her golden hair
d Sin has rougher hand than time, ant
a, plows far deeper channels.
Il sent for you Anne, for had SOM
9. things to say tina, weighed upon my mind.
n DO you wish 10 see your counsel