The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-02-10

aud my own knife, which had done
the deed, lying near.
II picked up the knife, and thus
l was found by the negro, and seen
by the peddler. As God is my wit
ness did not murder tho good old
man who has protected me through
life and whom J. loved as though he
was MY own father.
II am guiltless OF the crimo but
submit To my fate"
a silence fell upon nil, but there
were but few who believed the youth Il
among the latter was Mr..
Devices and his family, through all
remained staunch friends,
Frank Mercer was to be hung, to
die an ignominious death on the gal
lows, hnd hundreds hocked 10 the
little town where the execution was to
take place, to see him die. How were
they disappointed TO find that the
night before he had escaped? How no
one knew, but he had. left II note to
the kind jailor thanking him for the
kindness shown him while he was in
his charge, and his regrets that his
might cause him trouble, but
saying he had had an opportunity of
and took advantage of it, for
he had no idea OF dying an ignomini-
GUS death for an act he was not guilty
of, merely to crafty the curl osity of n
gaping crowd. Freedom was offered
him aud he accepted it, and hoped h.
would yet be able to prove his inno-
cencc.
This was about the subject Of the
letter, and when il was published in
the town paper there were come who
were glnd that the boy had escaped
the gnllows.
Trustees assumed charge of it, and
before long the quiet community had
settled down To its usual routine, aud
the murder ard escape were almost
Ten years passed away, and no
word OF the fugitive had been heard
and people believed him dead. One
exception was Mary Devices. now
grown 10 womanhood. She had never
believed him dead, and through her
life had trusted Franks image in her
inmost heart, the mystery that hung
around him but adding strength To
her regard. Her sisters hal married,
her mother was dead, and together
with her father they had lived at the
old homestead.
business calling AIr. Devices 10
Havana. he took Mary with him, aud
they set sail from Charleston on n fine
ship running South.
They had been some days Mt sea.
when IN the dead Of night the fearful
cry of fire" aroused all from slnrn-
ber. Tho ship was on FIRE. and in
vain were efforts made TO quench the
flames. The seanen III fright rushed
into the only available boat, and ii
sunk with them, and left them strug-
CLING III the ocean, borne away by the
wind and waves, while Mr.. Devices
and Mary, the captain of the ship, and
IL few others were huddled away upon
the stern, awaiting the doom that
must overtake them.
Sail ho!"
Tie joyous cry came from the cap
tain, who had been straining his eyes
over the ocean iii hopes OF seeing some
vessel coming TO save them.
Swiftly flying toward them came a
low, rakisb, three masted schooner
which ever and anon sent up n light to
prove to those on the burning ship
that succor was near. Harkl the
deep boom Of gun is heard. and as
the captain listens, he exclains:
Miss Devices, we are all right now
cheer up, for there comes vessel oil
war to our aid"
ship ahoy," came in ringing tones
from the schooner, as she came neal
the burning ship, which was being
driven rapidly along by the wind.
"Ahoyw answered the captain.
Throw long line from your ship
and | will send you a boat, came in
the same clear tones.
The line was thrown, the boat at.
tached, and, after little difficulty
the people from the ship were trans
ferred to the schooner, and Mary was
soon in the comfortable cabin reioic
ing over their escape from horrible
death.
At breakfast the next morning, tht
young captain descended to join hi
guests at the table, and as he entered
Mary sprang toward him. "Franl
Mercer o, it is you-is it not?
One glance at the beautiful girl
and, though years had passed, Franl
Mercer, for it was no other, recog
nized the playmate whom he had loyee
so well, and whom he had neve
ceased to think of.
Mr.. Dswees came forward, ant
what joyful meeting was there; bu
seeing cloud, as if of bitter mono
ries, came over the young captain
face, Mr.. Devices said quietly:
"First, let me relieve your mind o
Ione thing, Mercer: Your innocence il
Virginia is thoroughly established, 70
negro runaway, hung the other da.
for the murder of a woman, confessed
just before his death, that he hat
murdered your uncle, and your arriv
ing when you did had prevented hin
from getting the gold but he mad
his escape from the house. He kne,
that your uncle kept large amount o
money. and you being away, as h
thought, he took your knife and com
mitted the deed.
Frank listened to Mr.. Devices al
most breathless, and then bowing hi
face in his hands wept like child.
."But come in, said Mr.. Devices, a
length, we are hungry and need break
fast; and are dying to know how yo
became captain in the Mexica