The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-01

shooting their so-called sweethearts.
Mary was quite alarmed in consequence,
and started to run.
"Look outw exclaimed the young man,
scarcely able to control his laughter.
Pm going to shoot"
He pulled the trigger, and the harm
less pistol went off. The girl fell, and
there was good deal of blood in her vi
cinity. He rushed to her side, bis eyes
wild with apprehension. 81 didn't mean
to-" he said apologetically. Upon my
soul, didn't know it was loaded"
"I-I cannot believe it," she gasped.
cts Heavens own truth" he said with
great earnestness.
~ cannot help it, she replied, feebly;
adding with unmistakable truth: No
matter, shall die just the same"
The Jury in the case was one of the
stupid ones known all over our beloved
country The pistol was harmless one.
1t could not possibly have loaded itself.
The young man said he didn't load it.
Nobody could tell who loaded it. TWAS
only known that several persons had
killed their alleged sweethearts under
precisely the same circumstances, with
the important exception that the loading
of the weapon and all the attending Cir
cumstances were known to the jury. 1t
was shown beyond question, however,
that the pistol had been loaded, and that
the facetious young man had fired it off,
previously expressing determination to
do so. 1t was enough for the stupid
Jury, and likewise for the Judge. The
latter, indeed, seemed to enjoy the pro-
! ceedings.
eve shall infict upon you slight
pleasantly" he said, with broad grin.
1.-THE sentence of the court is that you
, be hanged by the neck until you are
! dead. But don't be alarmed. 1t is only
a joke"
\ The Sheriff was equally happy. He
Q read the necessary documents to the
/ youth, as the latter stood with his neck
q decorated in the usual fashion, pausing
). to laugh, and at times nearly splitting his
O sides with suppressed mirth. owe shall
y do you up in prime order" he said, pleas
). antly. 1--WE shall give you something tc
Il enjoy to your dying day. There are nc
7 breakages to this" and he shook the rope
r. merrily. "There are no way stations or
8 this route, my son. You will go through
IS like creased lightning, not even pausing
=. for refreshments. You will perhaps see
r. some of your friends on your arrival
!. Please say good word for me, will you
r. Tell them if they have anything in my
A line that needs transacting that Pm the
ar man for them. Let me adjust this con
fl veyance."
: His hands shook so with laughter tina
d he could hardly fix the rope properly
le but finally the left ear of the amusin:
f. person was properly adorned.
pr "See here" whimpered the doomed
Ia youth; "you act as if you were in eur
ID nest. You wouldn't kill an innocen
y. man, would you? II think this is car
rying the joke too far"
by no MEANS" said the happy Sher
if, winking with irresistible humoI
mot for anything in this world, my son
I'd Can you not place confidence in me
v This is a joke. Are you afraid of thi
lie scaffold and that little cord? Fools
n boy they are perfectly harmless"
IN He winked at a person in the back
er ground who was chuckling silently,
e. himself, his face wreathed with smile:
in The latter responded in lively manner
e. Cup she goes!" and the practical joke
he shot into the air like a rocket and cam
IL DOWN l;la a stick
i'd Beautiful, beautiful exclaimed tn
at Sheriff and the bystanders, and a gres
ed roar Of laughter followed, even the a
tn tending clergyman putting his head Ill
We der his arm, in evident fear that otheI
ry wise he would laugh himself to death.
ne The body was taken down after
lg while and physician, after slight es
1t animation, pronounced the young ma
r. dead-his neck had been broken.
III What" said the Sheriff, with start
a. Dead? He examined the rope atten
SO tiveIy, and quickly added, with a look O
I'd profound establishments 81 see how i
y is. Alas! it must have been loaded y
a. Rochester De,nocrot