The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1875-08-18

taWakelilng my uhte. lieu nip hoise ~
the fence. sprang, into, the, widow, and
beard loud crash, call, rnd a shrek ~
the, direction. If my. ..uncle's room. I
lrusiied thither4-a dafk form dashed ~
ippe IN Tie Uncertain lightnf il,ero9m-
and fsIl over Something upon the floor.
With fear II iily heart, arose. lighted II
canale, aiili saw ms ,uucIe's body covered
with blood, gold scas.ettd upon the floor.
and my owhknife, which hpd done the
deed, lying naar. picked up the knife
land thus was found by tie negro, and
seen by the,nedJler,! As God ismy wit
Iless, did i,ot murder the good old man
who has protected noe throughoutIife and
whon, loved as ihongi he Yas my own
father 4 am guiItless Of The deed, but
submit to my fate.n
A silence fell upon all, there were,
however, butt few who believed The youths
statement; among Tie litter. was Mr
Dewes aud his family, Who, through all,
lremained stanch friends.
Frank Mercer was. To bs, hung. to diean
Iignuininious death on the gallows, and
Hundreds fiocked to the little towii where
the execution was TO take place, 70 see
him die. How were they disappointed to
find that the night before be escaped.
How, no one knew, but he llgl left pote
addressed to the gaoler, thanking him for
the kindness shown him while he WAS III
his charge, and his regrets that lis Is
cape .night cause him trouble, bnt sHying
he had had All opportunity Of pst;aping
and took advantage oft, for he had no
Idea of dying M igiintnlnioiis death for m
act he was not guilty Of. merely 10 crafty
the cllliasityof a gaping crowd. Freedom
was offered him. and he accepted Il, and
hoped be would set be allie to prove his
Iinnocenee.
This was about the subject of The letter,
land when II was pul,lishri in the local
lpaper, there were some WHO We're glad
THAT ilie hoy had escaped the gallows.
MIR. Mercer's property was, IN IFS will,
lail left 10 Frank. ni.d IL was found 70 be
lc0nsideFaLIe. Trustees assurietl charge
af II. aud before hong the quiet etcomnnniiy
had segtiesl down .oits usual routine, and
the murder aud escape vere almost fur
gutten.
Ten years passed away, and no word Of
The fugitive had been heard, and people
believed him dead. One exception was
Mary DrM,s, now grown 20 wonlani.osai.
Sh. had never believed him dead, ansl
lshrnngl, her life had treasured Franks
Image III her innl,,sl heart. the mystery
Itllat hung around him but adding strength
TO her regard. Her sisters had married,
Ihcr tiroslIpr was dead. ail,i together with
Eher fnthe., l,ley lived ii theol homestead.
IBusine-s calling Mr.. Dewes 70 Havana,
he tonk Mary with him. aud They set sail
frum Charlestonin line ship running
sauh. They had been some days at sea,
when III tile dead of night the fearful cry
lnf.fir!' aroused MI from slumbef. The
shin was on Dire, aud In vain We're efforts
made 10 qnrnch The flames. The seanen
lln fright rushed into th- only available
baas: aud II sank with them, and len
.hcni struggling in The ocean, borne away
Inv the wind and waves, while Mr. Dewes
land Mars. The captain Of the ship and
few others, were hundiIed away upon the
stern awaiting the doom that must over
take ihfw.
'ssaIi ho!n
The Joyous cry came from: the captain,
who bad l,eei, strainlng his eyes over the
lnccan. hi hopes Of seeing some vessel COM
ling 10 save them. swiftly flying towards
llhen, came low, rakish. three masted
schooner. which ever and anon sent up =
Tight, 10 prove % those on board the bur
ming ship that succot was near Hawk
! Ithe deep bonn Of . gun i heard, and q
| the captain listens he exclaimed Mis-
/ Dewes, We are III right now; cheer unafet
There comes q vessel-of-wsi q 0dt ahh'
"shlp nhoy.,' came III ringing tol,es
] nom the schooner, NJ sise came nessf the
/ lbnralng ship. which TnA Deing driven
! rapidly nlong by tse Wind
aAhose' answered The captain, e.. 4.
.sshFow d lung line from yourshiP. AMI
/ / will send ron boai,' came iii tlie same
lcleaft6nts'
Ths lines wasihrown, thebout attachc'f
and, afnr little difficulty, the people
I Irrom tie ship were transferred 70 ths
!. SCHOONER; and Mary was soon 10 The COIN
! Eiortabic cabin, rejoicing over their escape
/ from horrible death.
/ AT breakfast The .rcxl morning, th'
Young captain Of Die wnt schooner de
4 scended TO join bis guests ~ the table, and
] as he cntared, Mary sprung towards him
.Frank Mcrcefl Ohl u u you--is u not !
i One glance nlthe beautiful girl, and
through years had passesi, Frank Mercer
/ for II was 10 other, recognized the play
male whom he had loved 80 we'll, an,
: whom lie had never teasest 10 think Of.
D Mr. Dewes came forward, and wi'atl
/ Iloyfnl meeting WIS there but seeing
a cloud, a. n ofbIttcr nemmories, come owe
+ The young captains face. Mr. Dewes said
: quickly: "Flrst, LET me relieve your nin'