Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-05-07


+ ted the trial, and the excitement occasion.
ed by the occurrences through which she
had passed.
During the summer evenings | would
sit at the window Of our little room in
the twilight with Emma. at my side gaz-
ing upon the landscape, and when the
darkness hid earth from our view she
would tell me Of my former home in the
Scottish hills of the towering crags and
aving heather, of the little kirk where
in | had prayed, and Of the old castle, the
home of my ancestors.
THE time wore on, and at last the as
sise day came. Twas bright and sunny
morning, all nature seemed to mock the
sadness of our hearts. We walked to the
court room amid the eager crowd, all hur-
trying onward. 1t was already full when
we reached it, and bat a few minutes
elasped ere it was called 10 order. A few
minor cases were quickly disposed of, and
two officers entered the room with Mack
enzie in charge. He walked with a free
and easy swagger, as though he cared not
for the decision upon which hung his life;
? he passed close by me where | sat,and as be
: caught my glance hung his head abashed,
They placed him in the dock, and his plea
not guilty being heard, the prosecuting
attorney opened the case for the crown.
l His speech was short and to the point,
and then he proceeded to call his witness
e es. | was the first placed upon the stand,
stating in a simple and straightforward
manner all that | knew, | presented the
: letter to the court. As the letter was
read, the scout, who was until then una
ware of this new testimony. was evident
ly surprised, his countenance fell, his
q staggering bravado vanished. and it was
b plain to see that he considered his chan
: ces gone. | went down from the stand
Mackenzie net even offering to cross ex,
anime me. The witness next &fied was
e my sister-pale and care worn, yet beau
tiful in her weakness, she assembled the
S stand. Tn a firm voice she answered all
P the questions put to her, SO calm and col
lected that | wondered at her self-com-
r mand, for | knew how hard it was to re.
l strain her grief. She had endured a long
and tedious examination. when the coun.
/ sci. requested her sto identify the prise
a ner with the murderer of my brother
b There was a perfect stiffness through thai
/ crowded room. All were awaiting sanx.
d iously the reply. She slowly arose, and
0 fixed her eyes upon the scout for a seconds
S with a look net Of hate, but of sorrow, Of
deep undying grief, then turning to the
: Judges in a voice that rung through eve
ry heart, replied: He is the murderer.
and William Mackenzie may God forgive
YOU" then grasping at the railing in front
Of her she sunk exhausted into the chair.
Her mission On earth was fulfilled, and
D the energy which had sustained her thus
: far through the trial now failed. I was
d at her side in an instant, but only in time
4 to hear her whisper d farewell blessing.
Y ere her spirit joined that of her husband
? in Heaven. Her body was removed from
t the court room to our lodgings; two days
< after | followed her to the grave, and hus.
t band and wife now sleep side by side in
that little church yard; a plain monument
stands over them.
Mackenzie was convicted but escaped,
and | afterwards heard that he had made
2 his way to the far west, and had been
I killed in an ARRAY with the Indians. |
had now no motive for life, not a drop of
my blood flowed in the veins of any human
being; | was the last Of my race. | sought
death in the field, yet it was in vain, and
! time did not bring consolation for my loss.
, Years have rolled by since that time, and
| | am now an old man ON the brink of the
grave; yet | can never revert to it with
out the saddest feelings. | have often in
tended to visit this spot, yeti have never
: done it until now, always dreading it.
) Tonight [ was much astonished, it seemed
to me like a dream as | saw through the
! trees the moon shining upon the lake.
1t was som lime before | could recall the
= scene, but it soon rushed upon me. and all
T; the associations of this place So rife with
melancholy recollections overcame my
feelings, and | gave way to tears. And
! now, Mr.. Graham, my story is told-'tis
] no legend, alas! but too sad a reality"
The Hunter finished. and all was ST.
lence. The moon had sunk behind the
forest, and the birds had long since sought
their nests. [ arose and heaped some
e brush upon the fire, as it blazed cheerful
: ly to the skies | endeavored to dispel the
gloom which hung over my comrade.-
J Twas late that night ere sleep visited our
eyelids, and the next morning after fish.
! ing for a few hours in the lake we started
for Toronto, where we babe adieu to each
J other. | had learned to love the old man
during our short %sojourn together, and il
was with a sad heart I parted from him
: to return to the city. once more to plunge
: in the busy world. This was the last
time We met, for shortly after he died in
: his little cabin on the shore Of Lake On,
tario. Contcutedly and peacefully be
, met the end Of a life too heavily fraughi
with sorrows.