The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-06-05

ther OH hls dying bed, that she should not
be married until she was twenty years of
age.
ave made our differences all up at tha,
time," continued Demarton, sand Mr.. Wal.
lace asked me if would come back into his
service. sSt1e said if had been willing to
have asked the reason Of his refusal of Isa-
oel's hand he would have given it, but was
hot and impetuous, and he WAS a little nett
led by it, so he resolved to tell me nothing
lie had just asked me if would come back
into his service, when some one entered the
store who wished to see him. told him
hadspanncd to 60 to DantonvilIe that
evening, but would call on hiui$when l re-
turned.-lIe said he had to 60 to Danton.
vile too, and bade me call on him in that
place. Mt the same time signifying that we
could arr''ngematters there. After that
went over by the lake, and when I came
back learned that Mr.. Wallace had been
gone half an hour. l got my horse ready
to start. made the remarks which have
been sworn to; but made them jokingly,
in view of tho friendly meeting we were TO
nave, little little thinking of what was to occur.
rode off, and at the distance of sone ten
miles, in the little wood l found Mr.. Wal
ace's horse standing by the side of the road.
A little further on found the merchant wei
tering in his blood. lcaped form the sad
die and llnelt down by the side of the body.
| turned his face up and called his name
several times The flesh was yet warm, but
life seemed extinct. got my hands and
clothes thus despatched with blood, but
thought not of that. When found that
he was gone, and that could not well handle
the body alone I remounted my horse and
started back for help.
at has been urged that ifI had really
sought help, l would have ridden on to-
wards Danto9viIle, where could have found
it within haliNa mile, rather than towards
point where there was no house for over six
miles. But could not stop to think then.
My first intent WAS towards home, and l
followed it. had gone four miles when my
horse fell. lie was too lame to trot. Soon
afterwards | was overt:ken by Dunk liar
rold and another man, who arrested mo for
the murder With regard to the knifc-the
knife found was mine, and it had been stolen
from me that day."
The youth sat down MS lie ceased speak
ing and the Judge shook his head.
"Any one can invent Il story like that, he
said in his charge to the jury but no one
could have inycnted the circumstances which
bear against the prisoner"
In short there seemed to be no hope for
the youth. Though people p;tied him, yet
| could see they shook tlicir heads dubious.
ly when he pleaded his innocence.
The Judge had summed the evidence alI
up, making it stronger against the prisoner
than before, if possible, and the Jury were
on the point Of retiring, when ona sudden
commotion young girl, or maiden,
rushed into the court room, with her long,
chestnut hair flowing wildly in the wind,
her bosom heaving deeply, and her eyes
fairly burning with intense cagerness. 1t was
Isabel Wallace. She was beautiful girl +;
tall, straight, and nobly proportioncd ;5swith
a face Of striking oveliuess, and a form at
once volup,uous and qucenly. sl,ercast one
quick glance at the prsoner, fuIlaof1oye ca
gcrness and hope, and 'thenstlrning to the
judge, she, cried
as liestiied yet, sir r?-Is llc found guilty {?
"Not yet-but he soon will be-" answered
the Judge, overcoming his astonishment as
quickly as possible for the benefit Of his dig.
nifty.
-"tOh !he's innocent. He's inpoce1tr raLe.
fair girl exclaimed. aueos nottI,e murder
er. IIo kofficers, seize upon dunk Harold,
and see thatho doessnot escape.s Quick I
quiekp
/ Even ms tho maiden eutered Tie room
Harold had moved nearer Is The door, and
as these last words. uttered, lie madea rush