The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-30

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Their neighbors were glad to see them
back again, but were plain to say that
sit appeared like rs IL John was
guilty. These dwellers in the solitude
were accustomed to speak truly what
they thought. John and his mother
too spoke openly Of this matter. Twas
only Of showing affection and love that
these people were ashamed and shy.
They both admitted to their neighbors
that the evidence was very strong, but
John added quietly that he was not
guilty, as IL that settled the whole mat
But the voice OF the people and o
sense Of Justice would not let this crime
rest. IL came to be very generally
known that o man guilty Of murder was
living near the shore OF Lake Cham
plain unmolested. Arrangements were
effected by which II camo to pass that
the Canadian authorities made q formal
application to the United States for the
delivery Of ono John Wilson, believed
to be guilty Of the murder OF his cousin
William Wilson.
And so again two officers. this time
United States officials, climbed up TO
the little Lighthouse upon the edge OF
the great valley. Through drifting,
blinging storm OF snow they were pilot
cd by q neighbor 10 the lonely house.
They made known their errand, and in
the course Of half IN hour the officers
and their prisoner were outin the storm
en- route for the distant City Of Mon
treal. &.
II was many days before the woman
saw her son again. For four months
John was imprisoned awaiting his trial
before the Canadian courts. Doubtless
thoge four months seemed long to the
solitary woman. She had not much OPP
portunity to indulge in melancholy
.lanoies she spent much OF her time In
pulling brush and wood out Of the
snow and breaking 1t up with On az, so
rs 10 adapt IL to the size Of her stove. /,
The neighbors tried TO be kind, and
often took commissions from her to the
store and the grist.mill in the valley.
0But after all, p said Pete Searles, one
Of Johns friends, in speaking Of the
matter afterward, "what could neigh.
bors amount to, when the nearest oil
them lived mile away, and all ef them
were plain 70 say that they believed she
was the mother Of o nurderer?"
But the neighbors said the woman
did not seem to mind the solitude and
the rough work. Morning, noon, and
NIGHT she was out in the snow or the
storm at the little hoyel Of barn back
Of the house, taking caro- Of two COWS
and q few sheep which were hers and
Johns. AT other times travellers upon
the Wilderness road would see her
eaurt, angular figure clambering down
a rocky ridge, dragging poles 10 the
house TO be cut up for fuel.
She received two letters from John
In the course OF the winter. The first
told her that he was imprisoned, and
awaiting his trial in Montreal, and the
next one said that his trial has been set
down for an early day in March.
This corresponds was all the In
formation the mother had OF her son;
FOR the lake was frozen during the win
ter 30 that the boats did not run, and
no news could come from Canada by
the boatmen.
When March came and passed away
without intelligence from John, 1t was
taken by the dwellers upon the lake
shore and along the wilderness road as
q sure Indication that he had been con-
yicted Of the crime. A letter or news
paper announcing the fact was conf
IDENTIFY looked for by the neighbors
whenever they went 10 the distant post
Office for their weekly mail.
As March went ont, and spring days
and sunshine came, it was noticed that
the face Of Johns mother looked sharp
and white, but she went about the
same daily duties as before, without
seeming to feel i'll or weak.
On o plashy April day, full Of sun
shine, she stood on the rocky ridge
back of the house, looking down upon
the lake. Afew early birds had come
back and were twittering about the
clearing. Although the snow still lin
gered in patches upon the highlands,
the valley looked warm below, and the
first boats Of the season were dotting
the wide, distant mirrow Of told Cham
plain.n A man came slowly up the
muddy line OF road, through the gate,
and around the house; then first the
woman saw him. Aslight spasm pass
ed over her face. There was little
pitiful culver Of the muscles about the
mouth, and then she walked slowly
down the ridge to where the man
stood. She struggled o little with her
self before she said, '.Well, John, lam
glad 10 sec you back"
John tried 10 be cool also, but nature
was too much for him. Hecould not
raise his eyes 10 hers, and his simple
response, nYes, mother, was choking
" uttered.
The two walked into the house to-
gether In the old familiar way the wo.
man without o word began to spread the
table, and her son went out and pre-
pared fuel, and, bringing II in, replen-
ished the FIRE. Then he sat down In his
accustomed place by the stove, with n
pleasant temarly about how well the fire
burned, and how good II seemed to be
home again. And the woman spoke o
few kind, motherly words.
Itwas the way they had always done
when John came back, but now there
was 0 great sadness in II, for he had
come from prison. Jupiter seemed
fully to realize the situation. He on.
hibited none Of that frisliness which
characterized the welcome he had
usually given but when John was
seated the old dog camo slowly up 10
him, laid his fore paws and his head in