Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-01-12
CHAPTER XXXII.
AFTER THE BATTLE.

Nothing can be more demOrallZIng
in the long run than lynch law. And
yet lynch law often originates in q
burst of generous Indignation which
not willing to suffer a bold oppressoI
to escape by means of corrupt and cow
ardly courts. it's oftener born of fear
Both motives powerfully agitated the
people sf the region round about Clifty
as night drew on after Ralph's acquit-
al. They were justly indignant that
Ralph had been made the victim OF
such q conspiracy, and they were
frightened at the unseen danger to the
community from such band as that
of Smalrs. 1t was certain that they
did not know the full extent of the
danger as yet. And what Small might
do with a Jury, or what Pete Jones
might do with sheriff, was aquestiOn.
[ must not detain the reader to tell
how the mob rose. Nobody knows
how such things come about
Their origin is as ineXplicable as that
of an earthquake. But, at any rate, a
rope was twice put round SmalIs neck
during that night, and both times
Small was saved only by the nerve and
address of Ralph, who had learned
how unjust mob law may be. As for
Small, he neither trelnbled when they
were ready to hang him, nor looked
relieved when he was saved, nor
showed the slightest flush of penitence
or gratitude. He bore himself in q
quiet, gentlemanly way throughout,
like the admirable villain that he was.
He waived preliminary examina-
ton the next day his father went his
bail, and lie forfeited his bail and dis
appeard from the county and from
the horizon of my story. Two reports
concerning Small have been in circu-
lation-one that he was running a faro
bank in San Francisco, the other that
he was curing consumption by inhala-
ton and electricity here in New York.
IL this latter were true, it would leave
il an omen question whether Ralph did
well to save him from the gallows.-
Pete Jones and Bill, as usually hap
pens to the rougher villains, went tc
prison, and when their terms had eX-
pired moved to Pike County, Missouri
But it is about Hannah that you
want to hear, and that / want to tell
She went straight from the court
room to Flat Creek, climbed to hel
chamber, packed all her earthly goods
consisting chiefly of few family rel
les, in a handkerchief, and turned hel
back on the house of Means forever
At the gate she met the old woman
who shook her fist in the girls face
and gave her parting benediction il
the words: "You mis'able, ongratefu
critter you, go long! Pm glad tC
| be shed of you!n At the barn shC
met Bud, and he told her good-by will
q little huskiness in his voice, while ;
tear glistened in her eye. Bud haC
been a friend in need, and such
! friend one does not leave without ;
pang,
"Nhere are you going? Can L
| mo, no!n Ard with that she has
tened on. afraid that Bud would offe
| to hitch up the roam colt. And sht
did not want to add to his domesti,
unhappiness by compromising him il
| that way,
1t was dusk and raining when sh,
| left. The hours were long, the roaC
was lonely, and after the revelation
| of that day it did not seem wholly
| safe. But from the moment that sh,
| found herself free, her heart had beer
| ready to break with an impatien
home-sickness What though ther
| might be robbers in the woods
| What though there were tel
rough miles to travel? What though
the rain was in her face? Wha
| though she had not tasted food sine
the, morning of that exciting day
| Flat Creek and bondage were behind
freedom, mother, Shocky, and hom
were before her, and her feet grew
| lighter with the thought. And if sh
needed any other Joy, it was to know
| that the master was clear. And h
would come! And so she traverse,
the weary distance, and so she inquiT
| ed and found the house, the beautiful
| homely old Nancy Sawyer, and knock
ed and was admitted, and fell down
faint and weary, at her blind mother
| feet, and laid her tired head in he
/ mothers lap and wept, and wept lik
a child, and said, 80 motherl In
free, I'm free ~ while the mother
tears baptized her face, and the moth
ers trembling fingers combed out he
tresses. And Shocky stood by her an
cried 81 knowed God wouldn't fol
get you, Hanner!'
Hannah was ready now to do any
tLiag by which she could support be
mother and Shccky. She was stIong
and Injured to toll. She was willin
and cheerful, and she would gladl.
have gone TO service if by that mean
she could have supported the family
And, for that matter, her mother wa
already nearly able TO support hersel
by her knitting. But Hannah ha
been carefully educated when young
and at that moment the old publ
schools were being organized into
graded school, and the good minister
who shall be nameless, because he j:
perhaps, still living in Indiana, an
who in Methodist parlance was calle
"the preaeher-in-charge of LewisbuT
Station"-this good minister aud Nj: