Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-21
naifu 2ennebrt gonrnal.
II HAPPENED IN FIFTY-SIX.
By MRS. JAMES NEALL.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY.

lcoNrrNUED FROM YESTERDAY.
And what had developed in him the
traits never suspected to exist when she
first knew him? The demon of intemper-
ance held him in fearful thrall. Inc mad
ness that dwelt in the wine-cup had blight
ed life and made it perpetual misery.
The bite of the serpent, the sting OF the
adder-how fearfully she had experienced
these And who had tempted him beyond
control, and urged him into vice, profan-
ity and wantoness! Who but these very
men, who came now to demand his life in
explation of his crime For the first time
in her life, the strength Of the temptation
seemed revealed to her. For the first
time she felt some STRINGS, faint in
deed, yet vital, of pity and commlseratlon
for the hnnted, doomed father OF her
child.
Again she spoke-this time with stern,
bitter condemnation. She reminded the
Vipilants of the temptation thrown in his
way. and denounced them as the tempt
ers. She argued THAT although they could
imbibe Intoxicating stipulants without
feeling their effect. they were none the
less culpable than he. She pictured the
growing hopes of her own youth, the
wreck Of her womanhood, the shame rest
ing upon the innocent head of her child.
She implored them, not for mercy to the
criminal, but for compassion on the weak
who were powerless to resist those poison
Gus stimulants She spoke of the HOPELESS
degradation, the mental inbecility and
moral baseness of the drunkard's life, and
finally she arraigned them before high
heaven, as creating the very crimes they
sought 10 punish.
twas q strange sight to look upon this
beating, restless crowd, surging up to
that small clearing, like great storm
beaten wave, and hushed and chained
there BY the voice of woman, which
might have seemed like the still, small
voice of an accusing conscience.
The restraint gave way at last. She
had commanded attention by impressive
ness of her words, but the set purpose was
not averted.
Where was Lester all this time? And
as the question rang from lip to lip. one
and another entered the small doorway;
one of the men carefully lifting the basket
containing the child upon the only table
the room held. All in vain-Lester had
escaped them; and it might perhaps be
truth to assert that not a few of them were
glad to escape also the responsibility of
nangman TO the husband of Grace Lester.
As for her-she was iron, steel, stone.-
anything without seeming sense or feel
ing, during this dreadful hour. She had
hurled upon them the sense of guilt. and
left it as q burden they could not elude.
They did not speak of 1t to each other-it
had stricken too surely home.
They went away quietly-wet, draggled.
foot-sore, in the now heavy rain, and
buried the poor murdered boy, the gam
bling fraternity following him to his last
rssting-place.
''She hadn't ought to starve, if she did
give us Ill., were the words uttered in
the ..Big Saloon" the following evening,
as the crowd gathered in after their late
supper. The man who spoke was big,
broad.shouldered, devil-may-care sort of
fellow, and it was felt to be relief that
some one had been bold enough to give
utterance to the thought which was upper
most with them all for the lonely woman
in the cabin had been the source Of some
anxiety to the men she had so boldly re-
proved, and the uneasiness was visibly re-
lieved when Bowen spoke.
'Let's get up subscrip' for her, then, ;"
said the man-one of the better class
who had been leader Of the Vigilants, and
whose presence in the saloon was no sign
that it was the monte-table which had
lured him thither. Il suppose she'll want
to leave these diggings anyhow"
Hands were at once inserted into shah
by yest-pockets, and the tens and TWEEN
ties, and old.time fifty-dollar "slugs,"
which would perchance have been riskcd
in the game, were briskly deposited upon
the table.
Now, let's 90 right off with it," said
Bowen. 'If we amt more viligant than
we were t'other night, she'll be off some
where. too"
Don't 60 in mob, like said one
more considerate than the others. cap
point committee, an let 'em take it; no
use to scare her agen."