Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-30

like mind with Briar, and as the prisoner
neither offered to fight, run away, confess
or drink, the whole crowd soon lost inter
J est in him, and sauntered off, leaving
Moonlight in charge of the Squire and
the oollegian. These two gentlemen es-
corted the prisoner into the Squire's hut
and invited him to sit down or lie down,
as best suited him; but the aacrity with
which the Sqire produced revolver from
a bundle of clothing seemed to neutralize
in the prisoners mind, all pleasing inn
pressions produced by the Squire's hos
pitality.
The prisoner sat down on the floor in
front Of the fire, and the Squire and Hox-
ford seated themselves on either side of
him. The prisoner seemed absorbed in
the contemplation of the toes of his boots,
Hoxford steadily watched the prisoners
hands, lest he should attempt to unloose
them ; but the squire intently regarded
so much of the prisoner face as was un-
hidden by his slouched hat and heavy
beard. 1t seemed bad face, yet one
that might have been good but at any
rate, its owner might yet be saved II he
would, thought the squire. His physical
life could not DO saved of course tho
squire knew that 10 matter how fair a
trial he might receive, there was but one
verdict ever returned in such cases. And
the squire usually acquiesced in the YER
dict; for the squire was just man him
self, and believed that justice should be
done to others. But though man must
destroy tho body, there was no reason
why the soul should perish too, the squire
argued and whether he regarded IL from
the spiritual or the economic stand
point, there seemed to him something
sadly wasteful about tho loss of soul.
The prisoner was u sad thief and per-
haps the penitent thief upon tho cross was
not worse. "Bosides )" thought The squi-
re with unfeigned .meekness and pru-
dence, Whose converteth q sinner from
his ways shall save soul from death,
and cover a multitude Of sins - and, the
squire was too firm believer in human
dopravity not to feel that ho had many
sins which were devoid of covering.
Prisoner" said the squire, giving the
fire poke, as if to have its lurid glare
suggest the sinners final doom, "'poars
sure, from what we hear, that you've
| tried every tack in the world but one-all
but one"
AT the squiro's first words, the prisoner
quickly turned his head, and looked in
tently at the old man. The squire's face
was worthy study for any one, but it
seemed rather odd to lloxford that man
whose life was in danger should regard
human nature rs closely and inquisitivoly
as the prisoner seemed to do. In fact,
he gazed so piercing, for a moment, that
the good old man abandoned the sword
of the spirit, as defensive weapon, and
hastily changed the position Of his pistol
until the muzzlo thereof pointed directly
at the prisoners head. The prisoner fin
ally dropped his eyes, and asked
"Whot tack's that ?"
Repentance" replied the squire, in II
tone which ought to have carried CON
viction to the hardest heart. And, ,"
continued the squire, again stirring the
fire and eagerly scanning the prisoner S
countenance TO SOC what effect his words
would have "now's good time to try
it on. You amt likely to have your
mind distracted by anything else for
an hour or two besides, in case Of any
accident Detailing YOU soon, youll find
the results of repentance very handy"
"Think so, do yer ?" growed the pris-
oner, trying to rest himself by throwing
his bound hands over his knees. "Wish
'twoud soften these Internal strips OF
bark around my wrsts-I'd try it mighty
sudden"
"Twont do it, said the squire, with Il
glance Of philosophic satisfaction at the
extemp0re handouts. "They're like O
mans sins, soft and easy ut first, but hurt
when they get old and commence to gel
tight grip on you. Dye see, its only
The squire suddenly looked across the
prisoners head at lloxford-" it's only
justice"
The collegian groaned and closed hi,
eyes. He had been glad when the ap-
pearance og Pete put an end TO the dis
cusson during the afternoon, for he haC
} grown very weary of it. Now the idsi
} of having it revived was simply dreadful
Happily, the prisoner came to his rescue
and said, with snarl:
"Oh, yes-I see, S'pose yer think yel
doin' me kindness now. badgerin' me
about my sins. Think III go to the dev.
il if they hang me now, don't yer 2"
,'rm afraid you will" said the squire
with a dubious shake of the head.
"An' that's what yer prospectin' rounC
my soul for, eh ?"
"Jes' so," said the squire. "Som'
folks might say, Am l my brother
keeper p say l am, and l want t.
save you."
{ "Then cut me loose, and let me go,
said the prisoner, in low but very ferc
tone. "lt'll take good deal of time t,
repent of all I've got to be sorry for.
you be yer brothers. keeper why dom
yer give his soul chance? It's all non
sense if yer he'd real brothery feelin
like flesh an blood's got, you'd let me
/ loose, instead Of koepin' me here to have
my neck broke, which you know will be
done"
, "Justice must be done," said the
! ----.-- q. IL /. inf mon nnust ha =