The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-07-14

!
"Well, child, if had your faith, I,
too, should be made whole"
"Seek, and ye shall find" said
Madge. "Trust in the Lord, and do
good, and in due time you shall reap, if
you faint not. Now leave me, and let
me sleep. One week from yesterday,
and Morris Morrison, your best friend
and mine, is to receive his death sem
tence. I must be well enough to be in
court that day. feel that must CO."
"Child, you won't be able"
'Nonsense! Leave me, I say, and
let me sleep. Our friend shall not be
allowed to die. I will see him saved,
for, whenever shut my eyes, I see him
at liberty"
Madge's will was as good as her word.
The work Of convaIescing went rapidly
on.
Jason Andrews also recovered speed
lily from his recent dangerous illness,
and his devotion to the young mother
was childlike in it's simplicity and
earnestness. An order from his hand,
entrusted to the honest stage driver
who journeyed weekly between MolalIa
and The Falls, brought back for Madge
a dress of soft crimson stuff, that the
deft fingers of Alice and her mother
soon wrought into a comely garb. The
little babe, which, by unanimous con-
sent, was christened Pearl, was also well
provided for; and, when the goods were
brought to the young mother for her in
spectiOn, the arch smile with which
she looked her thanks, sent thrill of
quiet satisfaction through the soul of
her saved step-father that was to him
infinitely more satisfactory than her
terse, odd words of acknowledgement, as
she laid the needed garments on the
bed beside her, remarking that it was
"better to be born lucky than rich"
To the surprise of every one except
herself, Madge was quite able to be in
attendance at court on the day set apart
for the death sentence of her friend.
Her grateful mother took willing
Slloi vi IllC WGO L Gdll Llldg SeGiuGu
little inclined to trouble any ybody, and
Jason saddled horse for her use, walk
ing by her side to keep the animal
steady in its gait, and watching heI
constantly with a fatherly solicitude
f that inspired Madge with such respect
and sympathy for him as she had moi
dared to hope, in the old days of his
drunkenness, that he would ever be
able to inspire.
The Court was on the bench. The
hall of justice was crowded to suffoca,
f tion with eager spectators. The jury
whether by judicial requirement, or by
common consent were again in their ac
r customed places, though discharged
from further official power, at least, il
this particular case of legal jurispru
dence.
: 1.-THE sheriff will bring the prisoner
into Court" said His Honor, pausinG
S for an instant in the middle of col
D umn of savory political hash that filled
D the Weekly Argus to overflowing, anC
: in which the judge was much inter
ested, in view of an approaching election
: wherein he was a regular nominee o
r the dominant party.
e Dead silence reigned for few min
utes. Expectation was on the alert
Y All eyes were turned toward the door
: Madge, pale and weary, but firm an,
Y resolute, the only woman in all tn
t region round about who seemed to car
what was to be the fate of any son O
e woman, (unless he was her own, sa
e near the judge, in chair, which, will
|, an air of kindness she was not expect
S ing, he had caused to be assigned TO
b her accommodation.
u Presently the sheriff advanced, fol
e lowed by the sound of clanking man
r acles. The prisoner walked with diff
Il Guilty under his load of irons, while al
around him the official conservators c
r human life, eager and thirsty for blood
e stood guard. The prisoner reached hi
d chair and sat down.
u Tue judge had prepared the sentenc
with great care. Nothing but the dig
nifty of his high position could have fo
l a moment reconciled him to the tas
y before him. The ex-parson and presen
! sheriff, who Officiated as chaplain o
l great occasions without extra pay
. offered prayer in behalf of the cor
;, demned man, commencing him to th
- tender mercy of higher tribunal tha
=, mans. Though failing in his own sou
to mete out to him the least measure {
mercy, he felt fully competent to advis
~ Jehovah to follow a different line
action, and the advice was given a
u" though the giver were certain it woul
)" be Obeyed without question. At la:
the lecture to Almighty God was endet
" and everybody felt relieved.
. 'The prisoner is excused from stanC
ing" said the judge, kindly.
"Of the awful crime of murder l car
y - not speak in terms sufficiently denur
- ciatory," said he. ''You have con
'' mitted the blacklist crime in the huma
- catalogue"
The prisoner looked eagerly at Madg
O. who seemed to have taken leave of he
self and her senses. Her eyes wei
wide Onen and fxad unon vacapo,