Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-08-19


unfulflled The next instant the echo OF
her fleet footsteps came back from the for
est to the ears of the young man, who. as
founded at this unexpected display of re
sentiment. stood gazing after her for a mo
ment, aud then, with deep blasphcmous
oath, turned and walked slowly towards
the village
a hunting party of the young men and
maideus of B. had been out one dav
IN late September on a search after wild
fowl, and other game, and at dusk, the hum
of voices and tread of feet drawing near
/ the edge of the forest in the vicinity of
/ the gnarled oak, gave indication of their
return Presently the parting Of the
/ drooplng foliage revealed the figure of one
and another, until the whole band of ad-
venturers, forming a most grotesque APP
/ pearance, the young men with each rife
swung carelessly over his shoulder, from
the point (which depended loaded game
bag and the girls with glowing faces, and
habiliments worse for having been evident
ly in contact with thorns and briers, and
| tangled brush wood made their appear
ance
The day had been exceedingly warm
for the season, but cool breeze had sprung
up, and the rustling of the leaves and muir
muring of the water, lured the hunters to
the bank of the river, where they paused
to rest themselves and talk over the ad
ventures of the day, referring now and
then to some particular incident, or gym
nastic exploit Of one or another of the
party, interspersing the conversation with
an occasional jest or outbreak of sponta-
neous mirth They lad been thus engaged
hardly five minutes, when a sharp cry
broke upon the air, and Emily Reid, who
had been alone upon log near clump
of tall fern, within the line of shadow made
by the woods in the light of the half grown
moon, which was nearly overhead but
leaning to the south, was seen to throw
up her hands and fall forward upon the
ground with a red stream of blood gush-
ing from her bosom. At the same instant.
the form of a man darted over the log and
rushed into the forest, and this sudden
alarm awoke streams of terror equally as
heart rending as that which burst from
the lips of the stricken girl Nothing can
paint the confusion and distress of the
scene, but short moment before so quiet
and undisturbed, and amidst the fainting
Of some, and the horror of all that succeed
ed this fearful interruption, a few of the
stouter hearted girls ran to raise up the
fallen creature, while the hunters. forget
ing every thing save the man they had
seen dash over the log grasped their ri
hes. and not needing the cries of the ter
rifed females, hurried into the woods in
tent upon capturing the assassin. The
chase lasted for about quarter Of an hour,
when they suddenly emerged from the
forest and came into a narrow clearing
with bit rising ground in front Of them
Ascending it, they looked down into a
deep ravine that extended nearly half
mile to the east, opening into the river on
the west 1t was broad, dangerous
chasm lined with dark shaggy rocks, and
choked with weeds and bushes of every
description, and leaning over it, with one
arm thrown round the body of young
saplng, aud his hand grasping a long hunt
ing knife. stained with blood. was Ralph
Holt. His fac3was ghastly pale as revealed
By the moon that shOne undisturbedlv
down, his frame quivered. it would be diff
ficult to tell with what emotion, his eyes
glared fearfully as he fixed an earnest
gaze down into the chasm, in the bottom
of which u small stream or rivulet urged
its noisy way. lie seemed utterly uncon-
scious of the presence of any one save him
self-he had not heard the bounding feet
and approaching voices of his pursuers-
indeed, he seemed himself more like pur-
suer than fugitive.
In moment a rough arm encircled his
waist, and voice from behind, shouting.
hold him hold himp caused him to start
back. while a terrible suspicion swept over
him like the simoom of the desert-a Wis
ion of death with all its multiplicity of
horrors filled his brain-his past evil
deeds came back to his memory, aud he
saw that the hour of retribution was at
hand. He shuddered, but, nevertheless,
drew himself up proudly and exclaimed,
"Fools do YOU think me a villain
Let me 60, l say"
1--WE would not believe you capable of
it, had we not seen you" said a youth
sadly
Dear me !" interrupted Ralph, ''who
accu-."
1T is useless to deny il" interposed
young backwoodsman, pointing significant
ly to the fatal weapon WHICH Jhe captive
still held IN his hand, "that knife looks
wonderfully like the one you lost to day
Come, comrades, let US lead him home"
L was indeed Ralph's knife. From
peculiar fancy be had worn it IN his belt
that dav, and the circumstances OF losing
it, together with the fact that he held it
in his hand, strained with gore, combined
to reader conclusive evidence Of his guilt
He uttered not a word, but mute with
blank despair, suffered himself to be led
homeward, his hands bound behind him.
and his own unpleasant reflections within.
companions for the long hours Of darkness
that were before him
A trial, a sentence, and an execution.
we're events which rapidly succeeded the
horrible tragedy, for justice In those days
was not long In demanding payment for
the broken laws of society aud humanity.
BY a series OF Investigations the true char
aeter of the supposed murderer had been
discovered. bis practical fraud and yillany
frs1 I,sr. r,~.rores1-4l vr.-a I'll eo,rr,l