The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-01-25

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slightest touch, betoltened recent fright,
On re-entering the house, 1 found the
stlnger was not there. His absence ex-
citclnosurprise; hewould doubtless soon
return. II was q little singular, however,
that hc should have left his watch lying
on The table,
''Atthe end Of half an hour, my guest
moi otreturning, ] went again to the stable,
thinking he might have found his way
thither TO give personal attention TO the
wants Of his horse. Before going out,
from mere force OF habit-for we were as
yet uninfested by either thieves or
pollcemen-Ito took the precaution Of put
ting the stranger's watch in drawer in
which l kept my own valuables. / found
tho horse us / Ind left him, and gave
him the food which he was now suf-
ticiently cooled to.be allowed to eat; but
his master was nowhere TO be seen.
AS l approached the house, a crowd of
men on horseback dashed up, and / was
commanded, in no gentle tones, to
sshndp In another moment was in
the clutches OF those who claimed me as
their prisoner.
II was too much stupehed at first to
ask what il all meant. did so at Inst,
and the explanation came-it was terri
blel My friend, with whom l had 80
latGly set out in company, had been
found murdered and robbed near the
spot at which i, but I alone, knew we
had separated. 1 was the last person
known to be with him, and / was now
arrested on suspicion Of his murder. A
search OF the premises was Immediately
instituted. The watch was found in the
drawer in which I had placed II, and wns
identified as the property of the mtir-
defed man. His horse, too, was found
in my stable, for the animal / had Just
put there was none other, recognized
him myself when i saw him in the light.
What | said, / know not My confusion
was taken as additional evidence. And
when, at length, 1 did command Ian
guage to give an intelligent statement,
It was received with sneers Of in-
crelulity. "a
"The mob spirit is inherent in man
atleast, in crowds Of men. 1t may not
alwys manifest itself in physical vio-
lerce. II sometimes contents itself
with lynching q character. But what
ever its form, II is always relentless, pitt
less, cruel. @l. 80
"As the proofs Of my guilt, one after
another, came to light, low inutterings.
gradually grew into o clamor for ven-
geance; and but for the firmness Of one
lnai-the officer who Ind me in charge
-1woild doubtless have paid the pen
atty OF my supposed oftense on the spot.
II was not sympathy for me TINT nc
tuated my protector. His heart was as
hard as his office; but he represented the
majesty Of the law, and took q sort of
pride In the position. AS much under
theg glance OF his eye US before the muz-
zloof his pistol, the cowartlly clamorers
drew back. Perhaps they were not
sufficiently numerous to feel the full
effect Of that mysterious reflex influence
which makes crowd of men so much
woBe, and at times so much better, than
any one Of them singly !,
AT the end of some months my trial
came. It could have but one result.
Circumstances. too plainly declared my
guilt. L alone knew they lied. The
absence Of the jury was very brief. To
their verdict 1 paid but little heed. 1t
was single hideous word; but 1 had
long anticipated 1t, and it made no i'm
preston. As little impression was made
by the words Of the Judge which follow
cd Ii; and his solemn invocation that
God might have that mercy upon me
which man was too just to vouchsafe,
sounded like the hollowest Of hollow
mockeries. Itmay be hard for the con-
demned criminal 10 meet death /; il Is
still harder for him who is innocent.
Tho one, when the first shock Is over,
acquiesces in his doom, and gives him
sell to repentance the heart Of the
otler, filed with rebellion against mans
injustice, can scarce bring itself to ask
pardon Of God. had gradually over
come this feeling, in spite OF the good
clergyman 3 irritating efforts, which were
mainly directed towards extracting a
confession, without which, he assured
me, he had no hope 10 offer. ii--
ION the morning OF the day fixed for
myexocution, ] felt measurably resigned.
/ had SO long stood face to face with
death, Ind SO accustomed myself to look
upon il az merelya momentary pang,
tllat / no longer felt solicitous save that
my memory should one day be yindi-
ciled. She for whom / had gone to
pruparea home, had already found one
In heaven. The tidings Of my calamity
hadbroken her heart, She alone, of all
the world, believed me innocent aud
slio had died with a prayer upon her
lips, that the truth might yet be brought
to light. All this / had heard, and il
had soothed rs with sweet incense my
troubled spirit Death, however un-
welcome the shape, was now portal,
beyond which ! could see one angel
whiting to receive mo. l heard the
sound Of approaching footsteps, and
neryed myself to meet the expected
simmons. The door Of my cell opened,
and tho sheriff and his attendants
entered. He held in his hand paper.
II was doubtless my death.warrant. He
began TO read It. My thought were
busted elsewhere. The words ffull and
free pardon were the first to strike my
preoccupied senses. They affected the
bystanders more than myself. Yet so it
was i was pardoned for an oflense /
had never committedi
1.-THE real cllprit, none other, it is
needless to soy, than he who had sought
and abused my hospitality, had been
mottally wounded in q recent affray in n
distant city, but had lived long enough
10 make d disclosure. which had been
laid before the governor barely in time
10 save me from q slameful death, and
condemn me toa cheerless and burden
some life. This Is my experience. Nv