Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-05-17

day she might take vengeance in her own
hands, compelled me to believe him.
"How is she?" he questioned eagerly.
"Do not ask" replied.
81 must see her once more, at least"
"Would you escape were the means
provided?"
Eyes, for I am innocent, but could not
prove 1t without inculpating. or, at least
/ aronsing suspicion in connection with her.
and that would not do for life, no, not
for eternity"
"Money can do much,"I replied, not
/ thinking it necessary to tell him that in
short time she should be beyond the
power Of earthly tribunals.
"Use it, then, without stint"
! / did SO. There were few men in that
community who did not have their price,
and perhaps the same state of affairs may
exist very generally at the present time;
but let that be as it may, by midnight
had so arranged that Percival was freed
from his cell, with feet horse standing
saddled, ready for his use, concealed in
thlcket neighboring to Ross house.
| Having dismissed the nurse / had pro-
cured, to obtain some rest, | was alone,
aud prepared to give Percival admitta nee
when l heard the signal agreed on.
Mrs. Ross, since the morning, had had
repeated hemorrhages, resulting from the
com bined effect of the crushing blow she
had received, and the wild excitement
under which she had labored.
That, ho1 l.
lay in quiescent state, looking in her
rare beauty like splendid statue, hurled
from its fitting pedestal.
AT the least noise, the rustic Of bough
the creaking of door or shutter, or even
those nameless sounds that rise upon the
nights silence, she would stretch her
arms out pleadingly, in spite of every
precaution to prevent it, for even this
slight movement would cause the life
blood to froth up, and swell forth, in a
small but fatal stream.
AT last heard the signal, and stealing
with nolseless step to a side door which
concealed from Mrs. Ross sight by the
curtain of her bed, gave Percival in
gress. He clutched me by the shoulder,
apparently to prevent himself from fall
ing, and felt he trembled as an aspen.
THAT you should be calm, is absolute
ly necessary" l whispered. "'The dura-
tion of her life, even for q moment, de-
peLds upon it."
In a second he released his hold on me,
and with Silly tread, sought the bedside
Hereyes, not yet even divested of their
meteor light, though devoid of reasons
ray, rested vacantly on his face, without
a CLEAN of recognition, but at the slight,
unavoidable rustic of his movement, she
stretched out, as usual, her white plead
! ing arms.
TO place himself in their clasp, and
draw her to him, seemed on Percival's
part an irresistible impulse, though /
spoke to prevent it.
And so it proved, for when her head
pillowed on his shoulder she drew deep
sobbing sigh, like child who nestles its
grief away in a mothess breast, and the
graceful head fell back. the glorious eyes
were vailed by the purple-veined lids, and
breath passed away as the crimson cur
rent flowed for the last time. With her
passed away all possibility of ever know
ing with certainty, until the last great
day of Judgment, the deep provocation
that had led TO the awful deed The Sa-
vior who pardoned the dying thieves,
have mercy on her soul.
| An hour went ere called on Percival
to leave, and the appeal was fruitless an
other. and yet another, and finally it was
with force that | drew him to the door,
showed him out, supported him to his
horse, and assisted bim to mount. His
farewell was Understanding more
than quick, hard pressure of the hand
His after fate is told in few words
No clue was obtained to the manner of
his eacape, and, once out ofsight, the Of
ficers of justice made but faint endeavors
to discover his whereabouts.
a few weeks after, though, there arriv-
ed at the village man who stated him
self to be Ross brother. After remain
ing two or three days. he left as quietly as
he had come; but he had been heard to
vow that never again would he rest under
shelter of roof until his brothers death
was avenged.
| " III tllo uhoiiIuS hechuesS VI DloOu-
hounds scent he must have tracked the
supposed murderer through every turn
and disguise; for in less than month
the newspapers of Natchez gave publicity
to the fact that man who, on investiga-
ton, proved to be Percival, had, while
standing in the brilliant light of a bar
room in that city, been shot through the
window by some unknown person.
None doubted that it was Ross brother
who had sped the fatal ball, but none
save myself ever knew that the worldly
prosperity, good name, and life itself, of
| Percival, were all sacrifice to the wom-
an he loved--a lnartyrdom, it seems, that
might almost have power to expatiate the
sins that may have stained his previous
career.--N O. Crescent.
EFAn Arkansas candidate for Con-
gress sets forth his qualifications for Of
flee in following language: Gentlemen,
| if am elected to Congress, will represent