Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-06-21


tered and fell to the floor. In her fall, she
caught the robbers foot, and kissed it.
"Have mercy on mep' she shrieked.
"Oh, spare my life, implore you'll
swear to you, before the Holy Virgin,
will not say syalable to any one. May
I'never see heaven. if dol For the sake
of the blessed st. Nicholas, have COM
passion upon mel 1 will pray all my life
for you, as for my own father, my
brother---"
The ineXorable miscreant shook her of
from his foot, kicking her in the breast.
In vain she raised her implorIng looks and
arms towards him; in vain she sought to
touch his stony heart with all that intense
despair, and the clinging love for a beau
tiful, joyous existence, could breathe into
the words, the voice, and the tears of a
hopeless being. The villain, harder than
granite, grew every moment more cruel
and savage. Raging with impatence, he
caught her by the hair, forced back her
head. drew his knife from his boot, and
was about to plunge it in her breast.
ooh, oh! for the love OF heavcn!'
sobbed the unfortunate girl beside herself
at the sight of the terrible knife; chang
me! hang me! No bloody death! Mercy!
mercyl Hang me ratheI!"
Gay, ay," he said, with hideous grin;
$50 you can speak at last. Why did not
you say so at once? l have lost good
deal OF time alieadv; still L can't refuse
you the favor, you are such a nice girl
Don't be afraid, Duna. You shall die in
the pleasantest manner. 1t is an ugly
death, that of the knife. If might choose
myeel', | would rather be hanged than
knouted, when my time comes. We will
look about for n c1rd.'
The wretched girl, powerless in mind
and body through terror, cold as ice trem-
bling and almost lileless, submitted to all
his commands.
The rope was soc n found, and the mur-
derer returned with his victim 70 the same
room where the remains of the breakfast
still stood upon the table. He threatened
to kill her instantly if she stirred from the
spot where she stood-placed a chair on
the table and sprang nimbly upon it.
Having fastened the rope round the beam,
he drew the knife from his boot cut OF
the projecting part OF the rope, stuck the
knife INTO the beam, and set about making
n double running knot on the rope
Duna stood motIonless in the middle oi
the room; heat and cold rushed alternately
through her frame; sparks of fire danced
before her eyes; she saw nothing; she did
nothing but pray, confess her sins, COM
mend herself to all the saints. and men
tally bid farewell to all that was dear to
her in life.
'tFresently. presently. my precious!
said the murderer, going on with his work
you shall see how nicely L will hang you
| am not a new hand at the job. Do you
see now, all is ready; only we must tly
whether the rope is strong enough.
would not for The world you should fall
to the ground and break your ribs. 1t
is for your interest and my own tha;
DRAW tie chair away from under
my feet"
Dune unconsciously went up to the
table, ard drew away the chair; whilst
the robber held the rope fast in both
hands, having slipped it over one arm up
to the elbow, to convince himself of its
strength by swinging on it with the whole
weight of his body.
"PuSh the taLie aside"
Duna did so.
"All right; it's capital rope, it will
bear more than you-you and me to-
gether.'
He now let go the rope, intending to
jump to the ground. Apparently, it was
his purpose TO startle the poor girl by the
bold and 81 dden leap; but the moose inten-
ded for her, gliding along his arm, caught
him fast by the wrist. Dumas execu
toner had in fact hanged himself by the
hand.
Though experiencing the most acute
pain, he wished to conceal his critical pO-
sition from the girl, that she might not
avail herself of it to escape. He tried to
reach his imprisoned hand with his left
L. ofl l. ,1l l.;
bringing his shoulders parallel. Sud
denly he began TO whirl and fling himself
wildly through the air, hoping the rope
would snap; but in vain! ii he hal but
The knife in his boot, he might have sew
cred it, or, at the worst, have cut off his
hand, and saved himself by flight. But
uuluc kily for him, The knife WAS sticking
in the beam. How was he to get il?
He thought of one means-a desperate
one-the last. He collected all his
strength to shake the knife out with pow
ertul spring. The effort failed.
The weight of his heavy frame dangling
in the air by one hand only, his violent eft
forts, the pressure Of the tighC-drawn knot
occasioned the villain intense torture; the
joints of his arm cracked and began to
part; the blood oozed out under the rope
from the lacerated skin, and lrickled into
the sleeve OF his cloak; while that OF the
rest of his trembling frame rushed from
the extremities to his head. Every mo
ment it seemed as if the hand would be
torn off. He even wished that ii might
His anxiety lest the people of the house
should return; his dread of being taken in
this predicament; impatience. Rage; the
thought of his msdeeds, of his punish:
mcnl, all his guilty life. All this pos
ses his tumulluous imagination, ard
brought his dark soul to despair. Cold
sweat broke from his forehead. In spite
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