Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1871-03-01

door, he shouted hOarsely.
/ The men fell back. There was a
sound of falling stones below. Hugh |
Brainard jumped up and ran to the
door. -,
Quick, men, he is escaping he said,
at the same time rushing out into the
Others followed. There was a short, |
/ fierce struggle, and Paul Rushton was
dragged, helpless and painting, into the
room.
Bring the ropes cried Brainard, the
murderer shall not break away this
time.'
The prisoner flashed look of defiance
upon his captOrs. 1t was wild, hunt
ed look, as of wild beast Gagged III his
den.
This is your work Hugh Brainard,'
he cried, in a tone Ofsuch deep-set ha-
tired that the man-hunter stopped snort
You are guilty and deserve it, he re-
piled cOldly.
4 am innocent; l swear it. asserted
NO one will believe it, replied Brain
ard, scOrnfully.
4 believe it,
It was Grace Harding who spoke.
But, wait, wait said Brainard, con-
fidently; his trial shall convince even
you of his black crime
The ropes were drawn tightly about
the prisoner and he was marched away.
This time he did not escape. He was
guarded too closely.
In one month came his trial.
Every device which skill could invent
or money purchase was brought.tO bear
upon the prisoner by his unrelentlng
foe, in order to prove his guilt :,
,rolg r,rorroH hEy MANY that he had
threatened 10 kill DR.. Clayton. The
knife with which the deed was done
was proved beyond question to be his.
Still, there was some doubt about his
conviction.
Hugh Brainard mounted the stand.
He looked triumphantly at the pris-
Oner, then at the dense crowd in the
courtroom, and, when sworn, testlhed-
to having seen Paul RushtOn strike his
knife into the breast of his victim.
a thrill of horror ran through the
courtroom. The prisoners doom was
sealed!
The next day the courtroom was be-
sieged by an excited thrOng. All were
anxious to hear the verdict.
After five minutes absence the jury
returned. The silence of death relgned
in the room.
Guilty or not guilty?' inquired the
judge.
Every eye turned toward the prison.
er. He remained calm, unmOved. a
bitter smile alone curved his lip.
Then came the sentence. 1t was
death!
'One word-only one word with her,
= he cried, pointing to young girl, strug-
e Cling to reach him through the eE0Wd.
SoI aud an hurried
c roughly away.
But the next day Grace Harding
= sought admittance at the prison door, 1t
l was granted.
j Grace, I am innocent! 1 will swear
itat the last moment! exclaimed The
e condemned man.
Grace bowed her head upon her hands
but did not reply.
The culprit caught her almost 1lercely
by the wrist: 49,.
Il 'TeII me! tell me!' he shouted, wildly
do you believe me guiltyN
It No, no!-O, God, no; I could not be-
r, lieve that, Paul.
8 gThen grant me one Tequest-Only one
and 1 am content to die
b Name it, Paul.
is Grace shuddered;
when I am gone, you will not-mark
the wOTds!-will not marry that villainI
e Hugh Brainard.'
e No; 0, great heaven, no. cried
er Grace, with a look of deep lOathing.
1t Swear it, he cried, eXcitedly.
IS 4 swear it,
l. Because because he has sworn my
life away. He has stained his soul with
1t perjury
'And this is to be our last meeting?'
er yes. Idon't want to look on YOU
of face again. It makes me cling to life
le It fills my soul with heIlish passion t.
be free and strike down my murderer
S. Go, now, and remember your Oath.'
le Grace went out.
From that day her spirits dropped. Ii
is vain Hugh Brainard pressed his suit
r She treated him even more cOldly thai
before. At length her brother became
I'd alarmed.
is 0This won't do, Grace! he said, we
r must travel for a while, and when w
ID return it will all be over
j 1T will never be over for me- TeplieC
n Grace, sadly; but since you deem it bes
we will go
b And they did 60 to every place Of in
~ terest which James Harding though
N might arouse his sister from her de
ID spondent gloom But in vain. At last
al in despair, he resolved to return home
u Inc GA6CuLlOu WAS VI COulSCS 4Oh5 SlhC'
is over and the sight of many friends
IL might awaken the old smile upon he
TO face.
And now they were oil their journey
IN home.
as Tn two hours more we shall be il
K Lexington said James, glancing from
VI his watch to the window to note the
st speed Ofthe fast-fying railroad train.
4! In Lexington! Grace shuddered in
,,-9 - voluntarily.
This was the place where Paul haC
been tried, convicted, sentenced and
II hung.
e' last word, even to herself. Some wa!
u she knew it was fOolish-But through
~ all these months there had fingered ;
- hope in her heart that Paul might no
i'' have been executed,
II Fifteen minutes behind time
~ ~ Grace and her brother started ant
~ looked around. 1t was the hated vOict
4" of Hugh Brainard. He was looking un
=, easily at his watch. Glancing up, h
alo ,o met the eyes of James Harding fXet
" upon him.
os 'iHallo, Iem Harding, where did yol
e' come from. Of course needn't ask yo
where you are going
70 I'VE are going home, replied Hardin
,iS ~ coIdly.
MS MS yes, to be sure; but you don't mea
ng iS to say you're not going tosee the fun
the execution.
,is bThe excutionn faltered James.
ne nIs Grace turned ashy pale.
- yes. You know that william Eushto
IL IL is to be strung up this afternoon.
'a u What This afternoon? / thought b
"a "a had been executed long ago.
It. No; the day has been appoiRte
les twice, but his friends got a respite bot
times. But they can't put it off an
ev longer-he'lI be sure to be swung tn
". afternoon. It's so fortunate you're
time to witness it; and GRACE, too;
led know she'll enjoy it, it'll be such raj
III, sport
vi ward his sister. With her vail draw
zoe tightly about her face, she had shrun
on hack to the furthest corner of the sea
rs as if to shut out the williams words.
Come, let US leave this place. Il
est said.
he Grace tOttered 10 Che IoF"aIu emu
tile the car.
Ike Even here the mocking tone of Hug
nd Brainard reached her ear, He was con
vas planning because of the slowness OF I'll
speed. -, d.
ing I saw, conductor we are behind time
in he shouted vOicifeTOusly.
Wn Il know it, replied that official.
oh What time shall we reach Iexini