Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-05-22

} the beautiful valley of San Joaquin
e California, q pale-faced woman kne
y and moaned in prayer. There wer
e no tears in her eyes; but, straine
n to the vacancy of the sky they e,
}. pressed that anguish-that intens
y supplication-which nature does nc
: alleviate with tears.
From the feverish lips issued on
i incessant wall of prayer, ssOh, God
save him! My God, save him i" An
f the writhing body and beseechin
eyes told Of the intense agony i
/, which the heart struggled.
Fifteen miles away, in the town q
/. Stockton, the husband of this woma
was being tried for life, on the charg
of murder. Her mind was busy wit
: the distant scene. She had been Der
suaded to stay away from the court
} room, and the excitement and NOR
bid curiosity she would suffer there
, on the faithful promise of John Matt
land, to bring her the news on eacl
} day of the progress of the trial, an,
announce Its conclusion within tn
. shortest possible time.
The nighs before the day she hat
wrestled so terrible in prayer, he hac
|. ridden from the town to inform hel
that the evidence was all in, and tha
In the morning the case would prob
ably be given to the jury. He had
spoken TO reassure her. Her hus
band was manful and in good hopes.
and sent her some cheerful word,
about riding back to his home in the
morning free man.
The question of the guilt or inno-
eence OF Harry Jordan had hung in
the balance for two days. He was
accused of the murder of a notorious
French gambler at the monte table.
Some angry conversation had ensued
between them concerning disputed
bet, when the Frenchman had beck
oned Jordan to the corner of the sa-
loon, as If to explain to him and
avoid annoyance to the players. In
this changed position the back of
Jordan was turned to the crowd, as
he confronted the Frenchman; and it
was supposed the difficulty was being
settled, as the tone of the conversa-
ton was lowered, when, suddenly, OBJ
servers were Mortified by the Quick
ALTERING sweep of bowie-knife in
Jordan's hand, squirt of hot blood
In the air, and the gambler fell, cleft
through skull and brain, dead, per.
haps before he touched the floor.
There was ed attempt at escape on
the part of the apparent murderer.
10 the crowd that surrounded him
he exclaimed in an excited manner,
II have 9Hved HIM from killing me, )"
and wheu some one 'ised the dead
body--falIing Oh its face and seeti,-
ing with gore---it was observed that
IN The right hand Of the gambler was
grasped 3 Derringer pistol at full
The s-Es'rn2tion r. Jordan
drawn clm from the ne
peared peak IL .. s.....,..,
wsy. getting SO s.o~. $40
t,ta y, lin hy the lapel G lar co.,
S',', ~,hS, The former happened to DIS
"'..r y, ~. tina, during this apparently very
s,..,.5,v Converaat.on EDo gambler
l,oG sssat iiy drawn lroEg his p3. "e.
.. l,cr.ir-er. ajaosy coneeas-1 II ~, n,o
9 ~ ~ -ras slowly and s-@4'i.'
'' D., .. Jordan s. breast
,,otns.jgg lae novcuru., ''o III
,.,,ly Crpe,.v,ng his 0csig1. 1"--
B a., d;sci.,et that he had snoi'"s'
/ 5rawn an open Fnife whtlh Aa AZ
I'd in his bosom, end with lt'oH,
desnerate force had sent It's ,'i2i. .h''
/ the brain Of the would-be assassin.
.aain,s so,7Gay3ed VIA one O. 'he ,y,, %o's
repris Is where any one OF .asa a.
been made TO suffer in the Cause oi
nublic Justice. On lords A's trisL Il
mad heen noticed what number Of thi
Sra,eraitv bAd attended Ia shc cous.-
xaovc Igl Lhev we're Qu.TI. w- B.
dr. cd curious element sd ,t7
motley audience, hsslgtan" ...
shcrif"s deputy, had obsc-T-.5 7s''
numerous and regular atten~-
hut he had never thought to mentior
| it to Mrs. Jordan when telling her
as pleasantly IS he could, of the pub
| lie interest in her husbands trial
and of the crowds who sought admis
sion to the scene of the trial.
Poor woman! While, as she wres
E tied In this mornings prayer, tn
strained vision of her loving fame
!. wos tprned to her husband, ther
were other eyes more nearly watct
;. ing him-feverish, fugitive, cat-hF
ewes, that were never withdrawn fro
g him as he sat waiting the verdict
the iury-waiting his fate, while Il
l. sunshine through the windows can
q to him as messengers from home.
Again she kneels and prays. Aga
er she looks out on the long brown ros
er that comes down the green slope
in the valley. This time not in val
A light springs to her eyes, and t
vs. blood beats in her throat, for o
e. aces a horseman squirting furious
,ir down the valley, while clouds OF du
It. sprinkled with sunshine, float behi
him. He waves white handk'
chief. .-...
~ II is not her husband. 1t is I
n Maitland. 1t is a Mexican vaquel
I' What can it mean? But there
'ch good news in his face.
are ..Bueno bueno!" cries the man
ng he leaps to the ground before he
ok. stopped his horse, checks him Y
by his lariat, and presents folded
per per he has carried in his sash. ID
in great a joy in 90 few words:
md .Jordan is acquitted, thanks
lest God! I send messenger at on
ar Myself and J. will be with you in
go- hcrr or two. Faithfully,
,ots JoHN MAITLAND.
I'm And kneeling again, this time
cts. thankfulness and praise, the relic
en- wife is too happy for words ex
'ott, those due to God.
vel "It's no use, men; for Gods
pot, stop your nonsense. 1t VIII o
wing bloody Job for the man who teu
as." nav prissner.'' There was . cou
his in his face that appeared for q
Of ment to outshine the fickering
~z-.~IIsy fynnh-