The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-02-24

him on the back. cried. SWELL met, old boy;
how goes " with Lucy!" ~
Ferguson inroed pale, looked the mao in the
face. then taking him aside. confded TO him,
under promise of secresy, the story of Lucy's
guilt and his own change ci name. The cnni-
rade was an honest felow, he grieved for Fer
guson's troubles, promised never 10 mention il
again. 10 him or any one else, and then proposed
a pot af psrer 10 wash all dosn. Rude as
Tom Smith was, he kept his word, and never
hinted ~ Ferguson's change Of name or con
Iradic'ed, IN any point. The story he chose 10
tell, though he had been quartered. in Chatham
~ the time Of Lucy's marriage, and knew then,
both fifn fSa
About three months later, a Sergean,, rum
snaginp an old chest in the guard room, throw
ouI t~o or three dry newspapers. Tom Smith
got hold of one aud ,esd with great interest.
totally uneonscious that IL dated fifteen years
back. Az length the woids--"atrocious mur.
der-=-reward for John Benson'--met his eye
He shoddered as he read; az first he dorbted.
hut by degrees conviction rushed on his mind I.
Tie fancied Lucy as he last saw her, young.
beautiful. inoocenf. then murdered. perhaps
saudered. A, this ihoughr. he seized his cap
and went straight TO Col. Summers. as Col, OF
Fergnson's. ar, as we must now call him. Ben
sons regiment. Col. Summers was stalled
The name explained all his dodbts-he accom- :
panied Smith 10 a magistrate. and that night
the wretched man was commitled.
The assizes being near, The trial came on
within the month. AT f,st Benson was dogged
refusing To answer any qnesiion. or urge any
thing in his own defence, bnt Summers reco'-
Iecied The look at the cottage gate and felt,
however guilty. there we're exiennariug circum-
stances. IL doomed, and Justly so in this world
something might be done tor The next. Al last
he induced him TO see minister Of God. The
rugged oature melied the proud heart bent.
and the murderer. sought in the words OF the
| Saviour, the pardon promised TO all who re-
pent. Ha
In this soriened frame or mind, he made the
following confession 10 Summers:
Il remember you, sir. [ remember al! Of tha,
dreadful night. ! had met Lucy and her lover
Ia lane near; forced her to follow me; did
no, intend doing more, for did not believe her
actually guilty. Oh. the agony Of that moment,
| suppressed my feelings; thought | would
get her Father to speak TO her the next day
Oh. that long; long nighr, il was near morning
before slept. How long slept, l never knew,
| was wakened near dawn, by whispering in
the outer room. opened the door softly; the
man was tbere-=Lucy taking her bonnet as il
10 GO. grssped the shovel. The wretch leaped
from the window. and in an instant the mseva-
BILE woman lay dead al my feet. For some time
| felt stupifed; at length recovered reason;
did not feel iemorse. FOR knew she was guil,y
but desire Of life rose in my heart not violen,
enough to confuse me. | considered calmly
what conld be done with the body--tecolle ed
the slream-carred the corpse quietly TO The
| hank; YOU kEow the rest"
Vain effarrs were made 10 save him, but as he
had expressed no hope. he betrayed no fear; he
met his death with 6rmness, aud as the cord
passed round his neck. repeated with clear
yoice,-'FATHER--TuY WILL BE DONE"