The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-05-01

old, with dilapidated chair, as a rest,
stood behind his fathers rifle.
The she-bear and her cubs were grit to
the backbone.
"Who are you?' she cried, eloquently
gesturing to the crowd with her unoccu-
pied hand, "that take the business of the
Almighty into your own hands, and send
the souls He has made unbidden into His
presence, without prayer for mercy I?
Which would be the better, you or him !?
Leave him to us this night. and as surely
as there is a heaven above us, in the morn
ing you shall come in without hindrance? +?
You can guard the cabin. There is no
danger he will escape your
There was murmur among the "vigi-
lantes.'' Their task was a harder one
than they were prepared to execute; and
perhaps thought of wives and children
at home moved them a little to this un-
wonted leniency. A brisk conference, and
the leader said:
"Haye your way. Make the most of
your time. Well not disturb you until
morning."
"You are not deceiving me?" she said,
watching the while with eyes which
seemed to pierce like sharp steel points.
A hoarse murmur ran through the
crowd.
"No! no! Fair playP ~
For moment the woman's strength
seemed to fail, and she leaned heavily
against the easement; another, and she
disappeared within, the faithful dog fol-
lowing, protectingly, close behind.
The men bivouacked around the cabin,
disposing themselves for the night, two
or three appointed sentinels keeping vig-
liant watch. The other members of the
camp, unable to sleep, had kept wakeful
vigil, using our little influence and knowl-
edge of the accused's inoffensive dispo-
sition to mitigate, if possible, the preju-
dice which we found greater than the real
weight of evidence against him.
In an affray, two men had been stabbed
one seriously, one fatally; and Lots
hand held a bloody knife, Innocent men
have been hanged, even after full judicial
trial, under circumstantial evidence far
less convincing than this.
AS the night wore away, L restlessly
paced the camp. An occasional sound
, came from the guarded cabin, but other
wise all was still.
Once, about midnight, after prolonged
scratching at the door, it was opened to
let out the dog. A stream of light flashed
out; but l caught no glimpse of those
within. The dog, poor fellow, as though
his canine spirit seemed to comprehend
the fatal danger impending over those he
loved, with dropping head and pendent
tail. skunk through the open space.
"Good Lion Poor fellow! Come here!''
l called.
, He lifted his head at the sound of my
voice, raised his muzzle mournfully in the
air, then dropping it again, went on, soon
disappearing in the adjacent chaparral.
At the first faint streak of day the wig.
: ilantes" bestirred themselves, and in
knots discussed the grave business before
! | nf hn no ct nj orht
had worn away, and in these calmer mo.
, ments not one of those most eager fol
duty then, but wished himself relieved
! from the painful responsibility devolving
upon him.
, There was yet no sign of life about the
cabin.
Never, think, did the solemnity of the
occasion appeal more forcibly to the hearts
af the :.Stgi5aasss;;" They were YER conf conf
subdued, and quiet mien, they awaited thu
/ action of their leader, who humanely
J postponed, to the last possible moment
his official summons.
t Just as the suns disk appeared abov,
g the horizon, three of the committee ad
4 vancing knocked upon the door. witt
g eyes red and swollen with weeping, Lot
g wife opened it wide.
: With a sickening sensation L fail to de
scribe, | awaited what was to follow. 4
2 suggestive rope lay where it had beel
: thrown, at the foot of a neighboring tree
With shudder | recalled the many time
: Lot had sat under the shadow of it
: branches, his children playing about hi
1 knees.
4 Chris and George had followed at tn
i heels of the other party.
!, A resounding slap upon the shoulde
nearly sent me reeling to the earth.
: SPY the great Moses, that little woman
n brick!"
"What is it, Chris" / asked in astor
II ishment; for his lively tone was anythin
9 but appropriate for the occasion.
" "Come and see J" and seizing me by tn
= arm, he commenced dragging me towar
I Lots cabin.
;. A sudden revelation came to me. LIZ
s had committed suicide! Well, better s
than the hangmans moose!
, Entering the cabin prison, a singuls
y spectacle presented itself. The commi
v tee stood in dismayed group in the cel
+o ter of the room; while Lots wife, stel
W and resolute no longer, bent over Il
n huge dismantled carcass of poor Lilo
w. ra Gone was the nerve, the passion al
W power, which had, the night previou
g supported and lifted her above her Sc
= Palmer, more meager, if possible, thf
n' usual, there was yeta something touchiI
" in her weakness; perhaps because it w
q so foreign to her nature.
Lifting her woe-begone countenance
,v | approached, she exclaimed, broke
y ly:-
- s'I'd Almost rather died than a. done
" y, hut there wasn't no other way!"
ta ta Hardly had the news of the esca
lou ou spread through the camp, when a hor'
oi man, riding at break-neck speed, came,
,o4 the midst of cloud of dust, flying up t
Iar "a. trail. In his hand he bore white sign
~ which he persistently waved as he h
'ar 'n advanced. Dashing into camp, he thr'
,al od himself breathlessly into the midst of t
-" "Vigilantes."
,us "Where's the man you were going
of hang?"
ar Escaped"
Tot ''Thank God for he didn't doit! FL
he co Bill has confessed the deed!"
VET Then the cheers that rang out mis
of almost have rent the heavens in twa
but Lots wife, alone with her sleep
r. children, crouched in mournful sile
ot over the form of her poor, dumb sacr
hat silent and faithful even unto death
LET Lakeside Monthly.
Ter,
ge' PICKLES, according to DR.. Hall,
MS good for those who crave them. He
-ith sons that often the system needs an {
,alf that acids promote the secretion of