The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-08-15
Without replying directly to the question

| Martin, go TO the butier, ana teil MIN
give you half . tumbler of French brandy.
The Secretary was somewhat surprised a
this order, as Sir Robert was exceedingly
temperate, rarely drinking even wine, an
he was yet more astoHished when, returning
with the liquor, he saw his patron empty
at drrught
"Strange things have CHANGED tonight
Martini said Sir Robert, shudderingly, ant
yet as if impelled to speak.
Martin gazed inquiringly at his patron.
ain the first place." said Sir Robert, e
got into a quarrel at the town hall with Col
Heyland, our member"
Say, rather, Sir Robert, he fastened
quarrel on you," said Martin every ont
in the country knows his turbulent and i'm
p rious spirit"
" 1t was appropos OF your friend farmer
Horton" said Sir Robert.
"One Of the best men living"
"Col. Hayland had had difficulty will
him; and the sturdy farmer had given hin
a piece of his mind, as he called it, and
! swore he would be even with him for the
wrong he had suffered at his hand. Th;
| Colonel made some very severe remark!
about Horton, and l took up the defence
| lie gave me the lie."
"Good Heavcns," cried Martin.
struck him instantly, but he returned
the blow. In word, taking advantage OF
| his superior strength. he beat me like dog.
"But this was infamous" cried Martin,
! indignant at the treatment OF his patron.
HIS remedy was challenge"
mo na.ter-I was beaten by this man
in the presence Of a dozen gentlemen-my
peers and neigh5ors"
{" And ne lives to boast of il :"
"No, Martin; he is dead" replied Sir
Robert, ina hollow voice
Dead. Colonel Heyland dead are you
sure Of iti'
a myself saw him lying at the cross road
in the forest where they found him m-where
he had fallen, stricken from his horse by
the hand Of the assassin"
"And no clue to the murderer:
Yes-the murderer was arrested near
the spot" said he, In a hollow voice.
"And who was it, Sir Rober;i"
"Farmer Horton :" answered the baronet.
Farmer Horton !" exclaimed Martin.
"Impossible! / know his nature. lie has
the heart Of a soldier-you know that he
served in the Peninsular-but not that Of an
assassin"
But remember that Heyland had threat
ened to deprive him Of his lease-had black
ened his character-sworn his ruin-that
fate had thrown him in his path. Let us
imagine that hot words passed between
perhaps even the Colonel struck him
you can then account for the ready knife
and the quick blow"
~ see-I see,'' said Martin, sadly.
Even l could hardly have commanded
nv temper under the circumstances. l am
sorry for poor Horton, but canno, be too
Fl L; 4 60 v had
passed between the Colonel and myself, and
particularly as | left the inn shortly after
him, if the assassin had effected his flight,
I-even Knight have been suspected
.' ToU. sir, O, mo-" exclaimed Martin
" The widest imagination would never asso-
ciated Your name with murder
think you so - said SIR Robert, with a
grave smile.
d" No circumstan,ial evidence would have
convince jury Of yoar guilt
An men are no; such partial judges Of
my character as you are, Martin" replied
SIR Robert " And now let Us go TO bed
il IS waxing late, and We both have need Of
sleep"
The trial Of farmer Horton for the murder
Of a member Of Parliament created, of course
au intense excitement throughout the coun-
~, and the courthouse was thTonged du-
ring the progress of the trial. Even ladies'
were seen among the spectators. The YER
dict surprised no one. 1t was guilty"
When the prisoner was called on by the
Judge to say whatever he might have to Of
fer, he rose, and in firm voice addressed
the bench:
"My lord said he. 81 have little to say,
and that little, am well aware, will be of
no avail. The jury just pronounced me
guilty: TO that awful verdict | can only re-
ply. as plead al the commencement OF this
trial am not guilty. Your verdict vii.
be recorded here-my plea at the bar of a
higher tribunal. blame no one.-Circum-
stances have been too hard for Inc. My lord
and gentlemen Of the jury, Col. Hey.and
did not fall by my hand. have slain men,
but it was in the discharge of my duty on
the stricken fed. appeal to my past
Character-there is nothing in my whole
life that shows me likely to commit the
crime. threatened Colonel Hey'and with
yengeance-but i; was such vengeance as
British laws accords to men illegally op-
pressed, that allude TO. On the night of
the murder lost my knife. was return
ing from the village a-foot and carrying
lantern, for il was quite dark, when | STUN
bled on the dead body. | kneeled down
knife-the same had lost, sticking in the
wound. was engaged in with drawing it
when parties returning from the election
found me in that fatal place and thus fatally
engaged | have done, my lord. Add my
name to the long list Of victims of circum
stantia evidence. Time will wash the stain
of blood from my memory. l can say no
more"
This speech made little impression. Sen
tence OF death was passed and the prisoner
was remanded to his cell.
The evening before his execution the pri
soner sent a message requesting to see Sir
Robert Ashland's private secretary. In
obedience to the desire of the unfortunate
man, Martin repaired to the goal and was
ushered into the condemned cell, where he
was allowed private interview.
"Luke," said the farmer, 1--WE have always
been good friends, and could not go out of
this world without parting word Of kind
ness. You do not believe me guilty, | am
sure. l tell you boy" said the farmer So
lemny, "as | told the good rector this
blessed afternoon, that am guiltless Of the
"Can it be possible? Yet some one did
the deed"
Gay. Martin, some one who had more
than myself"
A sudden light flashed upon Martins mind.
"No! mol" he cried, recoiling from his
hideous thought. st could not have been
him."
"Would you rather believe that it was
done by your father?" asked the old man.
"My father"
Martin-my sonny boy! this secret
must not go to the grave with me. Hear
me out. Twenty-Five years ago, l, an hum
BILE farm servant on gentleman's estate,
won the heart of his daughter. 1 was then
a handsome youth, had distinguished myself
in Spain-at Waterloo, and there was sort
of romance thrown over me. But mark me
while loved deeply-she, the lady of my
dreams, deceived herself as to the strength