Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-07-24


G gallows, and hundreds flocked
= the little town where the execution
was to take place, to sec him die
How were they disappointed to fin
that the night before he had es
capped! How, no one knew, but h
) had left q note addressed to the
saOler, thanking him for his kind
ness shown him while he was in hi
charge, and his regrets that his es
cape might cause him trouble, bu!
saying he had had an opportunity
Of escaping, and took advantage o.
it, for he had no idea of dying al
ignominious death for an act he
was not guilty of, merely to crafty
he curiosity of gaping crowd.
accepted it, and hoped he would
vet he able to prove his Innocence.
This was about the subject of the
letter, and when it was published
in the local paper, there were some
who were glad that the boy had es'
capped the gallows.
Mr.. Mercer's property was, in his
will, all left to Frank, and it was
found to be considerable. Trustees
assumed charge of it, and before
long the quiet community had set
tied down to it's usual routine, and
the murder and escape were almost
forgotten.
Ten years passed away, and no
word of the fugitive had been heard,
and people believed him dead. One
exception was Mary Dewes, now
grown to womanhO0d. She had
never believed him dead, and thro'
her life had treasured Franks
image in her inmost heart, the my s.
terry that hung around him but ad-
ding strength to her regard. Her
sister had married, her mother was
dead, aud together with her father,
they lived at the old homestead.
Business calling Mr.. Dewes to
Havana, he took Mary with him,
and they set sail from Charlestown
in a fine ship running South. They
had been some days at sea, when
in the dead of night the fearful cry
of "Firew aroused all from slumber.
The ship was on fire, and in vain
were efforts made to quench the
flames. The seamen in fright rushed
into the only available boat; and it
sank with them, and left them strug-
Cling in the ocean, born away by
the wind and waves, while Mr..
Dewes and Mary, the captain of
the ship and q few others, were
huddIed away upon the stern,
awaiting the doom that must over
take them.
Sail hop
The joyous cry came from the
captain, who had been straining
his eyes over the ocean, in hopes OF
seeing some vessel coming to save
them. Swiftly flying towards them
came low, rakish, threemasted
schooner, which ever and anon sent
up light, to prove to those on
board the burning ship that succor
was near. Hark ! tho deep boom
of gun is heard, and as the cap
tain listens he exclaims: "Mlss
Dewes, we are all right now cheer
up, for there comes 4 vessel-of-war
to our aid"
"Ship ahoy!' came in ringing
tones from the schooner, as she
came near the burning ship, which
was being driven rapidly along by
the wind.
"Ahoy ~ answered the captain.
"Throw long line from your
ship, and l will seud you boat.
came in the same clear tones.
The line was thrown, the boat at
tached, and, after little difficulty,
the people from the ship were trans
ferred to the schooner and Mary
was soon in the comfortable cabin,
over their escape from
horrible death.
At breakfast the next morning,
the young captain of the war
schooner descended to join his
guests at the table, and, as he en-
tered, Mary sprang towards him.
"Frauk Mercer Oh it is you
is not y
One glance at the beautiful girl,
and, though years had passed.
Frank Mercer, for it was no other,
the playmate whom he
had loved so well, and whom he had
never ceased to think of.
Mr.. Dewes came forward, and
what a joyful meeting was there
but seeing cloud, as if of bitter