The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-16
STEPHEN HATT0N.


folk. whose rough faces and hands match
81 their course weather-staincd garments,
hung about the shut door of the old town
hall of Drinkwatcr. The occasion TINT
had brought these people together was APP
parantly grave enough TO keep them al
ient, for none OF the jokes. half words, and
.aerSyidgc customary when n considerable
number OF men and women well known
10 each other nre met together flew about,
and, save the occasional cry OF u petulant
child. not a sound broke the stiffness
There wns something remarkable In the
bruathless, absorbed attitude Of this
crowd II listened, IL loOked-Othor emo
lions II seemed to have none-and II was
plain that the duh gray walls facing them
contained the object OF their anxiety, for
their eyes were fixed upon the building rs
though they would by sheer force OF Will
behold the scene that was being enacted
within.
A man was being tried for his life. The
court was small. and so densely packed
with human beings, that, though the time
of year was winter. the air was almost
suffocating in IT'S closoness They were
gathered together, these people. by the
Of fellow man being tried for his life the
most unnatural. piteous. moving sight
Gods earth can AFFORD. At some period OF
other of this trial each spectator has put
himself i'm the place of the accused, has in
one lightning moment realized his des-
perate position. has tasted OF his exceed
1ng bitterness. felt his heart-sick dcsola-
ton. has said TO himself, almost In
Bunyans words. There stand | but
FOR the grace OF God!'-hns discovered
how kcenly he loves his life valueless
rs 1t has often appeared to him'-hOw pre-
cious and beautiful thing 1t il. and how
blcsse q Is he in that It's treasure it is not
mennc cd. He has said TO himself: And
youder man until now was even rs l. bred
In the same life and customs. hungry and
glad, and sick and sorry a. | was. in all
things human. and now lie stands there
cut OF from his hind-0innc He is strong
with life, lusty with health. vet he is
doomed to die. not naturally or gradually,
but suddenly. violently. OF set purpose,
thrust out of life like any beast of the field,
who but fulfils his fate when the life Is
harshly dashed from his body
The languOr oi waiting has passed away.
50 have the quiN,r and str of expectation
that thrilled the court as with one pulse,
when the iurymrn returned one 10y one to
their places. with d"wncast look that gave
little promise 81 "A meritul message.
The usual Gil, stion has bocn put TO them,
the answer dropped INTO the eager ear 81
the multitude. aud II has uOatcd ont
through the dark stagnant air 10 those
who wait without.
There i no longer ANYTHING to he feared
or hoped. and the tense muscles relax, the
hard-set eager eyes soften. short quick eN-
"lsnations break forth on every side, un-
I'll the judge voice. clear and cold, rists
uhove and -ileucc~ them all.
Prisoner nj the bar. have you any rea-
son 10 give why sentence should not be
passed upon you
And the answer follows the question
without one moment OF hesitation. None
gave that avn Innocent OF the crime OF
which | stand accused.
1t l. an honest. m1nlv, pleasant voice
that replies. II you did not know who wi,s
spcnklug Won would saw II proceeded from
a broad chest. bold heart, and fearless
conscience. Knowing the man to be u
murderer. Won feel lnstiuctiVely indignant
that he should dare Use such "a tone, hOr-
ROWING the WAYS of men who do not bear
on their right hands the mark OF Cam. Let
us look nj HIM ~ he stands with IA ray OF
wintry sunlight falling across his face,
and wandering over his hOmciy fisher
mans gAIb lie appears TO be about
thirty years old. ana l. bruad-shOuldercd
and big. In his rugged face there Is
little beauty. only an honest, faithful,
tender sDiTlt seems ~ look out of his gray
cV.s and M IN. month and chin thrre il
no dnrrpd hardness or patufuI nttempt nj
n,n,nrs bnt a calm stradflst rudutnuce
Inlunr and hnrd tn r,.ad-hnr,lest OF nll 10
tu,s. who have known and loved him IN
the mast fol. they deem INN "A pOod man
Jnsr hv nnn t.rrhl. CRIME. and rIuii for
rive him brtt.r II ne onu.nrcd bowed
,,,,yu ~ shame aud r,.iuots,.--aud In.
tile Of tiIty that was setting IN 80 strongly
ioAurd him "A minute AGO nor wa, he not
ns GOOD ~ "A dead man ? and would no nor
soon l,p mast both prulse and blame n
itr,,s barkNtrI ana dis us the rs
eertion of innnc.nrr fall from ms
Ius Bah, il i enough To make
one smIlr-a lie or two more or los
,nuilun IN. triaI did MOI n,ucn signify. n
man n.,nlr med Tor ms lireis iusiihEd in
,tninn ana n, tut, a rood deaf. hut 10 ION
"A .iun,I l. TX. tnnt when th, ye,,lr. Inns
hon rlV,n and sentence MI but paS-ed. IL
A. ernsrl..s-t l.. ,irni AIDING himself t.r.
j..slV: md those VINO look unon him
brAr, 10 identify themselves les. with ms
crime and hun themselves more roluDla-
comfy on their own uuuolestcd srcurltv
Aud his words 20 by like the idle breath of
A summer wind nj ,vrutidr
And may God have mercy on your
soul"
1t is ali over; the plav is PLAYED out
Justice has gained her ends and may be-
sippo,cd To I'll smiling nj her success. the