The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-02-06


ordor prevailed. But a secret and dead
ly grudee continued to be entertained
againts Downie. Various sche e,nes Of re-
vongc were thought Of.
"Downie was IN common with the
teacher and the taught, enjoying the leis-
urc of the short New Years vacation ;
the pleasure being no doubt greatly en-
hanced by the annoyances to which he
had been subjected during the recent
chickering's when, as he was one evening
seated with his family in his official resi-
dencr at the gate, a messenger informed
him that a gentleman at neighboring
hotel wished to speak TO him. Downie
obeyed the summons, and was ushercd
from one room into another, till at length
lie found himself in large apartment
hung with black, and lighted with SOL
itary candle. After waiting for some
time in this strange place, about fifty fig
ures, dressed IN black, and with black
marks on ,lGeir faces, presented them.
selves. They arranged themselves in a
form of a court; an Downie was given
to understand that he was about to hc
put upon his trial.
"A Judge took his seat on a bench n
clerk and public prosecutor sxt below a
jury was cmranncled; and witnesses and
! spectators stood around. Dosnie n, first
set down the whole affair as joke but
the proceedings were conducted with
such persistent gravity, that, in spite OF
himself, he began to believe in the gcnu-
, inc mission of the awful tribunal. The
clerk read an indictment, charging him
with conspiring against the liberties of
the students Witnesses were examined in
Lue form the public prosecutor address
ed the jury and tie Judge summed up.
".Gentlemen, said Downic, the joke
has been carried far enough It is getting
late aud WY wife and family will be anx-
ious about me. II have been too strict
with you in time past, am sorry for ii ;
and assure you, | will take better care
in future
"'Gentlcmcn OF the jury, said the
Judge, without paying the slightest ntten-
ton to this appeal, consider your verdict;
| if YOU wish to retire, do So
The Jury retired. During their absence,
the most profound silence WAS observed ;
and. exccp, renewing the solitary candle
,La, basnt beside the Judge, there, wasnot
lhe,lightest movement.
The jury returned and recorded a ver-
dict Of Guilty
The jndge solemnly assume1a large
black cap, and addressed the prisoner
Richard Downie. The jury have unani.
mously fou"d you guilty Of conspiring q.
gaiust the just liberty aud immunitie. OF
the s.ud.'n:s Of Mari>ch,! College. You
have wasionly provoked and insultsd
those inoiiensve lieges for some months,
and your punishment will assursdiv be
condign. You must prepare for dss,h
! In fifteen minutes the sen.erce Of the
court viii be esrrisd into effect.
The judge placed his watch on ths
bench, A block, an axe, and bag oi
saw-du,t were brought into the centre OF
tee room. A figure more terrible than
any hsd yet appeared, came forward AMI
appeared TO act the part Of doomster.
i, WAS now past midnight. There VA.
no sound audible save the orninous ticking
of the judges watch. Bownie became
more ADD more alarmed,
For Gods sake gentleman, said the
terrified man, let me go home. pro.
mise tha, y'u never. shall agsin have eau,
Tor eamplaint.'
Richard Downie, remarked the Judge
you are ,ainly wasting the few moment,
. that are left you on earth. You are il
the hand. Of those wlo demand your life
| No human power can SAKE you. Attcmp
20 utter one cry you are seized and you
doom is completed before you can uI,e
another. Every one here present la,
sworn solemn oath mover to reveal H.,
proceedings of,hi. night: they are known
to none bu. ourselves and when the ob.
i..ct for which we have met is accomplish
ell, We shall dispere unknown to any one
Rre,are, then, for death another fv.
minutes will be allowed YOU but no moro.
The unfor,aBFi, Eian.ip agony Of dead
ly terror, ,ayed and shn:kcd for mercy
/ but tho avengers paid no heed to hi- cries,
His fescred, trembling lips then moved a.
! IL ip allen, prayer: for he Elt th@t the
brief space between him and eternity wa.
bot a few mope tiekings Of that aminoa,
watch, sH
.yor = ercIaiscd the Judge
-Four person, stepped forward and seiz.
eApewnie. on who.s Stature. colj<lsm,