The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-06-23
JACKSON G. H., OHIO THURSDAY, JUNE %, 1870.

of ret1orse; 1t was as it she had sud-
denly become aware that she had stab
ed him; her face and her attitude were
full Of self.rEproach.
30. my darling, do / make you more
wretchedf" she asked, "When l would
die for you! when you are my all 0,
there is not q minute when am wor-
thy Of you"
These interviews left Foster possess
ed Of few minutes Of consolation and
peace, which would soon change into
an increased poverty Of despair and
rage. For the first few days Of his inn
prisonment his prevalent feeling was
anger He could not in the least ac-
cept his position; he would not look
upon himself % one who was suspected
with justice, or even with the slightest
show Of probability; be would not ad-
NIT that society waS pardonable for its
doubts of him. He was not satisfied
with mere hope of escape; on the con-
trary, be considered his acCuserS shame
fully and wickedly blameworthyi he
was angry at them, and wanted TO
wreak upon them q stern vengeance.
As the imprisonment dragged on,
however, and bis mind lost its tension
under the pressure Of troubles there
came moments when he did not quite
know himself. 1t seemed to him that
this man, who was charged with muir
der, was some one else, for whose
character he could not stand security,
and who might be guilty. He almost
looked upon him with suspicion he
half joined the public in condemning
him unheard. Perhaps this mental con-
fusion was the toreshsdowing of that
insane state of mind in which prisoners
have confessed themselves guilty Of
murders which they had not committed,
and which have been eventually brought
home to others. There are twilights
between reason and unrsason. The de-
scent from one condition to the other
is oftener q slope than precipice.
Meanwhile Bessie had, as a matter
of course, plans for saving her lover :
and these plans, almost IS q matter OF
course too, were mainly impraCticable.
As with all young people and almost
all women, she rebelled against the
fixed procedures Of society when they
seemed likely to trample on the dictates
Of her affections. Now that it was her
lover that was under suspicion Of muir
der, it did not seem a necessity to her
that the law should take its course, and
on the contrary, it seemed to her an
atroCity. She knew that he was guilt
less, she knew that he was suffering;
why should be tried! When told that
he must have every legal advantage,
she asseuted to it eagerly, and drove at
ouce to see Mr.. Patterson, and over
whsImed him with fearful imploratiOns
"to do every thing Ito do everything
that could be done, yes, in short, to
do everything" But still she could
not feel that anything ought to be done,
except to release at once this beautiful
and blameless victim, and to make hin
every conceivable apology. AS fol
b. inging him before a court, to answer
with his life whether he we're innocent
or guilty, it was an injustice and an out
rage which she rebelled against with al
. the energy of her ardent nature.
Who could prevent this infamy Il
her ignorance of the machinery Ofjus'
tice, it seemed to her that her grand
father might. Notwithstanding the
little sympathy that there had been be
tween them, she went to the grim ole
, man with her sorrow and her plans
r proposing to him to arrest the trial. II
, her love and her simplicity she woult
have appealed to mountain ora tiger
"What;' reared the squire. ''StoI
, the trial. Can't do it. I'm not th
prosecutor The States attorney j
the prosecutor"
"but can't you say that you think tn
proof against him is insufficient" urge
k Bessie. "Can't you 60 to them an
say that3 Won't that do III"
!, iLord bless YOU" replied squire Lau
u son, staring in wonder at such ignoI
I" auce, ard dimly conscious Of the lov
n and sorrow which made it utter its sim
f plicities. -.
10 grandfather! do have pity on hir
v and me-" pleaded Bessie.
% He gave her a kinder glance thai
n she had ever received from him befor
:. in her life. It occurred to him, as If
v were for the first time, that she We
J. very sweet and helpless, and that sh
r. was his own grandchild. He had ha
n ted her father. o. how he had hate
o the conceited city up start, with his per
positive ways! how he had rejoiced owe
h bis bankruptcy, if not over bis death
~ The girl he had taken to his home, be
,e cause, after all, she was q Lawson b
At blood, and it would be a family shan
n to let her beg bread of strangers. b
she had not won upon him; she locke
}. too much like that "damn jackanaPeSl
" her father; moreover she had contemI
!; tible city accomplishments, and she mt
}! ned in the seclusion of Barham. q
he had been glad when she had been el
q. gagged to that other damn jackanapes
of Foster; and it had been agreeable
Ms think that her marriage would take b
out of his sight. Mercy had made
he will in her favor; he had shifted 81
s. booted at Mercy for her folly but eft,
u. all, he had in heart consented to 4
70. will; it saved him from leaving any
be his money to a Barron.
OF late, however, there had been