New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-12

| ~ uohp oucu tOEluTcS Ou HIS poor creature
atoms" Hewhispered the only prayer his
mind in its perturbed state weuld furnish
him: My God, have mercy on me my
God, have mercy on mel" and he continued
to repeat it necessarily until exhausted
Nature gave way and he fell into a heavy
trance-like sleep.
1t was after sunrise when Nibbs and Jake
came into the room and awoke Frank.
II wish / may be skinned if you don't
take it eaey!' said Nibbs. II should ha
thought you'd be up 70 see the sun rise this
morning"
How do you feel, old mana' asked Jake
in a kindly tone.
II feel pretty we'll" replied Frank
much better than should have thought
possible"
The daylight seemed to do him good, the
sun to give him strength. The despair OF
the previous night had passed away. He
felt reaction from his past depression, and
determined, in all outward appearances al
leaat, to die like man.
''Iswear he don't want for pluck, Nibbs,''
said Jake.
"Not much" was the reply of Nibbs.
"Now," said Jake, what would you
like for breakfast this morning! If there's
anything you'd like, and it kin be got in
Boggsville, you're bound to hev it, and no
extra charge" Jake's voice trembled slight.
| ~ as ne asked the quet tiUn.
There was evidently soft spot some
where in Jake's heart. This slight evidence
of kindly feeling touched Frank deeply,
and brought him nearer than anything tn at
occurred that day to breaking down In his
resolve to meet his fats without a visible
| sign of emotion.
. l am very much obliged to you, Mr..
Grimsley," said he.
"Oh, pshaw y said Mr.. G I'VE amt in
the habit of putting en- frills yere. You
might call me Jake"
HWelI. Jake, l thank you very much IN
deed. But anything will do. Pens, ink
and paper are what l want most. have
| writing enough before me to occupy the rest
of-of-my time"
| "You shall hev them said Jake; "but
you must give in to the little breakfast ar
| rangement. The old woman kinder insists
upon it, and ehes got to hev her own way"
| Very we'll Tell her l am very grateful
for her kindness, and leave it all to her"
Frank washed and dressed himself
paper, and he went to work at once to write
to his mother and Ellen. Ellen and he were
to have been married alter his return in the
fan. Jake's wife, a comely, kindly looking
woman, brought him an excellent break
fast. II thought" said she, you mightn't
care to go to the public re ON this inornin',
so brought you q bite here
| You are very kind Mrs. Grimsley," said
Frank, land thank you from my heart"
| Don't mention it," said she. ''Taint
| nothin'; only wish it was better. You
| haint got so many breakfasts to eat now
that you can afford to eat poor one. I'm
sorry for your trouble-ihdeed am"
Thank you, thank YOU
II told Jake to try and stop this thing.
but he says it's more than lies worth to
| attempt it. l told them they're a pack of
tools. l says: He amt no horse-thief, he
amt bad as appearances is agin him. Can't
l tell it when see him"
"God bless you for your good opinion
Mrs. Grimsley! 1t is correct"
Il know it," said She But what kin /
do! I've seeded all of EN-, from Tom
Boggs down. He lowed they're terribly
excited about this horse stealth; they've
lost so many animals lately they're deter
mined to hang somebody. They amt very
partIckler whether they hang the right man
or not, but they're bound to make an ex.
| ample"
II suppose you can do nothing to stop
this miserable business. But you can do
me last favor by taking Barge of some
letters and papers l shall leave with you,
aud seeing that they are forwarded to their
proper address"
"l'll do it," she said And the kind heart
ed woman left the room with her apron to
her eyes.
Frank did but scant honor to the more
solid portions of Mrs Grimsley's excellent
breakfast, but he emptied the coffee pot
He wrote to his partner, giving instructions
as to the disposal OF his portion of the profits
OF their venture, and regarding the general
arrangement of their affairs. He made his
will, leaving everything he pos ssed to his
mother and his sister Mary.
When he had finished writing and paid
his hotel bill, he placed his letters, papers
and money in Mrs. Grimsley's hands. A
nfN ,nil 70 4 ;t nr l.:
that it was ''close on to twelve O'Clock, and
everything was ready" Frank rose at their
summons, but felt 30 weak and dizzy that
he had to resume his seat Grimsley asked
him in whisper if he would like Q little
brandy. He answered yes" When the
brandy, was brought, however, he declined
to drink it. 1t seemed to him c0wardly to
borrow, Fictitious strength. He determined
to die with an unclOuded intellect, in the
full possession of his faculties
The feeling of weakness was only mo
mentary. As there seemed no way of
avoiding his fate he braced himself up to
meet it calmly and courageously. He shook
her kindness and bade her good bye. The
good soul cried like child.
Frank was then conducted to an open
space, kind of common, where was al.
ready collected almost every man, woman
and child in Boggsville. The branch of a
uoau tIco luIuioncu SdllOWb. "A rope
hung ominously from the limb, under which
stood cart to serve for q platform. The
Vigilants, to the number of twenty, formed
circle around the gallows. Outside the
circle stood the spectators. Frank was
taken inside the circle and marched slowly
around it to give everybody an opportunity
of viewing him closely. He was then led
to the cart under the dead cottonwood.
He asked if there was doctor present.
Yer amt sick, air yerW asked Tom
Boggs.
mo-" answered Frank.
Then what do you want doctor for !"
" Reckon he don't want this yere bust.
ness botched," suggested Nibbs.
Frank nodded.
"Well," said Tom, we amt got no doc
tor yere. But Dutch Bill can do what yer
want, guess. He's butcher by trade.h
Frank closed his eyes for moment and
remained silent. He was now told that
prayer would be offered by reverend"
member of the committee. This announce
ment annoyed Frank. He did not want the
prayers. of any reverend member of q
committee Of murderers. He wished his
sufferings ended as soon as possible.
The reverend gentleman was attired in
full suit of "butternut." He had hard,
unprepossessing face; there was little char.
ity in the lines about his lips. He ap-
preached Frank and asked him, "Are you
Kur-istlans"
81 hope 3d." humbly answered poor
Frank. -"
II tur-ust that before you quit this miser-
able world you will pur-oclaim yourself
Kur-istian. Bur-etheren, let us pur.a that
our erring bur-Other may be moved to con-