The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-04-30


and an entreaty in his tone, and the girl
sank back in her seat with strangely
submissive, frightened look. She open
ed her book, it is true, but her eyes wan
dered furtively from time to- time to her
brothers half averted face. The major
ity of very young girls would have con-
sidered Tom Crouch an eminenty hand
some man. His figure was slight, but
well made, and he had soft, clustering
hair, white skin, and womanly blue eyes,
very much like Ills younger sister, only
where the girls expression was indica.
', tive of superior thought and force of.
characteristic mans was painfully blank
and the constant look of wavering irres-
olution or absolute insanity was declared
by those who might be supposed to be
IjGdges to destroy the beauty of his clear
lv cut Grecjan features. He was gene
rally good natured, and had even been
declared by the coarse anc gay entirely
pious; but it had often been the subject
of comment among his friends that when
he was severely perplexed by business
or otherwise uneasy, his eyes would as
sumo the wild frightened look peculiar
to hunted wild animal, and which made
his face anything but pleasant ore to
look upon. 1t wore that expression now
for few moments as she looked at him,
or there might have mingled with it Il
sullen, halfformed purpose of turning
at bay and defying his pursuers. 1t left
him by degrees, however, and he sat
leaning with his head upon his hand,
with his face turned quite away from
her; and Minnie's sad eyes reverted to
her sister out at the gate Mary Lomax,
who had been reported quite in love with
Tom, had fingered as long as she had
any pretext for doing SO, and had just
passed out of sight. Annie stood half
swaying her light figure on the gate,
looking away, apparently at the sky,
when three men came up in another di-
rection and paused to speak to her. Min
ME recognized Ned Kean, My. Fleet the
constable, and she thought the other was
Mr.. Howard Matthews, the sheriff. Any
one would have thought her about to
faint, as still eagerly watching she OBJ.
served them passing her sister, and en-
tering the yard enclosure. She closed
her eyes for moment, as if to shut out
some fearful spectacle, and when she
gained courage enough to look up again
Mr. Fleet was bowing to her outside the
window.
"Ah, Miss Minnie, good evening. !
see your brother is with you. May ]
venture to come in through so irregular
mode Of entrance as a Window
He did not wait for her trembling lips
to frame the words that died huskily
away upon them, but throwing up the
sash little further with one hand, step
ped into the room
"Where are?-I thought-I saw
she began.
"Kean and Matthews? So you did
my dear" he replied coolly. "1heg
went up to the front door and will come
in that way, but I, being so much more
intimate, and an old married man to boot
ventured Oh, MI Crouch, good
The words died away.
Tom Crouch turned around with a
face as white as the wall beyond him
with the wild look again in his eyes, and
drawing one trembling hand quickly
from his bosom, flashed a pistol in the
face of the constable. The cap had
strangely, who will not say providen.
tially2 exploded without discharging
the ball, and the man sprang upon the
culprit with the bound of tiger. Min
ME had given one uuearthly shrek and
fallen in swoon upon the floor. AT the
same instant Ned Kean and the sheriff
rushed in through the.door; but the un
fortunate cnlprit was already fiat Up OF
his back, while Fleets knees were on
his breast,
"This amiable young man has beer
trying second MURDER" he Kissed be
tween his teeth. "Only it wasn't sc
cleverly managed, and he didn't have {
trusting and unsuspicious bosom friend
to deal with this time There, Matthews
take those nice iron bracelets out Of your
pocket and slip them over his white
hands; perhaps they'll act like pretty
toy on any other innocent. and charm
him out OF his i'll humor.' Matthews
bent over as requested, and hand-cuifed
the prisoner with remarkable dexterity
The constable then rose, and babe him
get up, uncivily enough.
Crouch now rose to his feet, and gaz.
ed on them with speeches. Indignation
or malignity.
Tom, my pious young man." said
Ned kean, in q harsh tone. Il volun
teered to come here to aid in your ar
rest, as readily as though it were the
jpleasantest duty ever performed in my
life, when thought of poor Bob Hern
don; but | swear to you | am truly sor
ry, when | think of that young woman
lying yonder, and the one We passed at
the gate, until l would almost screer
you, double dyed murderer and hypo
crite that you are, il could. Did you
think your shooting an officer in the dis
charge Of his duty would help you
cause any"
"Why are you all leagued to worry {
fellow until he is half mad, then 2" crieC
the prisoner, hoarsely. "You should
have thought of them from the first
"lf reports he true, you were pecn
liarly unmindful of her who lies here,
replied Kean, soornfully, 'apart from
the disgrace you brias upon both. Ior
do not even ask achy we are here to ar
rest you'
"What's the use of asking?" he sale
fiercely' "Havent seen it in yoT face
especially for the last ten days"
Your guilty conscience was you
strongest accLser," replied Ned. "Wnat
ever suspicious I may have entertained
I breathed them to no one until the
body was found to day"
'Then it ,cas Herndon's body in tht
pit?" said the prisoner, in a low tone
Something told me it would prove tc
be-"
'No WONDER" put in the sheriff, will
sneer. "But l warn you, Crouch, b'
on your guard as to what you say; i
will be given in with the evidence"
SWbat Il difference does il make what