The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-10-16
NUMBER SO

was pushed down over his eyes SO that
she could not see bis features.
As she gazel the sickness Of despair
settled down upon the heart of the
wretched girl. 1t was not given her to
see that by this apparent Illustration Of
her last hope, God was about to bring
slight out of darkness"
The next morning the prisoner was
brought before the court to receive the
sentence of the Law. Ever since his cap
ture, he had not only maintained sullen
silence, but persisted in keeping his face
concealed from view.e Now, forthe first
time, he raised his head and looked
around with glance of defiance.
The Judge started, while murmur Of
surprise arose from those who were near
est to him. The height, the figure, the
|complexian, the shape of the head veae
almost identical, utthose bloodshot eyes
and distorted features bore no resem-
blance to Richard Blake'sl
He drew himself up and glared about
him like wild animal at bay.
"Hell- -houndsl' he Kissed between his
shut teeth; $50 you have found mel
But you shall not gloat upon me on the
scafold, as you are gloating on me nowl
Thus-thus I defy you'll"
As he said this he plunged a dagger
be had managed to conceal, to the hilt in
his side.
In an instant all was terror and conf1-
sion. Medical aid was procured for the
wounded man, but it was unavailing; he
fingered until night, and then died, but
not until he had confessed that he had
committed the crime of which an innocent
man had been convicted
Subsequent developments revealed the
startling fact that he was natural son Of
the murdered man. Years ago DR.. Hux
ton had won and betrayed the love and trust
of an innocent, confding girl. But he
soon wearied Of her, and on the eve of his
marriage sent the mother and her child
into a, distant, State; quieting his con-
science by settling upon them sufficient,
at least, to keep them from actual want.
Deprived of the restraining influence
of a father, and inheriting no doubt, the
lawless passions of which be was the Of
spring, the boy grew into hayward, head
strong youth. Sensive and high-spirited
he felt keenly his unfortunate position;
the taunts and sights to which it often
subjected him sinking as he grew older,
deeper and deeper into his heart. He
formed strong attachment for the daugh-
ter of man who prided himself upon
his family standing and was rejected on
account of the stain Of his birth. This
had most unhappy effect on him. he
shut himself up from society, brooding
over it until his naturally morbid condi-
ton of mind took the form of actual dis
ease, and which finally eliminated in
the fatal deed by which, to use his own
words, he avenged his own and his
mothers wrongs"
In the mean time, Richard Blake had
sought the asylum of foreign shore, and
| it was some months before he received
the intelligence of his complete exouera.
tion from the crime laid to his charge
After years absence, he returned to re-
ward, with the devotion Of his life, the
nobl girl who had been faithful to him
through evil and good report. His old
friends gathered around him, anxious to
do all in their power to make him forget
the past; but he determined, for his
wife's sake, no less than his own,to leave
for awhile the scenes that reminded them
of SO much thatit was painful for them
to remember.
He went to Italy, where be now is, 3,
promising and successful artist, with q
happy family springing around him.
Thus, alter years of prosperity and
honor, did the secret sin of DR.. Huxton's
youth find him out; one Of the many ex-
empli6cations Of the old and significant
saying:
/ sGod's mills grind slor; but they grind
exceedingly small"