Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-12-03

| mounted to but little.
Surely the case seemed very clear against
the prisoner. He had difficulty with the mur-
dered man-challenged him to mortal combat
-swore to have revenge-folowed him on the
road TO Dantonvlle with the avowed purpose
| of settling the trouble-been seen to fee-from
the bleeding body-his knife found all bloody
| by the murdered mans side-and, when he
was apprehended, his own hands and clothes
were bespattered with blood Were not these
circumstances conclusive At all events, SO
were they generally received
at length Edward DemaSton was permitted
| to tell his story. He arose, and though he
was pale and wan, yet his voice was firm. He
| first called upon God to witness that he spoke
the truth, and then went on. He said, on the
afternoon before the murder he had spent over
TWO hours with Mr.. Wallack; that all their diff.
ficulty had been settled, and the merchant had
explained to him that his only objection to the
marriage of Isabel had been the fact that he
had promised her father on his dying bed,
that she should not be a,arrI0u
tweuty years of age.
eve made differences all up at that
tme,'' continued Demarton, ssand Mr.. Wal
lack asked me if 1 would come back Into his
service. He said if had been willing to have
asked the reason of his refusal of Isabel's
hand he would have given it, but l was hot
and impetuous, and he was little nettlcd by
it, so he resolved to tell me nothing. He had
just asked me if would come back into his
service when some one entered the store who
wished to see him. / told him had planned
to go to Dantonvilc that evening, but would
call on him when returned. He said he had
got to go to Dantonvile, too, and bade ne call
on him in that place, at the same time sgni
flying that he would arrange matters there
After that went over by the lake, and when
| came back / learned that Mr.. Walack had
| been gone hall an hour. l got my horse rea-
| dy at once, and when about to start l did make
| the remarks which have been sworn too but
made them jokingly, in view Of the friendly
meeting were to have, little thinking of
what was to occur. rode off, and at the dis
tance of some ten miles, in the little wood,
| found Mr.. Wallack's horse standing by the
| side of the road. a little further on / found
| the merchat weltering in his blood. leaped
from my saddle and knelt down by the side of
| iilC DONg- luiiiCu lilc iSlCc up S'iiCu hio
| name several times. The flesh was yet warm,
but life seemed extinct. / got my hands and
| clothes thus bespattercd with blood, but
thought not of that. When l found that life
was gone, and that could not well handle the
! body alone, remounted my horse and started
! back for help.
ssIt has been urged that if I had really
sought help l would have ridden on towards
| Dantonville, where could have found it with
| in half mile, rather than towards u point
where there was no house for over six miles.
But I could not stop to think then. My first
instinct was towards home, and l followed it,.
| | had gone four miles when my horse FELL
He was too lame to trot. Soon afterwards
was overtaken by Dunk Harold and another
man, who arrested me for the murder. With
regard to the knife-the knife found was mine,
and it had been stolen from me that day.
The youth sat down as he ceased speaking
and the judge shook his head
ssAny one can invert a story like that,'' he
said, in his charge to the jury, s'but no one
could have invented the circumstances which
bear against the prisoner
In short there seemed to be no hope for the
youth. Though people ptied him, yet could
see that they shook their heads dubious when
he plead his innocence.
The Judge had summed the evidence all up,
making it more strong against the prisoner
than before, if possible and the jury were on
the point of retiring, when sudden commo-
tion was perceptible at the door, and in mo.
ment more young girl, or maiden, rushed in
to the courtroom, with her long chestnut hail
floating wildly in the wind, her bosom heavine
deeply, and her eyes fairly burning with in.
tense eagerness. 1t was Isabel Walack. She
was a beautiful girl tall, straight, and noby
proportioned; with face of striking lowell.
ness, and form at once voluptuous and queen
". She cast one quick glance upon the pris
oner, full of love, eagerness, and hope, and
then turning to the judge, she cried
..Is he tried yet, sir Is he found guilty?'
esNot yet-but he soon will be,'' answered
the Judge, overcoming his astonishment "a:
quickly as possible for the benefit of his dig
nifty.
sob he's innocent he's Innocent" the
Hoi officers, seize upon Dunk Harold, and SEE
that he does not escaped Quick qpick!''
Even as the maiden entered the room, Har
old had moved nearer to the door, and as these
last words were uttered he made q rush for tn,
street but a stout boatman in the doorway
held HIM until the sheriff came up. The fel
low struggled hard, but pair of iron cuff
were soon placed upon his wrists, and he wa
carried back.