Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-09-07

| tacles on ose'-lOoSed amazing WlSe-anu Tie
other with huge volume of law under each
arm looked "more wise, more learned, more
every thing" Two young lawyers volunteered
their services in behalf of the people, besides
Tiyingham. The two justices took their seats
behind a large table, and the prisoner va'
brought forward. Themen of law were boun-
tifuliy supplied with pen, ink and paper, to
take minutes. But the presence OF the stran-
Ger. so different from what they had antlclpa-
ted. struck them almost speechleSs. Hls gen.
teel and manly department; his open, frank
and innocent countenance in which there ap-
peared not the least symptoms OF guilt and
| disnav: his unembarrassed and easy, atfable
manners his uuconcerned and tranquil airs,
excepting when he cast from his keen dark eye
the look of contempt at Tivingham-ail bespoke
the conciousness Of innocencej and when ne
asked for what purpose he was called, ana
whether there had been my process agalnyt
him upon complaint under oath, they were all
quite confounded.
Alawyer of the village, of high and honorable
standing offered to assist him unasked. After
consulting him a few moments, and being well
convinced that he was perfectly innocent, he
advised him to submit to any examination they
wished-and the first question was that he
should tell who he was, and whence he came!
He simply answered, that he was a total stran-
ger in the place, and if he were rogue, he might
I assume any name or place OF residence; he
could, perhaps, produce more satisfactory
proof than his own declaration who and what
he was-and taking out his pocket book, gave
| it unopened to the justices. Ilvlngham was on
the sharp look out, but how was ne thunder
struck on discovering the name OF FRANCIS ..
JACKSON as the proprietor; and not only that,
| but abundant evidences and vouchers, showing
that he was the only son, and only surviving
| heir at law, of WILLIAM JACKSON, OF New
York, lately deceased.
Tivingham begged to speak to him aside
but no. He had been dragged there as a prls-
oner and felon, and he should now see who
the felons were. He had been assaulted IN the
night on the highway, ard demanded that those
! who had done it might be Immediately secured.
All was in confusion He was willing, nay,
demanded that his examination should go on
I if not. .lt he might be heard on his cath.
The lien who brought him there began to
think of mal.irs of, but the court o!1g,ed the
constables 70 take them ali into safe keeping,
until further orders. They then riaa1 for raer-
cy-Stated that they were ignoFant'y brought
into the affair, and actually believed at the
time. thatthe stranger was highway y-man, and
/ that il was their absolute duty 10 ali n his APP
prehension and that they should la e thought
| they were doing God service" IN putting an
end TO his career, if in no other way, by taking
! his life.
At this moment Judge M, owner Of the
rel mills. the first judicial officer in the county,
/ ILL., o,,I l;rrbl,- rocrnota l,la oant
/ man. who had, until few years past, resided
in the city of New York, rode up to the door,
! and enquired if a gentleman was there by the
I name Of Jackson? Being in the affirmative, he
dismounted and walked in.
On learning what had been transacted he
was greatly astonished, and stated to the by
! ISLANDERS that ne had known Col. jackson from
a child-that his father was one of the most re-
spectacle merchants in New York, immensely
rich. and that his only son, whom they had
/ treated as a robber, was one OF the best men he
/ ever knew; and his father being dead, and
mother also, he was now sole heir of all his
property, which amounted to not less than hall
a million of dollars and that he had the day
before paid him two thousand dollars on debt
due 70 his fathers estate, for the property which
he possessed, being purchased OF him while lly-
ing. lie wanted to know what Col jackson
had done. and what reason they had for sus-
pecting him a villain.
Mr.. jackson related the whole rise and pro-
gress of the affair, with every particular, not
forgetting TO give Tivingham his true character,
and the unspeakable distreSses which his avarlce
and his hopes of obtaining Sophia, had brought
upon Mr.. Thompson and his family. At the
same juncture, in came the wife and daughter,
leading between them the fee bic and emaciated
husband and father.
Mr.. jackson few to his embrace, and the
unfortunate man was quite overcome with JOY.
Tears and the faultering accents of gratitude,
attested his feelings. He had to sit down, for
he could not stand-and the wife, the daughter,
and the son, We're overpOwered by the gush OF
sympathy, as they heard Mr.. jackson tell MIR.
Thompson that he was free from all his eInbar-
rassments and that provision would be imme-
diately made to restore them to their former
standing handing Mr.. Thompson, at the same
time, handful of bank notes for his present
necessities.
Mr.. Jackson had seen Che sheriff. and ordered
him discharged, and his feelings were more in
tense than ever, when he found out that the
little hut in the pine woods had been consumed
the night before, and what keen distress had
followed in consequence.
If there is any heaven on earth, it IS that
which a benevolent man enjoys, when in the
godlike act of relieving the dstresses of his fel
low beings, and when surrounded by the OBJ
iects of his relief A tranquil joy-a holy rap
ture comes over the soul, and the "still small
voice of peace, whispers to hisconcience, "wel
done. good and faithful servant"
This serene paradise Mr.. jackson was now
enjoying, heightened by the additional antici-
patton of seeing them all more happy yet
Sophia appeared more interesting to him thar
, ever
''For beauty's tears are loveGer than hel
smiles, and hers were the effusion of gratitud,
and 10y He sat, not staring, but now anC
then casting a mild look Of contemplative re
gard, on the object of his sohcitude
Sophia was not one of those ideal beautie
that could break all hearts at glance; but sh,
was one of natures finished models in femal,
, form. She had
AN eye, as when the blue sky tremble