The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-09-25
ARDINE;
OR eF
THE AVENGER OF WR0NG!!
A TALE OF MORMONISM
IN NEW YORK AND TIE FAR WEST.
BIZ FUGITIVE FROM UTAH.
CHAPTER I.
THE vlcIIx OF TIE LYNcHEEs.

THE vIcTIx OF THE LYScHEEs.
"Mercy,n
death to heretics"
The scene was that Of twilight shadows
settling over the placiers of Utah. within
| sight of that Babylon of the West Salt Lake
City. A man knelt in the presence of 81,
others. and, with uplifted hands. pleaded
for his life. His countenanee was expires
sive more Of surprise than fear, and present T.
pallor ofdread. The six men who stood by
were rujely clad, and their features were oi
that rough swarthy mould. which denote,
the callous and desperate villain.
They were standing amid u clump oftrees
| which stood alone upon the plain. over tn,
stou,est branch of one of which was suspend
ed stout rope, the end douoled into anoose
| or loop. ..
"Mercy!r again gaspcd the kneeling man
in tone Of supplication.
..You plead i'm vain," said one. who seem
ed to be the ringleader. 1t is the prophets
command that we hang you to the nearest
| tree.
"Whatm cried the man, springing to his
feet, and casting upon them a look OF seoTn
'are you men, and dare you do this! The
falls hearted prophet banished me from your
city for this did not care, for it was my de
sire TO flee i. and its communicating pesti-
lence but now You tell me that his orders
were TO Idn1 me and for what offence g.
'.Apostacyl" replied the leader, in a rude
tone.
..Apostacyi, cried the victim. "Did de
serve banging when deserted the religion
Of my fathers-the religion Of the Bible
and clun9 to yours? And now. when my
ey es are opened, and i see the base hypocrisy
and corruption ofyour ianaticism. and throw
off Its shackles, why do you assassinate
me- e.
| addressing the leader. ''lt we were 70 lei
| the rascal go. he would soon be in the States
telling all sorts Of stories about us"
You are right, Staunton," said the leader
'Ardine. you must die:'
Il talk to stone" said the unlucky victim;
"but grant me one request"
"What j. iti" asked Cloton, the leader.
& Permit me To write o farewell line TO my
sis,er-one OF Pratt's wives"
.'Well. YOU can do that we will give Won
five minutes time,n said the leader, steppin =
back.
The victim took a piece Of paper from his
pocket. and with @ pencil. wrote few hasty
nes thereon then. folding 1t carefully tuIn-
ed to the party and said
(which of you will promise, sacredly, to
give this to my sisterl"
Il will" said tall. brawny man. with
some touch OF humor in his face. and. step
ping boldly forward. he took the letter,
- Thanks And now. sirs. ii Won are de-
tcrmined to hang me up here like dog viii
die like man. Come. am ready.'
There was u tone of determined resolution
in his manner that seemed to cast spell over
the bra vado of the lynchers. They proceed
ell To tie his arms in silence. and .acn adjust
ed the rope around his neck.
q Death to all heretics and apostates."
shouted the leader.
Death to all apossates." echoed one and
all. And, as though this was the signal. two
men gave q sudden pull of the other end Of
the rope, and Ardine was dangling between
earth and heaven.
The rope was speedily fastened around the
tree. and. having made all secure. the men
stood for second, gazing upon their vic
tim.
"Come to horse ~ suddenly cried their
leader. "Back 10 the holy city u
Zach man vaulted in to his saddle. and.
moment after, six horsemen were gallopng
over the plain towards Salt Lake, the dome
ofwhose synagogue was just visible above
the horizon, darkening in the twilight shad-
OWS.