Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-05-03

"Gentlemen, you cannot see my hus-
band to-night!" Her voice was firm,
even, decisive; perhaps a triAe more de-
cisive than usual.
The dog, crouching at her feet, gave
low growl.
woman, we have no time to handy
words! Let us passr'
The dog rose partly up, with menac-
ing grOwl. The woman behind him
seemed to rise and expand in the white
heat of passion that possessed her. Her
voice was high and shrill:
Sand L say you shall not pass! you that
come, II armed men, with murder in your
hearts, to take an innocent man out from
the midst of his helpless children. Iswear
that you shall not touch hair of his head
tonight"
AS she spoke, drawing with dextrous
hand "COlt's navy" from the folds of
her dress, she held it at full cock, bear
ing straight upon the leaders heart. Not
man among them but was touched at the
sight of this dauntless devotion; vet
emotion must not prevent the discharge of
duty.
'But this man has committed murder
the gravest crime known in the eyes of
the law. Public safety demands that
we deal with him according to the let
ter of the law" expostulated the leader,
more moved than he cared to acknowledge.
A superb scOrn overspread the woman's
features. Bending to touch the dog with
her hand, the huge creature drew himself
erect, angry and bristling, with lips drawn
threateningly back from his formidable
teeth. Then boldly throwing open the
cabin door, she pointed with appraised
finger, still holding the deadly weapon
a;, f,,n NJ %Ix Loo A
ing contempt rang in her words =
"Does that man look like a cut-throat?
Can you all, looking inside this cabin,
tell me that you are afraid to spare him
to his wife and children this one last
night?"
She paused a moment, glancing swiftly
around the circle of rough faces pressing
close upon her The tableau within show
ed Lot, crouching upon low camp-stool,
pale, disordered, and shaking with terror,
clasping in his arms the yOungest-born
the two girls, firm and fearless as their
mother, were planted at his knees; while
between him and the door, the ten-year
old, with a dilapidated chair, as a rest,
stood behind his fathers rifle.
The she-bear and her cubs were grit to
the backbone.
"who are your" 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 !?
Which would be the better, you or him? !?
Leave him to us this night. and as surely
as there is 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 yeuP'
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:
"Have your way. Make the most of
your time. Wen not disturb you until
morning."
"Yo1 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 playv'
For a 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 vigi-
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 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, 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"
1 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 "vig-
ilantes" bestirred themselves, and in
knots discussed the grave business before
them. The excitement Of the past night
had worn away, and in these calmer mo-
ments not one of those most eager for
duty then, but wished himself relieved
from the painful responsibility devolving
upon him.
There was yet no sign Of life about the
cabin.
Never, 1 think, did the solemnity of the
occasion appeal more forcibly to the hearts
of the svigilantes." They were conf
dent-terribly confident-that the prison
er would be found guilty. With voices
subdued, and quiet mien, they awaited the
action of their leader, who humanely
postponed, to the last possible moment,
his official summons.
just as the suns disk appeared above