The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1875-02-11
a JuuaHAss sroHN

vasaTerr plain aBe--at least we eIeFeh
thought so. A murder of peculiar ST.
roratp bad been committed au5 though
uo tyc had Witnessed the deed, eIrgum.
asuees pointed Go abe pFlsouers gniIt
with uaH.anE certainly.
The rreusaHt juror had stood cut from
tbe arst ne acknowledged tbe cogcneg
Of lbe proofs. confessed his Inability 20
reconcile lbe facts With the defendant
innocence, and yet, on every vote went
steadily for aequiuaL His conduct was
iug2pAca6lc ltcou.d not result from a
jack Of intelligence for, whilc be spoke
bgt little, his words were well chosen,
aud cyiuced q thorough understanding Of
the case,
Though s,ilI 10 the prime Of manhood, g,
bis locks were prematurciY white aud his
face wore a siugulsrly sad aud thoughtful
expression. tie might be one Of those
who entertained scruples as 10 the right
Of society 60 iuGlct the death penalty
But no. IL was not that; for, ia reply 10
saeh d suggestion, be frankly admitted
tuat brutal men ike the vicious brutes
they resemble, must BE- controlled through
fear aud that dread Of death, ,he SUI
preme terror, is ia many eases, the only
adequate restraint,
a. The prospect OF another night Of
fruiiIos- Imprisonment we began to grow
impatient, aud expostuIated warmly
against what seemed an unreasonable
capliousuess: aud some not over kind re-
marks were INDUCED in as to the impro-
priety OF ufliug with an oath like that
under which we were acting.
Aud yet, The man answered, as though
commnnius with himself, rather than
repelIiug the impulatiou, il is conscience
that hiuders my concurrence in o verdict
approved by my judgment.
How can that be? queried several at
once.
Conscience may not always dare TO
follow judgment.
But here she can know no other guide.
once would have said the same.
And what has changed your opinion.
Experience,
The speakers manner was yisibly agi-
tated, and we waited in silence the ex-
plauatiou which he seemed ready to give,
Mastering his emotion, as If in answer to
our looks Of inquiry, be continued;
Tweaty years ago, was young man
just beginning life. Few had brighter
hopes. An attachment, dating from
childhood, had ripened with its object.
There had been no verbal declaration and
acceptance Of loye--no formal plighung
Of troth; but when | took my departure
to seek a home in the distant west, it was
a thing understood, that when found it
and put IN order, she was to share IL. --
Life in the forest, though solitary, is not
necessarily lonesome. The kind of soci-
ely afforded by nature, depends much on
ones self. As for me, lived more in
the future than in the present, and hope
is an ever cheerful companion. AT length
the time came for making the final pay
ment on the home which | had bought .-
1t would heuceforward be my own; and
in a few more months, my simple dwell
ing, which had spared no pains to rem
der inviting, would be graced by its mis-
tress
At the land-oflice, which was some
sixty miles of, | met my old friend, c..
tie, too, had come to seek fortune In
the West; and we were both delighted
at the meeting. lie had brought with
him, he said, sum Of money which he
desired to invest in land, on which it was
his purpose TO settle. / expressed a
strong desire to have him for neighbor,
and gave him cordial invitation to ac-
company me home, giving it as my belief
that be could nowhere make better Sc
lection than in that vicinity. lie readily
consented aud we set out together. We
bad not ridden many miles, when George
suddenly rccollccted commission he had
undertaken for a friend, which would
require bis attendance at a public land
sale on the following day. Eysclng a
promise that he would not delay his visit
longer than necessary, aud giving minute
directions as to the route, continued
my way homeward while be turned
back.
was about retiring to bed on the
night OF my returB, when a summons
/ from without called me to the door. A
stranger asked shelter for himself aud
/ bis horse for the night. invited him in,
/ Though stranger, his face seemed not
unfamiliar. lie was probably one Of the
men that had seen at the land ofiice-a
place at that time much frequsnted. Of
! leriua him seat, went TO sec TO hi.
horse. The poor animal, as well as
could see by the dim starlight, seemed to
/ have been hardly used His painting
sIdc- bore witness Of melciless riding
and d remuIous shrinking, at the slight
e., touch, beloseued recent fright On
fe-euierlug the house, found tho .traug
er was not there. Ills absence excited
no surprise; be would doubles. soon re-
turn. d was little singular, however
ghal Aa should have left his wateh lying
1u ll,e table.
Al the end of bail an hour, my gues
uot returning ! weut agsiu to The stable
thinking be might have fouud his way
thithcr TO give personal attention to Oh,
wants of bis horse, Before going cat
from mere force Of habit--lgr we wer,
set uuiutested by either thieves OF police
men to8k the preeAuaou Of puuinj