Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-03-28

In an affray, two men had been stabbed
one seriously, one fatally; and Lots
hand held bloody knife. Innocent men
have been hanged, even afterfull 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 prolong-
ed scratching at the door, it was
opened to let out the dog. A stream
of light flashed out, but I caught no
glimpse of those within. The dog,
poor fellow, as though his canine spirit
seemed to comprehend the fatal danger
impending over those ne loved. with
dropping head and pendant tail, skunk
through the open space.
Good Lioni Poor fellow! Come
heSer I 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 chapar-
raj.
At the first faint streak Of day the
s'Vigilantes" bestirred 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 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 of the "Vigilantes." They
were confident-terribly confident
that the prisoner would be found guilty.
With voices subdued, and quiet mien,
they awaited the action of their leader,
who humanely postponed, to the last pos
sible moment, his official summons.
Just as the suns disk appeared above
the horizon, three of the committee ad
vancing, knocked upon the door. With
eyes red and swollen with weeping, Lots
wife opened it wide.
With sickening sensation L fail to
describe, awaitad what was to follow.
A suggestive rope lay where it had been
thrown, at the foot of a neighboring tree.
With a shudder I recalled the many
times Lot had sat under the shadow of
his knees.
heels of the other party.
A resounding slap upon the shoulder
nearly sent me reeling to the earth.
"By the great Moses, that little wo-
mans brick!'
"What is it, Chris?" I asked in aston
ishment; for his lively tone was anything
but appropriate for the occasion.
"Come and see" and seizing me by the
arm, he commenced dragging me toward
Lots cabin.
A sudden revelation came to me: Lot
had committed suicide! Welll better so
than the hangman's moose!
Entering the cabin prison, $ singular
spectacle presented 1tself. The commit
tee stood in dismayed group in the CEN
ter of the room; while Lots wife, stern
and resolute no longer, bent over the
huge dismantled carcass of poor Lion.
Gone was the nerve, the passion, and
power, which had, the night previous,
supported and lifted her above her sex.
Palmer, more meagre, if possible, than
usual, there was yet a something touch
| ing in her weakness; perhaps because it
was so foreign to her nature.
Lifting her woe-begone countenance as
I approached, she exclaimed brokenly,
"I'd almost rather died than done it;
but there wasn't no other way!'
Hardly had the news of the escape
spread through the camp, when horse
man, riding at break-neck speed, came,
in the midst of cloud of dust, flying up
the trail In his hand he bore white
signal, which he persistently waved as he
advanced. Dashing into camp, he threw
himself breathlessly into the midst of the
"Vigilantes.
"Where is the man you were going to
hang?"
Escaped"
"Thank God for he didn't do it!
Frisco Bill has confessed the deedp'
Then the cheers that rang out might
almost have rent the heavens in twain;
but Lots wife, alone with her sleeping
children, crouched in mournful silence
over the form of her poor, dumb sacrifice
silent and faithful even unto DEATH
Lakeside Monthly.