The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-11-23

on his mind that he regretted
and was desirous of atoning for his Intern
pcrate language the day before.
The defence called up a number OF wit
nesses, who bore testimony as to the char
acter for steadincss and integrity that the
accused had borne from his youth up, and
the kindness and tenderness Of his heart
HIS closing plea was a master piece Of ora
tory he placed every favorable circumstance
before the jury in its most favorable light,
concluding with an appeal In behalf of his
unhappy client the eloquence and pathos Of
which touched the sternest heart among
them.
The Judge, in summoning up the case,
DESTROYED the effect Of this in measure
He warne,; the jury that while they were to
allow the benefit of every doubt, they were
not to forget that mercy TO the criminal Is
often cruelty to the community that based
by neithor pity nor prejudice, they were to
decide the case according TO the evidence
placed before them, leaving 30 the executive
the prerOgatlve of mercy,
The returned from their brief deilhera-
ton. There was brcathless hush as the
clerk put the usual question.
wv hat say you, Mr. Foreman? Do you
find the prisoner at the bar guilty or not
guilty p
''Guiliyr
There was slight hustle at the other end
Of the room, and then the insensibe form
of a woman WIS borne out This did not
escape the notice of the prisoner, bis eye
followed it to the door, and as it disap-
peared, his feeling found audible expression
In low moan Of smothered agony.
The prisoner was then renanded, and the
people dispersed with saddened hearts to
their homes
The night before the day on which he
was to be sentenced, Richard Blake escaped,
it was suspected, through the connivancc,
at least Of one of The officers of the jail,
though nothing could be proved against
him. \ large reward was offered for his
apprehension, and every effort made to
that eud.
Susan Huxton sat in the solitude Of her
chamber, her deep mourning attire render
ing still more conspicuous the change that
had been wrought in the once joyous and
beautiful girl. a day4and a halt had elaps
ed since Richards escape, and she began to
breathe more easily; he had time to reach
the sea coast, and must now be beyond the
reach OF danger.
Suddenly she heard Ii lrmuring sound,
as Of many voices. Stepping out upon the
veranda, she looked down the street. She
saw quite a crowd OF people following a
wagon, in which were three men.
a bare legged boy, running on before,
paused in front Of the house.
"Hurrah - he shouted, SWINGING in the
air his croHnless hat, they caught
him :"
Caught wi1o?" she inquired
"Richard Blake, the murderer -
Slowly the dust laden wagon approached
the spot where she stood. Yes, there he
was, heavily msnacled, his disordered dress
showing that he had not yielded without Il
powerful stru.ge His hat was pushed
down over his eyes 50 that she could not see
his features.
As She gazed, the sickness of despair set
tied down upon the heart of the Wrctched
girl. 1t was not given her to see that by
this apparent Illustration oi her last hope,
God was about to bring liz ht out Of dark
ness
The next morning the prisoner was
brought before the court to receive the sen
tcnce of the law Ever since his capture,
he had only maintained sullen silence, but
persisted IN keeping his face concealed from
view Now, for the ir.t time, he raised
his head and looked around with glance
of defiance
/ The Judge started, while a murmur OF
surprise arose from those who were nearest
him. The hight, the figure the complex
ion, the shape of the head were almost
Identical but those bloodshot eyes aud dis,
tortcd features bore no resemblance K
Richard Blake'sl
He drew himself up and glared about hin
J like wild animal at bay.
] Hell hounds!" he Kissed between hi,
! shut teeth so you have found me? Blu
you shall not gloat upon ne on the scaifoll
as you are gloa;ng upon me now Thus
| thus [ defy you u
! As he said this he plunged dagger h
/ had managed to conceal, to the hi!t in hi
side
! In an instant all was terror aud confusion
| Medical skill was procured for the wounde,
man, but it was unavaling he fingered
until night, when he died, but not until ht
; had confessed that he had committed the
cline Of when an innocent man had beer
convicted
| Subsequent developments revealed thc
startling fact that he was a natural son o
the murdered man. Years ago, DR.. lux
! ton had won and betrayed the love of an in
nocent girl. But he soon wearied of her
and on the eve Of his marriage sent the mo
Their and her child into a distant State
quoting his conscience by settling upol
theiI sui hcleEt, at least, to keep them from
actual want
Deprived of,hc restraining influence of
| father, and Inh eriting, DO doubs, the law
less passions OF which he was the offspring
the boy grew into a hayward head stron.
youth. Sensitive and high spirited, he fel
keenly his unfortunate position the taunt:
and sights to which it often subjected hiu
sinking as he grew older, deeper and deeper
into his heart. He formed a strong attach
ment for the daughter Of man who prideC
himself upon his family standing, and wa!
| rejected on account OF the stain of his birth
This had most happy effect on him. H(
shut himself up from society, broodlne
over it until his naturally morbid condition
of mind took the form of actual disease
and which finally eliminated in the fata
deed by which, to use his own words, he
| avenged his own and his mother
wrongs.
In the meantime, Richard Blake hac
sought the asylum of foreign shore, and
| it was some months before he received the
intelligence of his complete exoneratior
! from the crime laid to his charge. After 8
years absence, he returned to reward, with
| the devotion of his life, the noble girl who
had been true to him through evil and gooC
report His old friends gathered arOunC
hun, anxious to do all in their power to make
him forget the past but he determined fol
his wife sake, no less than his own, to leave
tor Ehlle the scenes that reminded them o.