Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-05-03
MISCELLANEOUS.
WAS He GUILTY2
A TRUE STORY.

"Sheriff remove the prisoner, commanded
the udgc.
Five years. five long years in the peuiten.
tary. Great God I am not guilty, l am
uut'' cried Reginald Forester, as he was led
away.
He had been sentenced to five years hard
labor for the crime of breaking the dam of
John Cluny's Touring mill. Two brothers,
james and Charley Crocker, were the priD-
cipal Witnesses They sw6re that late one
night, above six months before, they saw
young Forester walking rapidly up the path
leading to the dam. Thinking that something
had happened to the suice gates, they were
about to follow in order to assist, when they
saw that he began to cut away the props that
upheld the timbers. norror-struck, they
stopped 1t was too late. The dam gave
way Rushing down the road towards the
mill they shouted
The food, the flood :"
The miller heard the shouts, and just in
time to safe himself and family shortly af-
terwards the flood reached the mill and swept
it away A merchant of the village close by
swnre that Forrcstor bought an axe, pick
and shovel previous to the breaking of the
dam. The axe was found hidden in some
bushes close to the path, and was identified
by the merchant as the one he sold Forrestor.
The miller swOre that Forrestor had several
times been seen lurking around the mill. The
miller further stated that at the time he dis
charged him, he CForrester) swOre he would
be even with him
And he destroyed my property because |
discharged him for daring to make love TO my
daughter, Amy, against my Wishes" conclu>
ded he
Only one person believed Forester to be
innocent-Amy Cluny. the miller's daughter.
II
1t was twelve at noon, just four years after
the conviction of Forester, when the door of
the States prison opened to him. A pale,
bowed man, whose eyes were constantly seek
ing the ground, walked down the road towards
the ferry boat. The crowd that stood upon
the wharf quickly moved aside, man tot
tered towards the heuch.
"a pardoued convict " ran from mouth to
mouth.
Yes, Forester, for it was he, had been
pardoned by the Governor. Four long long
years he had toiled in the brick yards of the
prison. Thoughts Of self destruction often
fitted across his weary mind. Often as he
stood near the furnace Of the brick kiln, he
thought that one bold leap into the roaring
flames, and his misery would be at an end.
He had received only two letters during
his imprisonment. One was from Amy.
The other letter was from New York. 1t
was from "a lawyer. and it read "This is to
inform you that Allen Forester, Esq, your
uncle, has departed this life. He died intes-
tate, leaving you sole heir to" The letter
was received two days before he was pardoned.
Fortune avails me nothing. The world
thinks me guilty." he cried.
Ill
"Forrester has come back l wonder why
in the world he wants to come to this place !;
he is rich and has threatened to shoot Jim.
Crocker if he calls him convict again" Such
were. the reports that spread over the village.
A. last the news came TO the ears of the
miller. With muttered curse upon his eu-
emy, as he called Forester, he ascended the
stairs leading to the second story of the new
mill that had been built in the place of the
old mill that had been swept away. HIS
steps were noiscless, as he looked through the
key hole. a minute afterwards be wreDched
open the door and rushed into the rOom-he
had seen Amy signaling somebody. As he
rushed to the window he caught glimpse of
man as he disappeared behind projecting
clif-it was the form of Forester. He caught
,Amy's arm.
WHO was that man +? Quick tell me-
came from his clenched teeth.
Amy uttered shrek of pain.
He dropped her arm and rushed from the
room, but soon returned with the loaded gun
in his hands, aud dragged her to the opeu
window.
The head of man could be plainly seen
rising slowly behind the cliff. Amy sank
upon her knees. The miller released her arm
and slowly raised his gun. He had recog-
nized the features of Forester.
''Signal," shouted her father, $50 that can
be sure of him I want to shoot him through
that black heart of his.
Mercy" shrieked Amy, raising her hands.
Forester, who only saw Amy, now, crept
slowly towards projecting shelf of the cliff.