The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-11-18

: Tie thought--was my own uncis.
l heard the clatter of hooGs. a lithe
way of, on the bard frozen ground Hpv
: my heart beat--but was not aff3
= Horse and rider came on, fast; nearer and
nearer--at last they we're by my side...--
! sprang from my hiding place, quick
Iy; cought the horses bride, and stop
ped him SO suddenly that he rose on his
launches, nearly throwing my uncle of
There was flash and report-a bullet
went through my cap, singing my hair,
and cutting just through the scalp. /
knew my uncle had another pistol with
him: quick as thought, raised my own
and fired. From saddle to the ground.
my uncle fell with groan; the frigbteh.
ed horse sprang forward, tossing the bri-
die from my hand, and his hoofs went
clattering over the ground. heard them
a long way off.
1t was the work Of a moment to rifle the
! pockets ofthe wounded man. | had my
reward! | found and secured large
sum of money.
must have been wild then. Just at
daybreak, found myself at Madeline S
house, with but little of the black on my
face, and dressed in the clothes had worn
that night. l looked wild and haggard,
she told me, and she backed away when
/ | advanced toward her, saying:
MY Madeline! You are my own, al
lastp
She was afraid of me, aud she looked so
pale, and trembled so, that l wondered.
Gold, Madeline! gold!' | said, half
crazy with joy, drawing from my pocket
the money | had stolen. See! and it is
all yours, Madeline. Have not brought
you what you wish! Speak, my own,
and tell me | have money enough to buy
you. Will you not? We will be happy
yeti
There IS blood on your hands, she
said, still more alarmed. You are crazy,
are you not? Where did you get this,
Sandy Martini!
| thought of the danger l was in, and
shuddered. Icould not answer her ques-
ton, but l forgot. in an instant, all but
the fact that l had gold ia my possession
even enough to buy the woman l low
ed.
The street door was cautiously opened,
but | scarcely noticed it. Madeline was
looking at the intruder, and she shudder-
ed and turned her gaze on me, and said,
pressing her hand to her heart, and stag
geling back against the wall: 'Oh, SandyP
seemed to be sorely puzzled; | stood.
with the money in my two hands, booking
at it and then at her, as if surprised that
she did not t Ike it away from me, with
thanks and vows of love. Ny cap had
fallen from my head and my hair was
tangled and matted, and the mark
through it, where the pistol ball had gone,
showed plainly. AT last | saw blood on
my hand; my eyes were fastened upon it,
and hardly knew how it came there
1t seemed as if | was in dream.
Somebody tapped me on my shoulder
and called me prisoner started back,
as if | had been shot The ID ruder was
an oficer--I was discovered. had a.
wakened from my blind stupidity. was
a highway robber, pcrheps murderer
| pressed my hand to my throbbing brow,
| comprehended it all; and, oh, in that
moment, low cursed the slight, frail,
frightened girl, leaning against the wall!
how have hated her ever since. My
love of honor came back 10 me too late--
the love | bore for Madelins.was nothing
compared to it. | was as weak as a child.
Scalding tears found their way to my
eyes to hide them, but could not. / was
submissive, too. Turning to the officer,
| said: 4 will go with you We passed
out Of the door together, leaving Made
line weeping-only through fear, | guess
against the wall.
There was trial The proof was
strong against me- In the court room
were women who sympsthized with me,
and even men, whoseeeyes were far from
dry when | was sentenced Back from
the rest, where | could scarcely see her,
was Pauline, her blue eyes 50 sorrowful-
ly turned on me, very often, Just as if she
would have pleaded at the bar for me,
could it have done any good, or as if she
would have taken my place in the priso.
ner's desk and suffered for me. believe
she would--God bless her | believe she
would. Much as she trembled at even a
thought of crime, she sympathized with
me, black as | was with it, and loved me
still, But Madeline--pshaw! that |
should mention her in the same breath
with Pauline--Madeline kept aloof; she
even mentioned me with scorn, and tbo't
ii was shocking that should bring my
stolen gold to her. Yet, had not been
apprehended, how easily she would have
taken all had, and me, too, and been ve-
ry grateful, though she knew my love was
ten times blacker than it was.
Through my prison walls, even through
the narrow, iron-grated window, away
up near the ceiling, scarcely a ray Of sun
shine ever came, All was dark 10 me in
those days. Day after day | toiled, and
night after night rolled on my bed, in
that gloomy cell, sick and sore at heart,
unable to get to sleep Oh! it was hard.
For that tirsteawfli, sinl suffered terribly,
in body and ar heart. But thank Godl
Il was not a murderer--my uncle lived.
When | knew this fell down on my
knees. in that gloomy, narFpw-refl, and
thanked God 30 earnestly thai l1knew He