Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-05-03
CHAPTER II.


IMPENDING FArE-rHE PLACE OF ExEcu-
TIoN.
Under the same roof with Mary Mox-
on, Richard was not permitted to see her
face.
Does she know am here ? he said to
himself Does she know that am ac-
cused of taking her brothers lile-and am
| murderer in her eyes! Would could
speak with her p
From this the prisoner fell to rejecting
on his probable fate.
That cursed mob they viii lynch me
before l am proUed guilty.
Richard was spirited, and had little fear
of death yet the thought of the horrible
destiny that threatened him, caused him
to shudder. He could only hope for some
escape.
He was alone in distant room, the
window of which was fastened on the out
side as well as within, and the door of
which was guarded by two of the aven-
gers of blood Richard could therefore
thing of nothing but submission to his
fate.
When the prisoner was least expecting
ii he had a visiter.
1t was Mary Moxon The friends of
George had given her permission to see
him, hoping that she might induce him to
confess, in order that their proposed deed
of blood might aar more the appearance
of justice.
Mary was scarce eighteen, tall, well
formed and beautiful. On the present oc-
casion she was very pale, and her eyes
and fair cheeks showed the traces of re-
cent weeping.
Richard advanced and would have taken
her hand, but she repulsed him, not angri-
ly nor harshly, but with an appearance of
solicitude and sorrow.
Touch me not, said she, until know
whether you are innocent of this horrid
crime or guilty. Tell me now truly,
Richard she continued, fixing her dark
eyes upon his own, tell me before God
did you kill my brother!
Mary, replied Richard, folding his
arms and regarding her with a look of ten
derness and pity, if you do believe that |
took your brothers. life, you do right to
spurn mel blame You not if you shud-
der and grow sick at the sight of me
But have you so mean an opinion of me
as to credit the false reports you have
heard p
Then You are innocent" said Mary
eagerly.
AS innocent as yourselfr
i knew it, | felt it = sobbed the girl,
hiding her face in her hands.
Was it the strength of love that over
came every other feeling, or knew she not
what she did She who Stunned the
prisoner a moment before, now sank into
his arms and dropped her head upon his
bosom.
And Richard strained her to his heart
forgetting, for the moment, that he was
charged with shedding her brothers blood !
But the transport was soon passed, and
Mary recovering her selfpossession, asked
him ii he knew nothing of her brother.
Nothing replied Richard more than
this. We met in the woods at the spot
where they say killed him, high words
passed between us and blows ensued =
%, Richard . groaned the young girl.
In the struggle | dropped my knife
from my belt. He seized it, and gave me
this slight wound on my shoulder. had
not thought this Of your brother, Mary,
and with feeling of deep sorrow, barred
my bosom, and bade him strike, if | had
ever given him cause to hate me to DEATH
He seemed touched, and flung The knife
upon the ground, but was too proud to ac-
knowledge his error. | would not stoop
to touch the blade that had been used to
wound, but turned away, leaving him
there. This, Mary, is all know of the
matter, as swear before the allseeing eye
of heaven !
Richard murmurod Mary, | cannot
but believe you-but-can't you bring
some proof of your innocence They
will not credit your words, but unless you
can prove what you say-O, Richard
shudder to think of the result =
At this moment one of the self-styled
avengers came in and informed Mary that
her time was up, and led her away re-
gardless of her tears and distress.
What did he say 10 you 2 asked her
father in the presence of Ford and two of
his companions.
That he Is innocent!
What more 2
With tears and frequent sobs the poor
girl went on TO tell all Richard had said.
Ha : cried Ford, he owns, then, that
they quarrelled What a lame evasion to
say George struck him with knife, and
that he did not return the blow! What
say you, friends 2
He must die = was the response of all
save Moxon, who regarded his agonized
daughter in silence.
Mary passed night of unspeakable ac-
guish, and Richard one of anxiety and
hopeless sorrow. Yet he was calm, and
slept several hours before the morning
stole through his window.
Breakfast was brought into him BY Fosd,