Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-04-26

bis Rresenee, without a prayer for mercyp
WAichwonld be- the better, you or him f?
Leave him 10 US this night, and as surely
- there IS O heaven above us, In the
morning you shall come in without him
drance You can guard the cabin. There
IS no danger he will escape you''
"A There was q murmur among the wig
isantes. Their task was a harder one
than they were prepared to execute and
perhaps a thought of wives and children
at hume moved them a little to this un-
wonted ferliency A brief conference,
and the leader Said
Have your way. Make the most OF
your time. Wen not disturb You until
morning .sq.-.
you are net deceiving me ~ she said
watching the while with eyes which
seemed to pierce like sharp steel points.
A. hoarse n1urmur ran through the
crowd. a4
mo! no! Fair play"
For a moment the wonan'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 sbivouacked around the cab
in, adisposiag themselves for the night.
two or three appointed sentinels keeping
viEilant watch. The other members Of
the camp, using our little influence and
knowledge of the accused's inotiensye
disposition to mitigate, if possible, the
prejudice which we found greater than
the real weight of evidence against HIM
In an ARRAY 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 circums.antial 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 pro-
longed 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 com.
prehend the fatal danger impending over
those he lioy ed, with drooping head and
pendent tail, skunk through. he open
space.
GOOD Lion! Poor fellow Come
here!' ! called.
He lifted his head at tie sound of my
voice, raised his muzzle mournfully in the
air, then dropping it again, went on, soon
disappearing II the adjacent caparral.
At the first streak OF day the "yigilan-
tes" bes;irred themselves, and in knots
discussed the grave business before them.
The excitement OF the past night had
worn away, and in these calmer moments
not one Of those most eager for duty then
but wished himself relieved from the pain
fal responsibility devolving upon him.
There was yet no sign OF life about the
cabin. = 5"1'8 @7 s5&
Never, think, did The solemnty OF the
occasion appeal more forcibly to the
hearts Ut the 'yigilantes." They We're
confident - terribly con6dent-tha. the
prisoner would be found guilty. With
voices subdued. and quiet mein, 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
the horizon, three of the committee adj
vancing knocked upon the door. With
eyes red and swollen with weeping, Lots
wife opened it wide.
With sickening sensation fail to de-
scribe, awaited what was to follow. A
suggestive rope lay where it had been
With 4 shtdder recalled the many time:
Lot had sat under the shadow of its
branches, his children playing about hi:
knees. yorl err.eae
Chris and George had followed ut the
heels of the other party.
A resounding slap upon the shoulder
nearly sent me reeling to the earth.
by the great Moses, that little wom-
ans brick!'
what is it, Chris ?" l asked in aston
ishment for his lively tone was anything
but appropriate for the occasion.
~. "COme and see !" and Selling me by the
arm, he commenced dragging me toward
Lots cabin.
A sudden revelation came to me; Lot
had committed suicide! Well, better So
than the hangman's moose!
Entering the cabin prison, singular
spectacle presented ITSELF The committee
stood in a dismayed group in the centre
of the ROOM while Lots wife. stern and
res0lute no longer, bent over the huge
dismantled carcase of poor Lion. Gone
was the nerve, the passion and power
which had the might previous, supported
and lifted her above her sex. Palmer
more meagre, If possible, than usual,
there was yet something touching in her
weakness; perhaps because it was so for
cign to her nature.
Lifting her woe-begone countenance
as l approached she exclaimed broken
ly:-
I'D Almost rather died than a',lone il :;
but there wasn't no other way"
Hardly had the news Of the escape
spread through the camp, when horse
man, riding at break-ncck speed, came in
the midst OF a cloud OF dust. flying up the
trail. In his hand he bore white signal,
which he persistently waved as he had
advanced. Dashing into camp, he threw
himself breathlessly into the midst of the
''Vigilantes."
where's the man you We're going to
hang?"
'Escapedr'
Thank God for he didn't do il! FRS
60 Bill has confessed the deed 81
Then the cheers that rang out might al
most have rent the heavens in twain; but
Lots wife. alone with her sleeping chill
dren crouched in mourniul silence oyer
The form OF her poor, dumb sacrifice
silentand faithful even unto death. --Lake-
eide lZonibI5f