The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-05-18

VIZ nv h"h SifNu W Ituuh sOulo ud1
before, aud was large dirk knife en-.
cased in a silver scabbard.
Pale as death, but showing no sign
of fear or guilt upon his handsome face,
the prisoner sat unmoyed by his sen
tence, which was to die on the gallows.
When asked il he had aught to say,
Frank arose, and looking around the
court room, in clear voice answered
" | have Circumstantial eveidencc
has condemned me admit it looks as
if | did the deed, but | am guiltess OF
murderl Dropping my percussion cap
box in mountain stream, [ returned
home for more; for without caps my
gun was useless, 1t was a lovely night,
and | determined to enter the house by
my room window, get the caps, and re
turn without awaking my uncle.
tied my horse to the fence, sprang into
the window, and then heard loud
crash, call out, aud shrek in the
direction Of my uucle's room. | rushed
thither-a dark form rushed by me iu
the uncertain light Of the room--and
fell over something upon the floor
With fear in my heart arose, lighted
candle, and saw my uucle's body GOV.
cred with blood, gold scattered upon
the floor, and my own kuife, which had
done the deed, lying near. | picked
up the knife, and thus | was found by
the negro and seen by the peddler. As
God is my witness, | did not murder
the good old man who had protected
me throughout life, and whom | loved
as though he was my own father
am guiltless of the fieudsh deed, but
submit to my fate -
A silence fell upon all there were
however, but few who would believe the
youths statement; among the latter
was Mr.. Dewes and his family, who
through all, remained staunch friends
Frank Mercer was to be hung, to die
an ignominious death on the gallows
and hundreds tlocked to the little town
where the execution was to take place
to see him die. How they were disap.
pointed to find that the night before he
had escaped How, no one knew, but
he had left a note addressed to the Jail.
or, thanking him for the Kindness
shown him while he was in his charge,
and his regrets that his escape nigh,
cause him trouble, but saying he had an
opportunity Of escaping, and took ad-
vantage of it, for he had no idea OF
dying 40 ignominious death for an act
he was not guilty Of, merely to crafty
the curiosity Of gaping crowd. Free.
dom was offered him, and be accepted
it, and he hoped he would yet be able
to prove his innocence.
This was about the subject of the
letter, and when it was published in the
local paper, there were some who were
glad that the boy had escaped the gal
lows.
Mr.. MERGERS property was, in his
will all left to Frank, and was found to
be considerable. Trustees assumed
charge of it, aud before long the quiet
community had settled down to its
usual routine, and the murder and
escape were, in short time, almost for.
gotten,
Teu years passed away, and no word
of the fugitive had been heard, aud peo.
pie believed him dead One exception
was Mary Dewes, now grown to woman
hood She had never believed him
dead, aud through her life had treasured
Franks image in her inmost heart, the
mystery that hung around him but nd i.
ding strength to regard. Her sisters
had married, her mother was dead, and
together with their father, they had
lived at the old homestead.
Business calling Mr.. Dewes to Ha
vana, he took Mar, with him, aud 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 quench the
flames. The seamen in fright rushed
into the only available boat, aud il sank
with them, aud LETT them struggling III
the ocean, borne away by the wind aud
waves while mr. Dewes and Mary, the
captain Of the ship, aud few others
were huddled away upon the stern,
awaiting the fearful doom that must, to
all appearance, overtake them.
SAIL hoF
Ihe Joyous cry came from the cap
'ain' VINO had been stralnlng his eyes
over ,he ocean, IN hopes OF seeing some
vessel y coming TO save them. Swiftly
nylns towards them came a low, rak'sh,
.nrse,mas'ea '' mas schooner noon which ever and
a"ol sen. up q HSns, 10 those on board
the burning ship that succOr was near