The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-12-31
A Justihable Murder

Ny fathers farm stood ct . short
distance from the village, ON the out-
skirts Of q lonely stretch Of moorland
called Trevellan Heath.
One day my aunt, a well-to-do maiden
lady. living At Truro, came over to the
farm and invited me to go and stay .
mouth with her. Ny father, who WAS
not rich enough to allow me many
pleasures, readily assented; and need /
say that I, lad Of barely sixteen. was
only too delighted at the prospect Of q
change.
1t was arranged that should adjourn
to my sunt's residences on the evening
Of the following Friday, my small stock
of necesssries going on in the afternoon
of the same day.
could have ridden bad chosen;
but. thinking the anticipation of plsss-
ure as great, if not greater than the
pleasure itself. preferred to walk.
1t was about half-past seven on the
Friday evening when Left our door;
the time was the end of September; the
days were shortening sadly, and the
leaves beginning ts fall.
Il cont half like your going alone.
lad" said my father. who came to the
door to see me start
Nonsense, father," returned; .how
many times have l been across the
heath alone st night in the cart 70 the
doctors when mother was dying."
Tears rose as I spoke. for it WAS hare
ly month SINCE had been robbed Of
that fond parent. -
"Well. bless you. my SOM" said my
father, after l had returned his affec.
tionate embrace, and was moving sway
l walked on at brisk pace till came
to the heath. when the wind, which in
that exposed situstion blew in great
force. somewhat impeded my progress.
To my left was thick belt Of trees;
while to tho right, though ct some con-
siderable distance. lay the high road.
The lonely heath stretched before mo.
dimly lighted by the rising moon; no
sound broke thqaiasQpe save the melau-
sAf;s F!...:,iy .:,1isf I -. ..o
"'S %sss s%ifss s. s. = ss s ::
pearance ii .sea1 -
but reassurihk;t1 - - =
to the more dangerous - ~ =
of whom there are plenty aboo4 -
country after harvest.
am no coward, but / must own felt
rather uncomfortable when I saw them
approaching me, and oil the stories
had ever heard of robbers, highwsy-
men,et ceters, arose in my mind. How =
ever. would not let them see l was
frightened. and ct first affected not TO
notice them but ~ they approached me
behind, closer and closer, l insensibly
quickened my pace. they did the same.
ami the distance between us lesseued
every moment.
Suddenly tho sound of their voices in
alteration arrested my attention, and
involuntariiy paused and listened.
We had entered deep gorge. . most
fitting place for some deed Of horror.
now realized that they hsd not seen
or needed me, and crouching close In
the shadow Of cliff. watched aud
listened.
Their voices grew louder and more
angry;thsn heard the sound of heavy
blow and . fell.
just ct that moment tho moon shone
forth, and saw . large man, half die
guised in cloak and siouched hat,
bending over the prostrste body Of his
companion, and holding . cleaning
dagger in bis appraised hand.
A sickcning. heavy thud; q deep
groan smote upon my ears, and with an
involuntary cry l turned and Aed.
The murderer, alarmed, started in
pursuit.
heard his footsteps bshind me
closer. closer every moment.
On. on ! raced, breathless. but deter
mined not to give 10.
At length l reached the quarry.
Stop" heard roared behind me.
My heart seemed to be in my moath;
my knees trembled 70 that / could
hardly stand; but knew that in another
moment should be out Of danger. /
scrambled down the almost perpendicu.
lar side of the quarry till I reached .
little plank bridge. which was thrown
across deep chasm, IL IVES almost .
foot and half wide. and having no
hand-rail, was anything but safe.
On the opposite bank I saw. BY the
light of tho moon. heap Of shovels and
pickaxes left by the workmen employed
at the quarry.
Irushed across the frail erection, but
not before heard something whiaxins
through the air. and saw knife quiver
in the wood in front Of me.
Ga reaching the opposite bank. I
found. among the heap Of tools. m Axe.
! seized II. and, pausing a moment, ex.
olsimed. "if you value your life. keep
back"
The man paused on the opposite bank.
and appeared to hesitate; then with an
oath and threat. and. paying no heed
TO my warning, be advanced to cross the
bridge.
I raised the axe, and with Q strength
which after wards seemed 10 me prefer.
natural, dealt . blow at the frail stakes
Of wood which alone supported the
bridge.
The whole fabric tr embied, and my
pursuer. who was about half way across
stopped shor..
While he hesitated. I struck Q second
blow. which severed the stakes com.
pletely.
The bridge swaycd Backward and
forwards like the pendulum Of clock;
the msu still clung to it despesately for
few seconds. but st length let 70 Ais
bold. and with yell Of despair. ell
headlong into the yawning gulf.
The tax on my physical powers had