The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-02-28
st. JOhnsburN Vt February %, 1916.

and indifferent than he had hitherto been
during the trial Instead of keeping his
dark eyes fixed with n sort ofmournful earn
estness on the jury, ms he had done the day
before, he cast wistiul gIances toward the
group of females. His eyes grew troubled
and brilliant, while, now and then, as his
hand was raised to wipe the drops from his
forehead, those that looked closely saw that
it trembled. This was altogether ut variance
with his former cold and impassionate de-
meanor, aud people whispered TO each 9TH
en- that now as his case grew more and more
hopeless, his courage was giving away.
Once or twice ne turned and cast search
ing look over the multitude of human faces,
with which the room was crowded. The last
time some one in the room seemed to riyct
his attention. Fire flashed to his eye, and
his checks were bIood-red. lie half started
to his feet dropped again as if, a bullet had
cleft his heart, and as the brief shuddcr, sat
motionegs as before, gazing not upon either
Judge orjury, but pale and marble like, on
his own clasped hands.
Among that sea of human faces, no one
could tell which it was that had so moved the
prisoner, and boy muhlcd in cloak and
with seal-skin cap drawn over his forehead
pressed so eagerly onward just after, that it
served TO draw attention from the unhappy
man. Though the crowd was so dense, that
II seemed impossible for any TO advance a
single step, the lad forced his way I'LL he
reached those who stood nearest the prison.
er, and gathering his cloak about him, stood
within few PAGES ofthc heart stricken man
pale and mutIonless also.
AT length the Judge stood up to deliver liS
charge; he was paler than usual in such cas-.
cs, while an expression Of stern sorrow lay
upon his features, and gave depth and sol
emn pUthos to his voice. Still, though he
seemed agitated more than any one had seer
him ever before, his intellect was calm and
clear. The evidence was against the prison
er, there was no clue upon which an honest
mind could fix n doubt.
The prisoner never lifted his face, but the
boy behind him stood immoyablc, with his
large eyes riveted on the judge, and hardly
seeming TO breathe. AS the summing VI
grew more and more against the prisoner,thC
hoy began to waver. lie reached forth one
hand, and grasping the arm ola stranger thai
stood next, thus prevented himself from ial
ling to the floor.
| In the midst ofan opinion, bearing decid
eddy against the prisoner, the judge caugh
the glance fixed on him by this singular boy
| The blood rushed to his cheek-he stammer
ed-put his hand 10 his forehead, and wen
on; but his voice was more subducd, anC
/
eyes.
Night came on--the jury had been on
three hours, and all that time the crowd be
c0mc-immovablc, and in tho front, with hi
eyes bent on the STOPPING head of the prison
or, WINS that pale and trembling boy. The,
came nj last, those twelve pallid men, will
unspoken destiny Oft human being imprint
cd on their mournful faces. The hoy locke,
upon them ms they ranged themselves alon,
in the Jury box; from one 10 the other Iii
s|Tinkng eyes were turned. and then wild
one wild struggle, he forced his passage int,
| the crowd.
GULTY.-That fearful word has sealed the
death sentence ofwo human beings. Three
weeks after the trial, the prisoner was louuc
dead in his cell. A paper of powdered Opt
um, which was found in his bosom, was al
the explanation ofhis death that ever reach.
ed the public. A week after the Judge re-
ccived funeral card, which surprised hin
not little, for the bcreaved family, though
wealthy and in high standing, were tota
strangers to him. But private note whicl
| followed the card, informed him that aftcl
she was taken with the brain fever, that ter
minated her life, the young creature who has
so suddenly left her home desolate had earn
estly requested that he might be present a
her funeral.
| He went, and there, whittier than the satir
which lined her coffin, lay his midnight Visi
tor-tlie seeming boy, whose mountul face
had troubled him in the court room, ant
whose cold, pale beauty haunted him many
an hour In his after life.