The Hickman courier., 1874-08-28


their heads but mutter hope.
90 had been upon the road several
days before anything of interest aroused
me from my depression. Passing a
dwelling, whose neat appearance at
tracted my attention, the notes of a
peculiarly plaintive song attracted me.
l first reined my horse and then, dis
mourt ting, / followed a winding walk,
adorned on either side with simple
flowers, to the open door. l had been
noticed and was met by young man
who cordially bade me enter.
We were singing a song learned at
sea, of which my sister is quite fond,
but we shall be glad for an Interrupt
tion.' It was the introduction of an
import sequence, and the story which
follows.
Crank Lavender, the father of my
host and narrator, became, iu the early
years of his marriage, entangled in wild
dissipation with neighbor's son, Dick
Perry. Their recklessness increased
until the murder of a wealthy planter
in the township made their flight nee
essary, and neither had ever returned.
The exertions of justice proved futile,
and with the lapse of years the suppo-
sition gathered strength that by some
other means retribution had come upon
the fugitives.
My friend, who had been reading the
manuscript, exclaimed: &" well re
member, my grandfather once related
this very tale to me. His description
of Lavender was that of very hand
some man, of fine figure and
possessing air. / cannot recall
tails, but the son and daughS
spoken of were very fortunatev
heritiug a large estate quite strA
Ny old sire made a moral, and,
upon his knee and staring into
wrink' 'es, I was warned from evi
pany and the haunts of the enem
The manuscript was resumed
"There is no silver in my
and never viii be. The worm ' s
mortgage upon them and he is
after foreclosure. Recorded pha1 4
copoia has not sufficient knowledg
deter the grim bearer of the hour g 49,
He knows it, and so do I. For months
| have been ebsent from the gables. I
have returned, patched up merely.
Qatid .facie7adltn9 s'
der was trP eed IN Different ink and by
a feebler hand. It opens again with -
same quaint pinings.
"Life has queer findings. The
who interests you to-day Is gone
morrow an forever, while the -
Of an old life-game turns up ST.
to confront you with tedious md
oftener that with agreeable re
tions Earnest yearnings are rar
allied, but they have been oncd
me. The candor of my host, Lave
and his sad experience created q
terest and a sympathy which was
ToG I xr-a4
compelled to seek the north,
fixed temporary abode in on D.
pleasant villages in an eastern e
Among the few acquaintances / tO--~ed
was that of an eminent judge, who was
at that time presiding at the trial of a
wretch committed for arson and muir
! der. He was particularly noticeable,
| commanding in persona deep, rich
voice, a fire dark eye, and hair sprinkled
with silver. He lived in elegant style,
as I can attest, at his place called Man
/ rove Hall, without wife, and child
| less. His card read, Poinset Telfair.
's At the breakfast table, the last day
of the exciting trial, was agreeably
| surprised TO recognize my old friend
Lavender. He had just arrived IN quest
/ of a tarrying place for the season. Cir
| cumstances at once determined him to
remain with me. The pending case at
the courthouse, in which l had become
much interested, was the topic OF dis
course, and Lavender was induced to be
present with me at its conclusion.
"As we seated ourselves among the
| eager spectators, Judge Telfair passed
| in with elastic step, an air of calm dig
nity, admirable in ripe manhood. Law
ender whispered enthusiastically-wha
a lord 2
'The case was given to the jurors
and they had returned, giving as THEN
verdict murder in the first degree
'The prisoner will stand !" said the
| Judge. 1t is a solemn charge, the
sentence of death None should re-
ceive it but the atrociodsly guilty. Just
and righteous laws have been enacted
TO prevent convicted felons even from
| inequitable decisions. The benefit =
these laws has been your claim
privilege. Weary days have -
sumed in this unwelcome d.
ing you beyond the mercy of mah
now it is incumbent upon me to M
this finding fearfully exacting. Before
/ pronounce the dread sentence, let nat
urge your most serious attention to the
awful fate that awaits you and for what
crime? In the dead of night, when in
nocence sleeps and none but the plot
ter of evil seeks work, you entered {
harmless household and sent an un
suspecting soul swiftly to the judg
ment, applying the torch to cover the
horrid deed. You are soon to stand be
fore an offended Deity, with stains o
blood so deep that none but Almighty
God can wash them out. Let your time
be improved In reconciliation with tina
being you have so desperately Knocked
San awful stiffness shut down upoI
that crowded room. Yet upon the fact
of the prisoner was a villainous sneer
and struggling in his eyes were thu
blacklist passions / ever saw flashed
upon man. His teeth were firmly Sc
and his hands griped the rails so hare
that his very nails were dark with hi
base blood
's' But the sentence
You, Philip Wing, will be taken t.
the prison, and on Friday the seventh
day of September, between the hour
of eight and twelve, will be hung b,
the neck until you are dead, and ma,
God have mercy on your sodl =
And may He condemn yours
screamed the wretch, pointing his fin
ger directly at the Judge. 'Ay, yours
Frank Lavender ! Do you remembe
Dick Perry, now? Ha hal a MURDER
er for judge T A
Through the athletic fran \
judge violent tremor was disd
Falling heavily over in his velvd
his arm hung istlessly, and q
grew black. 'At lastp he gasped,
purple stream gushed from
and mouth.
Gone first 7 again yelled thl -
oner, still standing with outst
hand and demons grin upon
features. And dead first. Ha