Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-11-30

upon the floor. With fear in m,
heart 1 rose, lighted a candle, ant
saw my uncle's body covered will
blood, gold scattered upon the floor
and my own knife, which had don,
the deed, near. l picked up tn,
knife, and was thus found by tn,
negro, and seen by the peddler. Al
God Is my witness, did not mur
der the good old man who had pro
tected me through life, and whom
loved as though he was my own ia
ther. am guiltless of the deed
but submit to my fater'
A silence fell upon them all
There were, however, but few who
believed the youths statement
among the latter was Mr.. Dewr:
and his, who through all remained
staunch friends.
Frank Mercer was to be hung-to
die an ignominious death upon the
gallows-and hundreds fiocked tC
the little town where the execution
was to take place to see him die
How disappointed they were to find
the night before he had escaped
How no one knew, but he had left
a note addressed to the jailor, thank
ing him. for the kindness shown him
while in his charge, and his regrets
that his escape might cause him
trouble, but saying that he had an
opportunity of escaping, and took
advantage of it, for he had no idea
of dying an ignominious death fol
an act he was not guilty of, merely
to gratyfy the curiosity OF a gaping
crowd.-Freedom was offered him,
and ne accepted it, and he hoped he
would yet be able to prove his inno-
cence. t.l.
This was about the substance OF
the letter, and when it was publish
ed in the local paper there were
some who were glad that the boy
had escaped the gallows.
Mr.. Mercer's property, was, in
his will, all left to Frank, and it was
found to be considerable. Trustees
assumed charge of it, and before
long the quiet community had set
tied down to its usual routine, and
the murder and escape were in a
short time almost forgotten. Ten
years passed away, and no word of
the fugitive had been heard, and he
was believed dead. One exception
was Mary Dewes, now grown to wo-
manhood. She had never believed
him dead, and through her life had
treasured Franks image in her in
most heart, the mystery that hung
around him but adding strength to
her regard. Her sister had married,
her mother was dead, and, together
with her father, she had lived at the
old homestead.
Business called Mr.. Dewes to
Havana; he took Mary with him, and
they set sail from Charleston in a
fine ship running south. They had
been some days at sea when in the
dead of night, the fearful cry of fire
was heard, which aroused all from
slumber. In vain were efforts made
to subdue the flames. The seamen
in fright rushed into the only avail
able boat, and it sank with them,
and left them,' struggling in the
ocean, borne away by the wind and
waves, while Mr.. Dewes and Maly,
the captain OF the ship and few
others, Were huddled away upon the
stern, awaiting the fearful doom that
must, to all appearances, overtake
them.
Sail, hor
The joyous cry came from the
captain, who had been straining his
eyes over the ocean, in hopes of see
ing some vessel coming to save
them. Swiftly flying toward them
came o low, rakish, three masted
schooner, which ever and anon sent
up light to prove to those on
board the burning ship that aid was
near.
Hark! the deep boom of gun is
heard, and the captain listens, he
exclaims, Miss Dewes, we are all
right now; cheer up, for there comes
vessel Of war; .a u .
Ship ahoyn came in ringing tones
from the schooner,as she came near
the burning ship, which was being
driven rapidly by the wind.
'Ahoy! answered the captain.
"Throw long line from your
ship and / will send you boat"
came in the same clear tones.
The line was thrown, the boat at
tached, and after little difficulty,
the people of the ship were trans
ferred to the schooner, and Mary
was soon in the cabin, rejoicing over
their escape from a horrible death.
At breakfast, the next morning,
the young captain of the war schoo
ner descended to join his guests at
the table, and as he entered, Mary
sprang toward him.
Frank Mercer! Oh! it is you, is it
not" -4.. @ . ...a
One glance at the beautiful girl,
and, though years had passed, Frank
for it was no other-recognized
the playmate whom he had never
ceased to think of. .a -s ...
Mr.. Dewes came forward, and
what joyful meeting was there;
but seeing a cloud, as if of bitter
memories, come over the young cap
tain's face, Mr.. Dewes said:
First let me relieve your mind of
one thing. Your innocence in Vir-
ginia has been thoroughly establish
ed; for a negro runaway, hung the
other day for killing a woman, con-
fessed, just before his death, that he
had murdered your uncle, and your
arriving when you did, had prevented
him from getting the gold, but made
his escape from the house. He
knew your uncle kept large
amount of money, and you being
away, as he thought, he procured
your knife, and with it committed
the fatal deed
Fank listened to Mr.. Dewes, al
most breathless, and then, when he
concluded, he bowed his face in his
hands and wept like child.
But come in said Mr.. Dewes,a
length, We are hungry, and need
breakfast and am dying to know
how you became captain in the Mex