The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-09

!
world To see yourself crowded into
the grave by the torrent OF popular
fury, and yet have that in your bosom
which might roll back the tide and save
you could it but reach out beyond the
narrow circle in which it is confined
oh, what is physical strength to the
power, OF this internal sense in such m
hour ms this How willingly would
have bartored the best gifts OF nature
II those around mo could have partaken
Of this feeling and know what I knew.
The mercy Of the Almighty seemed a
meaningless thing. Bnt he could not
break His law, even to save the life Of
one OF His creatures from IN unjust
deathi
The closing words OF the sentence
which doomed me to the scafTold awoke
me from. these reflections. sank to
my seat, as o sigh OF relief, like the
groan Of some tlnearthly monster, went
up from the multitude in the court
room, followed by subdned hum
which now succeeded TO the silence
which had heretofore reigned. The
people began to move out, speaking to
each other and smiling, pleased that
the end was as they wished and be.
lieyed it would be. oh, how more than
ever, then, the silent and helpless
savior in my bosom struggled in its
bounds in one desperate effort to
go out and become absorbed in the
thoughts of othersi But all in vain
my heart sickened, and the pail of de.
spair was upon me, as I submitted my
self to the officers who were TO return
me to the gaol.
The court room was in the second
story Of the building, and was reached
from the outside by more than ordi-
narily steep flight Of steps Of gray
stone, about twenty.four in number.
As / emerged from the front door at
the top Of these steps, a bright, piercing
ray Of the sun met me full in the face.
DaSzled for an instant / stopped, and
then stepped forward again. But ]
missed the step-stone, and, unable Ia
recover myself, fell headlong down the
way. ~ 'f
I sat on low, rough couch in the
darkast, dampest dungeon of the gaol.
To tho cold iron gives which shackled
my legs ut the ankles was attached q
chain Of like metal, OF, perhaps, four
feet in length, terminating at ring on
the bottom Of the cell. My hands were
free, and with them rubbed my eyes
as ono who hopes thereby to mike
them do their duty better. l could
have but n faint view OF the interior OF
my apartment, as the only light that
reached it was between the two bars Of
q small opening which served as a win
dow, situated in an oblique direction
from where 1 sat, and apparently about
seven feet from the ground. A con.
fused and shapeless idea OF something
awful that had happened, was happen-
ing, or wonld happen, weighed upon
mo. What It was I oould not deter
mine-eyen my situation, clad in con-
victs garb and bound in chains, did
not strike me with any kind Of feeling
akin to surprise-I barely noticed it.
so emascuiated was my mental organ
ization and impotent OF thought. 1t
was in this stupid state I sat, when n
noise broke upon my car, coming, as
it seemed, from Immediately in front
OF me. I peered in that direction, but
could see nothing, yet the noise, which
was commingling Of grating and q
rumbling sound. continued. Presently
it ceased, and the figure Of q man be-
gan to define itself before my view.
Nearer 1t came toward me, when-oh,
heaven 1.-The form and feature sof him
fell upon my gaze.
Then it was that I saw all, knew all,
felt all, remembered all. A stream OF
memories came rushing in upon me
like q terrent. That mans presence
drove the clouds away and all was clear.
Here I was, condemned as o felon, but
before me stood tho felon himself.
Moved by the impulse which this sud-
den discovery inspired / essayed to
strike the wretch, but my arm refused
TO obey the bidding Of my will; q pa
ralysis seemed to have seized me. An
attempt to speak met with not much
better success, as nothing but whis.
per, scarcely audible TO myself, escaped
my lips. Henow advanced, and, taking
q seat beside me on the cot, spoke: :
Manor, you know your old friend
and companion, Sangin? | found you,
and am come TO condole with you"
The tone with which he uttered these
words, and the sarcastic smile with
which he accompanied them, chilled me
through. How could have crushed
him BE continued:
"Crime is q science, Manor. It's
perfect practice is IN art, and, like all
other arts, 1t requires instruments.
You have been good one. fused you
in my little operation against old El-
burne, and 1t was o perfect success.
You were caught with the blood Of
your-nly victim, still hot upon you. L.
the smoke Of your, my shot, was not
yet out Of the pistol-chamber, / tell
you, Manor, II was q grand triumph Of
art. II isa pity you could not live TO
aid in future successes Of mine-you're
too good q glove to be thrown away-I
must have more out OF you before you
die-by Jove, you shalliive r
Throughout this address ! sat with
downcaSt face, feeling how utterly
miserable and forsaken Of God was.
AT the word "liye,"I raised my eyes
and looked at him. His small, snaky
eyes glistened like diamonds, and a
sardonic smile played over his features.
"Yes-liye," he said, "and go with
me. I have cheated justice-why not
serve injustice the samo way, for the
time at least. You are bound TO be
hung sometime, and I am bound TO die
peacefully p; but we will postpone both
events as long rs possible. My art be-
| i.a ,.nnlnaL ms. rnnnttrnnn nnn 81 cnrirah