Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-05-25
An Execution Prevented.

Portable, whitewashed, thickly thatch-
ed cabin, was abundantly stocked
with early cabbage and potatoes; ev-
erything bore the look of humble
prosperity; from the blue smoke
curling up from the freshly made fire
on the kitchen hearth, to the green
meadows where the crows were lying
peacefully ruminating. A broad riv-
er, glistening in the suns rays, rolled
smoothly beside the boundary wall of
their pasture.
Yet Kate Moran stood at her faith
er's door looking sadly across the
river to the mass of shipping, houses,
and spires, which rose on the other
side.
"Mother, honey, I can't keep my
eyes off that dreadful place" said
she turning as she spoke to an elder
ly woman who sat knitting on bench
near the fire. ~. e--. --. .
"Musha, acushla, what good'll that
do YEP said she, rising and going
over to the door also. "Come in
now," putting her hand on her daugh-
ter,s shoulder caressingly.
"Oh, mother! To think O the poor
fellow bein'-," there she fairly broke
down and burst into a wall of dis
tress. ... ---. ..
"Whisht nowr' cried her mother.
"Here's your feither comm, and don't
let him see ye cryin'."
Kate ran hastily into the bedroom,
as her father entered the kitchen.
"There's no chance for the poor
craythur, Pat ?" asked his wife, as a
broad-faced, good-humored looking
man came forward and sat down on
the settle.
"Chancew said he, roughly, while
his face clouded. Sorrow chance
He'll be hung, as sure as I've this
pipe in my hand"
Lord have mercy on his sowl, the
craythur y moaned his wife.
"Oh, musha amin,' said her hus-
band, signing. "I'm goin in wud the
cowlt to-mOrra, an to see the last of
him. It's niver | thought to see poor
Mick Welsh's son on a gallus ?"
The sun was setting over the oppo
site hill. where the tall, many storied
houses rose in terraces and steer
lanes, and was shedding the last ra
dance on the large dark stone build
ing which crowned the height. The
red light seemed to be concentrated
on one part OF the building, where
there was an iron gateway spiked anC
double locked. Far above In the dark
massive wall was a small dark door
And beneath this door and around
this gateway, men were busy putting
up strong timber ratings, while {
crowd, talking and gesticulating, con
stantly pressed in upon the workmen
and were driven back by officials il
uniform and a few soldiers.
Inside the massive walls othel
workmen were busy, but their worl
was commonplace enough. Some
thing was wrong with the great mail
sewer of the Jail. Masons and brick
: layers had been laboring for some
hours and now when the city clock
and bells were striking six, they were
taking up their tools, putting on thei
coats, and leaving their work til
next day.
There were no rough jests anon!
them. One man laughed as a com
panion slipped down into the slim.
: ditch whence they had emerged; bu
3 their merriment was checked by a.
f involuntary look from the others to
a ward the far side Of the yard, wher
man in a fel0n's dress and with man
. acled hands was walking slowly a
and down.
"Lord have mercy on his sowl !
n muttered an old mason, compassion
} ately. Poor Tim Welsh! AS hor
! est boy afore he got into bad con
r pany, as iver a father rared."
e Whether the prisoner had caugh
! , the sound of his name or not, he rails
i ed his head and looked sadly towar
: them.
a Lord help liml" said two or thre
t of the men "for maxim way with on
e poor sheep what a rich man ha
E plenty Off -.
u y An official came across the yard
b look at their days work, and afte
:; asking some questions, walked ava.
g saying, "Come along now, the gate
OPEN"
2 So, casting a backward glance {
e the manacled prisoner, the men pas
J, ed through an arch into an inne
e court, whence the great doors opene
n to let them out into the street.
"a The manacled man gazed after the
t retreating figures. with sigh-a
IT most a groan-as he thought of the
e, return to their homes, free and ha]
>, py from their honest labor while /
n the crap, rap, rap, tap, tap" c
lie carpenters hammer, outside beat {
as as the thought he could not dwell upol
90 ~ There was no one with him, no on
1e near him, but turnkey pacing U
ID and down an angle Of the building
;. for in those days there was far LEI
lg vigilance than now. He was not CO
J. fined to his cell On this the last da
: of his life, but was permitted to wa
about the quadrangles of the prison
apart from the other criminals, hoV
ever, and securely handcuffed.
Bitter and despairing were b
thoughts. He thought of his gra
haired widowed mother, of his sta
Cd wart young brothers, of the lads
n had played ball with, of Kate Mora
o, whom he had danced with at the ia
of only two months ago. Mechanical
,e he walked across the square to tt