Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-03-17
NUMBER l,sss!;

jail. Listening . second to the rstreating seep
of the person who he'd accompanied ne - The
door, he said, quite calmly:
"Eustis, have not done this thing" .
"The pistol ?" quericd.
ais mine, certainly, but she persuaded me
tn give 1t to her; on pretence thai in hasay
moment might use it on him. l know Aew
hard fate-it was for her own protection"
There was an air Of verAcitv about him
which, coupled with the sight of the bruise on
the breast of Mrs. Ross and tho remembrance
of the vague words that one day she might
take vengeance in her own bands, compelled
Inc to believe him.
"How is she ?" he questioned eagerly.
ado not ask" I replied.
al must see her once more, at least"
"Would you escape, were the means pro-
vilcdP"
ayes, for am innocent, but codld not prova
it without inculpating, or, at least, arOusing
suspicion in connection with her, and that
would not do for life. no, nor for eternity"
"Moncy can do much," replied, not think
ing it necessary to tell him that in . short time
shc would be beyond the power Of earthly tri-
bunalS.
"Csc it, then, without stint"
did so. There were few men In that conf
munity who did not have their price, and pea
|
generally ut the present time but let that be
ns It may, by midnight had so aTrGKgedYHSt
Pcrcival was freed from his cell. with q feet
horse standing saddled, ready for HE use, cOil-
! eealed in a tkieket eAboFiRg to Ross house.
Having dismissed the nurse I had procured,
to obtain some rest, was alonC and prepAnst
to give Percval admittance when heard tbs
signal agreed on.
Mrs Ross, since the morning, had had ~
pcated hemorrages, resulting from the CON-
Lined effect Of the crushing blow she had re-
ceived, and the wild excitement under which
she had iabored
They had cnlmed her frenzy, and she lay in
a Quirscent state, looking in her rare beauty,
hike splendid statueI htirled from its fitting
) pedestal.
At the least noise the rustic Of a bough, the
crcaking Of door or shutter, or even those
namcless noises that rise upon the nights 81
lcncc, she would stretch her arms out plead
: ingly, in spite of every precauton to prevent
it, for even this slight movement would cause
: the blood to frOth up, ard well forth, ln o
small but fatal stream.
/ At last heard the signal, and stealing With
noiseless step to a side door, which was con
, ccaled from Mrs. Ross sight by the curtain Of
, her bed, l gave Percival ingreSs. He clutched
: me by the shoulder, apparently to prevent
himself from falling, and felt he trembled AZ
an aspen.
THAT you should be calm is absolutely
: necessary" l whispered. "The duration Of
! her life, even for moment, depends on t."
In o second he released his hold on me. and
, with Silly tread sought the bedside.
Her eyes, not yet even divested OF their
7 meteor light, though devoid Of reasons ray,
/ rested vacantly on his face, without q gleain
. OF recognition, but at the slight, unavoidable
rustic of his movement, she stretched out. as
3 usual, her white, pleading arms.
e To place himself in her clasp, and draw her
: to him, seemed on Percival's part an irresist.
!, ible impulse, though spoke to prevent IL
i Ile turned on me beseeching look, and
Y murdered: "But oncc-my God forever |"
And so 1t proved, for when her head pii-
n lowed on his shoulder she drew Deep go.
bing sigh, like child who neatles ila lGssel
7 away in q mothers breast, and the graoaGNl
1 head fell back, the glorious eyes were veiDed
e by the purpc-vcined lids, and breath pAsSe1
c away as the crimson current flowed for the
last time. With her passed away all posalhil-
i ity Of ever knowing with certainty, untN s
3 last great day Of judgment the deep pEOvS D.
4 ton that had led to the awful deed. The O..
viour, who pardoncd the dying thieves, have
c mercy on her soul.
: An hour went ere called on Pcrcival "a
S leave, and the appeal was fruitleSs; anueher,
r and yet another. and finally il was with force
that drew him to the door, shoNc cd him out,
supported him to his horse, and assisted him
c to mount His farewell was voiceless- nOth.
:, ing more than quick, hard pressure Of the
v hand.
|, His after fate Is told in few words. No
c clue was obtained to the manner Of his es-
cape, and once out of sight, the otaoevu oi
i justice made but taint cndeavors 70 diacovsT
: his whereabouts
y few weeks after, though, there arrived at
u the village . man who stated himself 10 be
r Ross brother. After remaining two or three
" days, he left as quietly as he had come but
5 he had been heard TO vow that never again
: would he rest under shelter of roof until
c his brothers death was avenged. s:
With the unerring keenness Of the bleed.
II hounds scent, he must have tracked the sup.
: posed murderer through every turn and die
|, gnisc, for in less than a month the uSwtpauArs
Of Natchez gave publicity to the ACes tAsA 9
{? man, who, on investigation, proved TO be
Percival had, while standing In enA'HeAlianI
light Of bar room in that city. hea not
e through the window by some unknown an
h None doubted that It was Ross br0thar 1hc
q had sped the fatal bal, but none, sayA q Self
d ever knew that the worldly ptospetetA. %
e name, and life itself Of Percival, = i I
sacrifice to the woman he loved 60 rr
e dom, it seems, that might almost have ~ el
l. to cxxpiate the sins that may have stained BIZ
< previous career. sassfsq
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