Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-05-03

He did not know what Amy meant by raising
her hands. Soon he stood al. the extreme
edge of the clif. not more than fifteen OF six
teen feet in horizontal line from her window.
Thity feet below him the water of the canon
rOared over huge bonndlers, and behind was
a solid wall of granite, twelve feet high, The
shelf was t{zo feet wide; .'f,
Die, convict" shouted, John Clnny,-r
Forester heard The. word convict, saw tue old
mau, saw the bright barrel of the gun, as it
was pointed towards him, aud then all was
blank to him.
When his consequences returned he found
himself lying on the top of the cliff Il was
night A form was bending over him. BS
the dim starlight he conld distinguish the
features, but cold shudder passed over his
body as he felt hand was laid upon his face,
and he heard the voice of the miller.
"Hes dead, and / amt bit sorry for il
either But what am going to do with the
body 1 can't throw it over the cliffs Well,
l guess it's best to stick to my old plan.
The miller took rope from b'S pocket,
passed it beneath the afmpits Of Forester,
and dragged the body to a cave only kPown
to himself.
This cave was situated to where one end OF
the dam was fastened BY the means of fheavy
timbers to the cliffs the opening was cou-
cealed by clump of bushes.
NO one will ever find him there, muaered
the miller.
When he enter0d-t bed room of his
daughter he found her lying upon the floor
insensibie.
When Forester awoke from the deathlike
arkn ! h, f,,l,
he lifted himself upon his elbow Bending
aside the bushes he saw the glimmer of "a
lantern which stood upon tne dam close to the
sluice gates When FonGster's eyes became
more accustomed the darkness. he perceived
the forms of two bending over-the breastwork
of the gates. Soon the sound of voices came
to his ears,-he heard his name. mentioned.
He was about to creep through the opening of
the bushes Ehen the men began to walk
towards him. About four feet from where he
was lying they stopped,
.'What time is il; Jim ~ said one of them.
Time enough for our littlo job, replied
the other, withra coarse, harsh laugh.
This time he will be cooped up for the
rest of his life you bet, replied the other.
"0r he'll swing For it." echoed the other.
look there Jim.p interrupted Charley.
'What in the devil is up Z" you fool.
Il thought l saw Il mans face peepipg at
me from the mautinDette.
Forester had protruded his head. He saw
by light Of the burning match the blOated
face of James and Charles Crocker
stuff and nonsense. Go to work. Have
you fixed the plank so that you eau shove it
across the gulch to her window"
Yes" growled The brother, "but it was
deyilish hard work"
Then we are sure of the gal Now for
the DAM" said Charles moving AWAY.
Like flash of lightning tho plot of the
villains was revealed to Forester
They first intended to cut the dam, then
they would rescue the family of the miller by
means of>the plank. OF course this latter
would insure the gratitude of the miller
The breaking of the dam would be again
charged upon Forester, who, as one of the
brothers remarked, would be sentenced TO
penitontiary for life, Or olsc swing"
4 look towards the dam showed that the
water was nearly level with the path. He
heard the craCking of the timber5 and planks
as the men were prying with iron bar at
one end of the beams. \ rumbliug noise
came to his ears it was the sound of the pent
up water, as it began to overflow the dam
He arose to his feet aud drawing aside the
bushes, he stepped upon a shelf like path
which ran along side Of the cliff.
'Villains." llo shouted. The two brothers
looked up, but one. for the light OF the
lantern illuminated the sluicc gates. They
resumed their work. Again Forester shouted
and again they lifted their heads. and there
came terrible crash, mingled with roaring
of the water. FORESTER heard a cry of despair,
r I. u IL
dam into the boiling, seething waters below.
With prayer upon his lips for the safety
of her whom he loved, he ran along the mar
row path until he came opposite of the mill
The flood, the flood. for Gods sake
your lives. They have cut the dam" he
cried.
The windew of Amy's bedroom was thrown
open, and the miller, with lighted candle in
hand stood before it. Too late. The rushing
water had already eneircled the mill, and was
now approaching Amy's bedroom. He looked.
Help help :" shouted John CIuny, rais-
ing the light above his head. A cry of terror
escaped his lips rs the light shone on the face
of the man whom lie thought he had killed.
The candle dropped from his hand as lie sank
upon the floor. Meanwhile Forester was
searching for the plank. At last he fonnd it.
He tried to shove it across the gulf but his
strength failed him.
oh God !! is there no help here to assist
me? Help! help! he cried, still tugging at
the plank.
Come on" shouted voice
Soon dozen men with lanterns were rush
ing towards Forester.
THE convict" cried the foremost, as he
held the lantern to the face Of the PROSTATE
man.
He has cut the dam again" cried another,
81 am sure of it"
''ImpossibIe see he has been wounded"
cried the first speaker. Forester pointed
towards the plank and then towards the mill
The men understood his gestures Soon