The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-11-23
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Fr.1 49, ~, ~
A NARROW ESCRlE.

We lad been ont tvent&four hours
and stood eleven to one. 3fe case xns =
very plain one; at least v eleven though,
sol .S IN .z
A murder of peculiat atrocity had been
committed; aud though no eye had wit.
messed the deed, circt tmstansss pointed tc
the prisoners guilt with uafailing Ger,
tainty s.3 o.
The recusaut jugor had stood out from,
the first. He acknowledged the csgency
Of the proofs, ,sbnfess.d his inability IL
reconcile the faCIs with the dcfendont's ia,
nOcanee' and 9et, on every vote, Hca'
steadily for asIuit,al.
His eOndaci was iinexplicable. 1t could
net result froqa lack OF intelligence; for
while. he spoke bu. little, his words were
well chosen; and cvinccd thorough un-
deestanding ptile case. @
Though stilf in the prime Of manhood,
his locks were IprematurelY white. and his
face wore a siIagularly sad and thoughtful
expression. 20
He might bs one of these who enter
f,ined scrg4ics as to the right of society
t inficI<t death penalty. But no. it
wl!s gjst that; for, in reply to such sug-
gesj Ion, lie frankly admitted that brutal
me[l. like the vicious bru'es they resem-
Dle' must be controlled through fear, and
that dread Of death, the supreme terror,
ISL, many cases, the Only adequate re-
strait.
A. the prospect of another night of
less imprisona,en: we began to grow
inpatient. and eSpossulat'd warmly
aga sa;nsewhat seemed an unreasonable cap
'''u ,ncss; and some not over kind re-
marIks II. Ks were INDUCED in as to the impro-
prr,ty of triaiug with an oath like that un-
der which we were acting.
.And yet, the man answered, AS though
amuning with himself rather than re-
ppsslling the imputation, ':it is Conscience
that binders - concurrence in verdict
approved BY my judgement
"llow can tha, be- qucried seyeral.as
once.
Conscience may not always daro 10
follow judgment"
but Aere she can know no other
guide"
"I once would have said the same"
".Aud what has changed your cpin-
ion?"
"RxrEElrScE"
The speakers manner was visibly agi-
tatcd, aud we waited in silence th' e1pla-
nation which he seemed ready to give.
Mastering his emotion, as ii in answer
to cur looks Of inquiry, he cOntia ued:
Twenty years ago I.was young man
just beginning life. Few had brighter
prospects, and none brighter hopes.
"An attachment, dating from child.
hood, had ripened with its objects. There
had been no verbal declaration and ac-
csp,ance oflove, no formal Plightiug of
troih; but when took my departure to
seek home iu the distant West, it was a
! thing understood, that when l had found
f.; it and put it in order, she was to share it
Life iu the forest, though solitary, is
rot necessarily lonesome. The kind of
society aeordcd by nature, depends much
on ones self. As for he. | lived more in
tho future than in the present, and hope
! is an over cheerful companion.
cat length the time cane for making
the final payment on tile home which |
had bought 1t would hcnceforward be
my own; and, in few more months, my
simple dwelling, which | had spared no
pains to render inviting, would be graccd
by its mistress.
"Atihe land-office. which was some
sixty miles of, l met my old friend.
GeorgeC. lie, too, had come to seek his
I fortune 10 the West; and We were both
delighted at the meeting He had
brought with him, he said. a sum ofmoney
which he desired to invest in land, ou
which it, vas his purpose to settle.
Il expressed strong wish to have bin
fora ucighbor, aad gave him a.cOrdialiu.
vitation to accompany me home, giving
i, as my belief thnt hs could nowhere
make better selection than in that vi,
cinity.
He readily consented, apd We set ou'
together. We had notriddcn many miles
when George suddenly recollected com
mission he had undertaken for friend
which would require his attendance at