The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-24


through the yard, oyeEgFuEn with lilac
Jamestown weed, M. Britlon felt his heart
sieksn within him. The great Iron door
Of the jail ereaked on IL hinges. They
entered q low brick passage. Lodon
locked the door behind him, and threw the
bars from aheayy iron trap which closed
the stairs. In another moment they would
Be shut 10 with This human beast.
II have not thought Of what should
say 10 him, and his one chance OF saliva
walton Ia in me-" thought the clergyman,
his foot upon the stair. "One moment
Lodoa. III feel III. This air."
Phoebe touched him on the hand. She
was very pale, but she smiled cheerinlly,
at ID only man Just like youFsell whom
you are going TO meet, Edward" she
whispered.
A man like himselfi Really, Phobe
had the strangest way Of expressing her
seltl He passed on, sustained by fresh
sense Of dignity and virtue.
Lodon, hurrying through the dark up
per passage, stopped at an other iron door,
rusted with age.
Notwithstanding the key In the lock.
The cage was q net work Of iron bars,
about fifteen feet square, In The centre Of
large room, into which the setting SUI
Shone warmly and softly. The air was
pure, the cage Vas scfupulously clean.
The murderer was in the centre OF Il.
Phoebe ahut her eyes before she could 20
near him.
alf L wa my brother, nov :" she
thought.
When shs opened them ahe saw an hon.
esteyed conntryman, clad 10 decent home.
spun, rising 70 meet her with a sudden
pleased smile.
II did not know that lady Was com.
ing" be said. The voice was unembar-
raised and sincere.
Mr.. Britton hastily went up 10 the
cage. "Rho is that be cried. GMerciful
God John Matlack / l. that you ~
The two men stared At each other, the
iron grating between them. The clergy
man held to the bars with both hands; the
shock Of shame for his old friend was 80
great that he stAmmered and choaked and
then stood dumb. But John MatlAck
eagerly thrust out his chained hand.
Edward God bless you IL have
not seen face that knew for year, and
now you-you!s
He was weak and emaciated with long
confinement. The tears ran down his
cheeks; he had to raise both bloodless
hands together to his face TO wipe them
Of. Itwas piiful sight. But Mr. Brit.
ton did not give him his hand. It was
John Matlaek; but Il vas no less muir.
derer. Phoebe thrust hers through the
bars. The pity, the tender mercy, Of all
the good, motherly women In the world
seemed 70 look on him through her eyes.
"Why, have heard 40 much Of you,
John. You were on the farm with Ed.
ward. He has told me Of all the blowing
and 'coon.hunting and Oh, Edward,
speak to him"
@Why, are you here, John?" Mr..
Britton took out his cambria handker.
kerchief and wiped his neatly shayen face
neryously. Matlack stood upright and
looked him steadily in the eyes. The
chain from his leg TO the floor creaked
like some live thing as he moved.
"Why am l here ! Because | have been
found guilty OF the murder Of an old man,
and sentenced to be hung Tor 1t. That's
why. l have but few days longer to
live"
sBut you did not do it!-you did not
do It p cried Phoebe, breathlessly. s.You
can not think him guilty, Edward. Look
at his face.D
Her husband answered the demand in
the prisoners eyes rather than her words.
"God knows with what pain I see you
here" he SAID, eyasively. "You are the
last man whom should have thought
capable OF such crime"
''It / had found you here, Ned, should
have known you incapable Of it, and have
asked no luther" said the prisoner, with
a quiet dignity.
He turned away. The chain, to Phdbs;s
excited eyes, crept hideously across the
floor, held him, dragged him back. Mr..
Britton feebly pulled at his side whiskers.
John Matlack, his old plGyfelloW-I
murder? Il was incredible. And yet he
had been tried and sentenced by law, and
to Mr. Britton the lsW was an infallible
twin power with the Church.
"Thar's somethin' 10 be said on Mr..
Matlack's side" Lodon began, slowly,
tapping on the cage with his keys to EN-
phasiEs certain points. evidence was
circumstantial wholly. Old gentlemen
that was killed had started mica mine
in the NaRtahila Mountings. Mr.. Mat
lack hyar was boss. Thar was hard words
between them more than once; that was
proved on the trial. The old man was
powerful aggrayatin'. The day atore the
murder he come up from AshyilIe, a.
lookin' into things, and a-swearin' ire.
menus, calm Matlaek a sWlndler and
what not. Matlack he answers back, with
an oath, a. how he'd be even with him,
and turned and walked of; and them as
stood by said they knew he meant it.
That night the old man staid up in the
cuttfn'-6ouse, lookin' over accounts,
Them mine houses is nothin' but plank
sheds, you know. The next moruin' he
was found lynn on the pile Of mica chips,
stone-dead, with 8 bullet through his
heart"
"That was no proofF' cried Phoebe.
"No; but you hewitt heerd me out, Mics.
tress Britton,' said Lodon, warming in
the recital. IA bit Of waddtn' was found
with the bullet, and il was \ scrap Of an
Gu Velope directed 10 John Mae-the rest
bein' torn of. Mr.. Matlack's wife was
ready to sWar that he was at home all
night takin' care Of their sick boy. Thar
was plenty mored hey sworn they didn't
believe John Matlack could do such
thing noWhoW. But that kind Of testi.
mony iSn't law"
Matlack had remained with his back
turned to them, unmoved while Lodon
told his story. The truth was that Mr..
Britton's belief in his guilt had stunned
him. He had grown used to lookin the
coming death in the face. Alter year
Of solitude this friend OF his youth had
suddenly appeared-and condemned him.
It was = fresh cut Of pain, and deep one.
When his vile was named, however, he
turned quickly and glanced at Phoebe
"Yes. Where is she what can do
for her, or for your demanded that
little woman, her cheeks on FIRE.
aNothing. She IL ill-dying, they tell
me. Iconld save herif were near her.
She knows whether l am innocent or
not, thank God'
u know it. You don't suppose that l
believe that evidence! Not syllable Of
It