Warren telegraph. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1857-1861, 1857-10-03

Ing me OF your Illness, anu i nave fluuen Gay
and night; but oh, dearest mother! are you not
improvingg Is there not still hope?"
g. None, even in the opinion Of the doctor, I"
replied the feeble voice; and, but for the atten-
\ tions Of that kind lady, should perhaps now
4 be in my grave"
The youth glanced round and perceived the
blushng face of a fair girl that, in his grief and
agitation, he had previously failed to notice.
This beautiful being was nearly bis own years,
large for her age, but well formed and symmet-
rical as a piece of antique sculpture. With all
the charms of the lovliest of her sex, her coun-
tenance presented the proud air Of queen, and
her brilliant blue eyes, oven through her tears,
beamed with naughty fires, denoting the energy
of an iron will unaccustomcd TO any control,
save its free and tterlcss choice.
"Miss Juliet Vale, how shall thank You for
so much goodness?" fatcred the young man, al
most unable to credit the evidence Of bis senses
Her features flushed to brighter crimson,
but she answered not Then the dying mother
beckoned the beautiful girl to the bedside, and,
taking her hand, placed it in that Of the aston
ished son, murmuring as she did So" My dear
children, we love each other, and give you both
my last blessing"
"Oh, this must be madness - exclaimed the
astonished youth. :" | have worshipped her, as
the magician doth the star, for years yet never
dared ASPIRE so much as to touch her hand be-
fore; but she, the wealthy, the adored idol Of
fashion, cannot love the poor, fiendless teacher.
The idea is impossible!'
81 have loved you since the first moment we
met" sigh a most musical voice.
"Then be happy, my son and daughter, said
the sick woman with an angel smile. aye have
no relatives on the earth; bereaved orphans of
the heart, see that ye be everything o each 9TH
or, as my spirit will pray for you in its heaven.
/ 1v nd npf In o1af
fort, the Invalid soon dropped off into a seeming
slumber. a.
And thus those young and ycarning souls
strangely pighted their faitb-thcre, by the
couch of death, before the dim candle hckering
on the humble table, and beneath the spectral
shadows of the midnight stars, while the winds
of autumn moaned among the pine tops, and
strewed wthcrod leaves on tho roof above their
heads. Was the weird magic Of the hour or
the silent sadness Of the scene, an eloquent en-
blem Of the coming doom? Alas everywhere,
as in the most gloomy as well as the gayest sea-
sons, the back-wingad Fates hover in the air
around their chosen victims, nor givea sound of
warning till tho thundcr-bolt breaks, and the
cleaning castle of youth and hope lies smoking
in a mass of fiery runsl
All that night the lovers watched, and the
sick mother slept, or appeared toslcep, until the
diamond dawn. But just as the first refracted
sunbeams began to sow the azure fields of cir
with radated roses and the flashing light of ori-
entail pearls, sudden change passed over the
paid features of the dying--her breast heaved,
and faint breath futtered on her white lips,
then fed forever with the parted soul For her,
there was nevermore either time, or space, with
woa isome cares and bewidering heart-breaks
or pains or pleas ures of tho sensos-n0thing
but the beauty of immortal being in the un-
known land which lies beyond the stars!
On the following day. late in the afternoon
the funeral took place, attended by few poor
neighbors, and Juliet Hale, with some dozen of
her slaves, from the large plantation distent scy-
en- mil S. But as the first cod Of earth rumbl-
ed on the coffin with that dull, hollow sound
the most unuttorably mournful ever beard by a
human ear, strange incident startled the per-
sons present. Five men, armed with guns and
pistols, galloped up to the grave, and one Of
them, pointing at the weeping son of the widow
in her bed of clay shouted iiercoly-
There he is: that is the horse thief"
The leader of the band instantly presented his
gun, saying, in savage tones" Surrender your
self, villain, and accompany us a prisoner"
"Colonol Banks, what means this false
charger" demanded the proud Juliet, with fash
ing eyes.
{ All ! Miss Hale, is that you?" replied the
red-haired, coarse feature ruiliaD with look of
amazcment 81 mean that this fellow ycster-
ay stole my best race horse, and for the act |
intend he shall swing"
You arc altogether mistaken as to my mo- !
tives,' remarked the youth, calmly And he
related in touching terms the necessity and pow
er of filial tenderness, which urged him to com
nit the reckless deed.
That is no lawful excuse" retortod the gam.
bier brutally. MY Selim was worth five
thousand dollars, and had that snm of money
bet on him for the next race, and see you have I
ridden him to death. Men, tie the rascal, and
lotc be off with him.
"Stay ~ cried Juliet, blushing like scarlet .
" Colonel Banks, will pay you at your own
"No," exclaimed the other, and his features
writhed with dcmoniac rage. 81 understand !
now why you discarded me, and made choice Of
this beggar and thief; but, by heaven he shall
hang!"
John Fitch was Immediately arrested and
carried away to the Jail of Iredcll county, and
the ensuing week the sheriff brought him out
for trial The evidence being all fully presented,
the Judge, who happened to be a particular
friend of the prosecutor charged strongly that
the defence set up furnished no legal .justifica-
ton, and the jury returned accordingly, a ver-
dict of guilty, but with an urgent recommends
ton to the clemency Of the executive.
The court then passed tho sentence Of death in
orm- for such was, at that time, tho horrible
punishment for orse-stealing-and, as il to de.
prive the prisoner of all hope, fixed the day Of
loom for the following Friday, thus allowing in
sufficient time for application to the governor, in
accordance with the wishes Of the merciiul PAN
j.
The proud and beautiful Juliet had listened to
he whole proceedings without any signs Of oy.
emotion, save the death-like pale
hess of her features but as soon as the final and
atal result had been announced, she dispatched
trusty messenger to the capital of the State,
With certified copy of the verdict, and power
ul petition signed by all the members of tho
,ar and most influential citizens, entreating for