Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-10-23

were made to regain the Bay, but the en-
trance was narrow and intricate, while
commands, grossly misunderstood, were
promptly executed, so that the bark ran
upon ledge of rocks, and quickly went
to pieces. Two only of its strange crew
were saved-the clergyman and the con.
vict together reached the shore.
Some three years after these strange
events, the Rev. Mr.. H was waken.
ed one night by request to come imme-
diately and administer religious consola.
tion to a prisoner, who, in attempting an
escape from Jail, had been mortally
wounded by the sentinel on duty. The
reverend gentleman folded his cloak
about him, and accompanied by the jailer,
threaded his way through snow and sleet
to the prisoner.
They found the prisoner writhng in
pain, upon his bed in the gloomy cell, lit
by dim candle and alone, for the sur.
geon had pronounced his case hupeless.
"You've come at last" he growled, as
the clergyman, approaching the bed,
took from beneath a cloak book, and
began the duties pertaining to his sacred
mission. "You've come at last-I
thought I'd 60 down before you got
here"
MAY you be spared for repentance
| let US lose no time"
No you don't! Pm bound to go
down-down. Don't be fooling-I
didn't send for that"
The sands of life are running fast
In few moments you will be in the pre-
sence of your Judge, and repentance
then will be of no avail"
Z" 1t will not avail me now," said the
criminal.
"Think of your past life-think ofthe
punishment that is to follow"
The answer to this was frantic roar
of laughter, that made even the jailer's
blood tingle with alarm.
Il will not remain" said Mr.. H
sternly, "and hear this awful mockery.
| warn you now-beware
"Well, listen, then-don't you know
me 2"
The clergyman held the candle to the
convict's face, and started with astonish-
ment. l-,-.,-ae>.r
"Oh, you know me, do you9 You re.
member the night we tossed W
overboard-how he prayed? Oh, ho!
look to yourself"
al did my duty"
"Ah, ha! you did, did you? You did
your duty in drowning poor fellow for
murder he never committed"
A tremor like an ague ran through the
listeners frame, and there he stood as
one disr aged.
8" He never did the deed. murdered
Millie Woods-I chased her to the garret
and killed her. | was there robbing the
house when W came. ] heard him
speak cheerily to the child, give her the
squirrel, and then leave. A minute after
she was dead baby, and W-had the
blame p'
Lord, have mercy on me!' groaned
the Divine, in an agony of spirit.
81 slipped the gold pieces in his pock-
ct. How he prayed and begged for mer.
cy! It's our turn now! | don't bcg-l
wont-l'll die as | have lived-but you
can howl: He had ~idow mother.
We all went under, but you and |, par
son, came up together now we go down
-down-down p
The voice ceased-a shudder run
through his iron frame, and the wretched
criminal was no more.
In time, the village of S-grew to
city. Many of its old citizens had emf
grated or were dead, and, among the re.
naming, tile events l have narrated had
faded almost into all uncertain legend;
when one sunny afternoon, an elderly
gentleman of staid, respectable appear
ance, accompanied by his wife and chill
dren, made his way from the evening
steamer TO one OF the principal hotels.
After securing rooms. he walked into the
streets. He earnestly scanned the signs
as he passed. He stopped before one
that read Attorney at Law" Paused,
and then, with start, as if the determl-
nation had a spice OF the desperate in it,
he ascended the stairs and entered the
office. An elderly man, with Il bald
head and wrinkled face, was seated at
table surrounded by books and papers.
Inviting the new conner to be seated, he
peered at him through his spectacles, and
| INQUIRED his business:
"Mr. B--,you do not remsmber
me9"
"I cannot say that do" answered
the attorny, slowly, as if in doubt.
"Do you not remember pleading in
behalf of IL poor fellow, about being lyn-
ched for murder, some thirty years
since2"
"Mr. 9"exclaimed the
lawyer, joyiully. "Can it be possibles :
I never forget face, and yours saw in
n frame work that night ought to impress
it on my memory forever. But thought
YOU dead years ago. Sit down, sit
down, and tell me al"
ttAnI ,,,,e thrown from, the vessel