Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-11
Miseellaay.



| tell you it's an awful thing To q
through. SAID Tom Mopson-a mans las
night ON earth, when be knows he's on
20 be hung in the niornin'.
Why, were you ever in that fixP inouire
one Of the listeners.
If you'd like to hear it, answered Ton,
| will tell you the story.
By general invitation he proceeded. frs
replacing his quid with fresh one.
It's now more'n thirty years. said Tom
since took notion to 60 and settle il
the backwoods.
There wasn't another cabin within fiy,
miles of mine, which made it a little lone
some whiles; but it's good thing to b,
out Of reach O bad company, and nj
ways liked an independent life-so on tn,
whole, got along quite comfortable.
One night, as l was about putting on
the light after saying my prayers, afor,
goin' to bed, there came quick knock a
the door.
hurried to open it when a man STAG
gered in. His look was wild, and his face
pale.
Help! help! he grasped; I'm afraid |
have got my death wound!
caught him in my arms, and half car.
ried him TO bed
It's there, he said, when l had laid him
down, placin' his hands on his breast.
Quick as could tore open his clothes
and close to where l could see his hear
beatin' was q round red mark, with a
slow stream of blood trickling from it. I'd
seen bullet wounds afore, and know'd at
once what was the trouble.
feel am dyin' said the stranger, after
lying awhile with his eyes shut.
hope not, said I'D 60 for doctor,
but there is none higher than ten miles.
'Twoudn't be no use. said he. No doc
tor could get at where the trouble is. I'm
tillin up with blood inside, and It'll soon
choke me.
Iknow'd what he meant. He was shot
in the chest and was bleeding inward
ly.
There's one thing l want you to do.
says he, on your word Of honor TO diving
man.
What is it? said l.
Will you give me your word to do itp
said he.
will, said l, if it is thing an honest
man can do.
| wouldn't ask you to do nothing e lse,
says he-not in my last moments I've got my
death from one I've always loved dearly.
Should he be discovered and punished for
his crime, it would disgrace name |
prize more than life. No one has seen me
come here. When Pm dead bury me in
some secret spot and say nothin', and then
nobody will ever know my fate but you
and the man whose conscience will be his
own punishment.
looked down into the pale face turned
up to mine. There was somethin' so be-
seechin' in it, that hadn't the heart to
say no.
took his hand and pressed tit was
fast GROWN cold.
promise, said l.
He lay quite spell-then took away his
hand, and from an inside pocket took out
thick wallet.
Take this-it is yours. he said, putin
it in my hand-there's no one else now |
would wish to have it,
pushed it back, but he said:
Keep it its my last wish.
Then his eyes turned CLASSY. dropped
the pocket book, and catchin him in my
arms raised up his head. He gave one OF
two long breaths. and sank back dead.
l laid him down gently, folded his arms
across his breast. closed his eyes, and Gov
cred his face with the sheet.
I'd been too long out there on the bord
ers to fear bein alone with a dead man,
and of any possible consequences to my
self | was LOO confused then to think.
Afore know'd, daylight was streamin'
in at the window.
must keep my word, said I and l
got up and went out and got my spade.
Down near my cabin was u shady nook
where the wild grape vines had grown up
over the trees, maxim sort of nat raj
arbor.
There's where I'd lay him, says I, and |
went 10 work and dug II grave at Il spot
where the vines hing down like weepin'
wlers. Then [ went back to the house
and windin' the body in my best sheets,
carried it in my arms, and laid in the
grave.
Earth to earth, and dust to dust says |,
before shoveln' in the clay.
When I'd finished. and had scraped
back the dead leaves over the grave SOS
10 hide the spot, and was just turnin'
away, who should step out afore me but
jess Roker.
Ilev you been diggin' ginsang, ,neighbor?
says he with an inquisitive grin.
No, haint, says |, a little crusty, and
walkin off, for | never liked Jess's prin' |
ways
Well. some days afterwards, was sit
tin in my cabin reading my Bible one
evening, when squad of men rid up and |
came in without watin' TO be axed.
You're my prisoner! says the one at the
head cappin' his hand on my shoulder.
What forp says |.
For murder says he.
And then they begun searchin' the
premises, and presently they found the
dead mans pocket book, which | had
put away after countin' the money.
Where did you git thisP says the man
who'd spoke afore.
won't tell, says l.
Why not? says he.
Because I've give my word to dead |
man, says |, and won't 60 back on it.
III show yon where the dead man is,
said jess Roker, comm forward with his
snrakin' grin.
Then / know'd Jess had been caves
droppn' at the funeral, and had given
Information agin me. l made dash at
'"f pHt q dOACH SClAVu INV "''N
held me fast.
jess led the way to the grape vines and
IN lew minutes the body | had buried
Was removed from its resting place.
What have you TO say nowP says the
sheriff.
Nothing, says l, rememberin' my prom
ise.
Then 4 strange man present spoke to
Tie sheriff in private; they examined the
pocket book together; then / was hand
coled and took away thirty miles to jail.
-, lwoud be too long story to tell all
That passed till was tried. A young law
yer took up my case; for long time
SouIdn t tell him amy thing; insisted d
gwen my word to dying man, and could
not break ii; but The lawyer was smart
s@nap and urged me; his main p int was
m'! lawyer was bound TO keep his cll-
shtS secrets. and anything | told him
would be as >afe us with LII yself. Besides,
Ie SAID, whatever promise | had given the
law would imply condition thai wasn't
o90nd 10 keep ii at the risk of being hang,
eu and even if Id agreed to be hanged
Sooncr n tell, twould be agin public policy
"I a"u void; | give in at last, and told him