The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-07-15

| could see by the dim starlight, seemed
to have been hardly used. His painting
sides bore witness to merciless riding,
and a tremnlous shrinking, ut the slight
est touch, betokening recent fright.
On re-enteriug the house, ! found
the stranger was not there His alb
senee excited no surprise he would
doubtless soon return. 1t was little
singular, however, that he should have
left his watch lying on the table.
AT the end Of au hour, my guest not
returning, went again TO the stable
thinking he might have found his way
thlther to give his personal attention to
the wants OF his horse.
=" Before going out, from mere force
OF habit-ior we were as yet nninlested
by either thieves or policemen--l took
the precaution Of putting the strangers
watch in drawer In which kept my
own valuables.
" found the horse as had left him,
aud gave him the food which he was
now sufficiently cooled to eat, but his
uiaster was nowhere to be seen.
F" As approached the house, crowd
OF men on horseback dashed up, and |
was commanded, IN no gentle tones, to
stand! ! ln anothGr moment | was in
the clutches OF those who claimed me
az their prisoner.
t. | was too much supplied at first to
ask what 1t all meant. did SO at last,
aud the explanation game, 1t was terri
BILE
My friend, with whom | had so
lately set out in company, had been
found murdered and robbed near the
spot at which ], but | alone, knew we
had separated. was the last person
known to be with him, and was now ar
rested on suspicion OF his murder.
A search OF the premises was lmme-
diateiy instituted. Thewatch was found
IN the drawer IN which l had placed it,
and was then identified as the property
OF the murdered man. His horse, too,
was found in my stable, for the animal
had just put there was none other. l
recognized him myself when l saw him
10 the light,
"What said, | know not. My con-
fusion was taken as additional evidence.
And when, at length, l did command
language to give an Intelligent state.
ment, It was received with sneers Of in
credulity.
The mob spirit IS inherent in man
at least in crowds OF men. 1t may not
always manifest itself 10 physical VIC,
ience. ~ sometimes contents itseli
win iyhch'ns cnarae'er' but what-
ever its iorn, IL is Always relentless
P''.i,esS, cruel
as '"o pfooiS VI my gum Que ai'ef
ano,"e,, eau'o W nsh'' low musterings
e'auua'y s,eW 'a'o = e,a'nor ior ven
eean0ei aoa pu' 10, 'he nr'hness OF one
hap-.ne iis o%cef s' VINO nau me 10 charge
"c11 uoeos' 'r'e pa'u t"e Pe"
Any ~ NY oupPoseu ohoneo ou Tue spot
~. ~ was uo' symPa'"y ~, ne 'na' ac
,1au ny P'o.o0.o noat' was Us
,h Ia,a % ",' oS. r - ~. @ ne ,ep,eaen'eu
'ae n'aJeS'y VI w. ''~, anu 'ooA SORT
u sr'" P''ue iu '"e Pos''1n
n' nu0' uuuer .ne s,apee oi ms
eye as pe'o,e ''e ihu1Iie o' ms pistol
Ino oo"a.u'y o'u'po.ers uie" oack
rernaPs 'ney were NOT sumc.enuy nu'
nerous W 'soi tne 'u'i enec, Oh tha'
mysterious renuA innuehce wn'ch mases
q cro"a VI 'hen 50 mu'n WORSE anu at
.,heS .n % 81 h,u0" 0'''er' 'han any one OIL
tue" siuSiy'
y
"At the end OF some months my trial
came. 1t could have but one result,
Circumstances too plainly declared my
guilt. alone knew they lied
THE absence Of the jury was brick
To their verdict paid but little heed.
1t was single hideous word; but l had
long anticipated it, and it made no i'm.
precision.
"As little impression was made by
the words of the judge which followed
it; and his solemn invocation that God
might have that mercy upon me which
man was too just to vouchsaie sounded
like the hollowest Of hollow mockeries.
1t may be hard for the condemned
criminal to meet death il is still harder
for him who is innocent. The one,
when the 6rst shock is over, acquiesces
in his doom, and gives himself to re.
pentence the heart of the other, filed
with rebellion against mans injustice,
can scarce bring itself to ask pardon Of
God.
II had gradually overcome this feel.
ing, 10 spite Of the good clergyman a