The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-05-25

u. . 49,
inca amDuntain stream, l returned home
forgnore /; for without caps my gun was
useless.s @ - =
st Was lovely night, and I determin-1
ed,toSente the!house by my room win
dow, get the caps, and return without
aWaking my suncle.-I tied my horse to
the fence, sprang into the window, and
then heard loud crash, a call out, and a
shrek in the direction Of my unce's room.
/ rushed thither-a dark form rushed by
me in the uncertain light OF the room
and I fell over something on the floor.
With fear in my heart 1 arose, lighted q
candle, and saw my anole's body, covered
with blood, gold scattered on the floor,
and my own Knife, which had done the
decd, lying near. ] picked up,the knife,
and thas was / found by the negro and
seen BY the peddler. As God is my wit
ness ]. did not murder the good old man
who, has protected me throughout life,
and whom T loved as though he, WAS my
own father. l am guiltless Of the fsndish.
deed, but submit to my fate! 100.
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 foeked to the little town whore
the execution was to take place, to see
him die. How they were disappointed to
find that tho night before he had escaped
How, no one knew, but he had left a note
addressed to the jailor, thanking him for
the kindness shown him while he was in
his charges and his regrets that his es-
cape might cause him trouble, but saying
be had Bad an opportunity OF escaping,
and took advantage of it, for he had no
.idea Of dying an igpominions death for
an aict he was notTI guilty of, merely to
crafty the curiosity of n gaping crowd.
Freedom was offered him, and be accep-
ted it, and hoped he would yet be able to
prove bis innocence.
T This was about the subject of the let
ter, and when it was published in the 10
cal paper, thero were some who, were
glad that the boy had escaped the gal
lows.
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 'commu-
nifty had settled 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 peo.
pie believed him dead. One exception
was Mary Dewes, now grown to woman
hood. She had never believed him dead,
and through her life had treasured Franks
image in her inmost heart, the mystery
that hung around him but adding strength
to- her regard. Her sisters had married,
her mother was dead, and together with
their father, they shad6 lived at the old
homestead. ~ is - a,ss
. Business calling Mr.. Dewos to Havana,
no took Mary with him, and they set sail
from Charleston in fine ship running
SOUTH They had been come days at sea,
when in, the, dead of night the fearful cry
of Fire was heard, which aroused all
from slumber. In3vain We're efforts made
to auenoh, the flames The seamen IN
fright rushed into the only available boat,
and it sank with them, and left them,
struggling in the ocean, borne away by
tho winds and waves, while Mr.. Dewes
and Mary, tho captain of the ship and d
few others wcro huddled away upon the
stern, awaiting the fearful doom that must
to all appearance overtake them.
sSail, ho!"
The joyous CRY CAME from the captain,
who had been straining his eyes over the
ocean, in hopes of seeing some vessel
coming to save them. Swiftly flying to-
wards them came q low, rakish, three.
masked schooner, which ever and anon
sent up light, to those on board .ths
burning ship that suceor was near. -.
Hark. I the deep boom Of 9 gun isheard,
and as the captain listens be exclaimed,
"Miss Dewes, we, are all llright now cheer
up, for. there comes vessel of.war to our
aShip ahoyp came in ringing tones
from the schooner, as she came near tho
burning ship, which was being rapidly
driven along by the wind.'
aAhoy r answered the captain. :,
"Throw long line from your ship, and
7 will send you boat" camo in tho same
clear tone.
The line was thrown, the boat attach
ed, and, after little difficulty, the people
from the ship were transferred to the
schooner, and Mary was soon in the COM
Portable cabin, rejoicing over their escape
from horrible death.
At breakfast the next morning the
young captain of the war schooner de.
scended to join his guests at the table,
and as she entered, Mary sprang toward
him,
Crank Moroerl OIL it is you, is it
One glance at the beautiful girl, and,
though years had passed, Frank Mercer