The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05

"And oh, many a time, if it hadn't
been for my wicked tongue" she muir
INJURED, "Jed would have stopped quar-
reling."
As for Jed, he did not concern himself
about her sudden departure. Jumping
from the window above upon the porch
roof, he let himself to the ground, and
went off in his usual vagsbond fashion.
Long after nightfall he came home,
bringing with him an unfortunate
chicken, whose neck he cut clumsily,
and then cooked the pullet for his sup
per. The feathers he burnt, partly for
fuel. and partly to get them out of the
way.
Supposing that Maddy was at home
and asleep, he threw himself upon his
bed, and slept till morning; till, in fact,
he was Weakened by a loud knocking at
the door.
it was Farmer Grant who met him,
and who recoiled from the appearance
he presented, with a look of unmistak-
able terror.
For mercy's sake, Jed Uran, what
have YOU been doing?" Re cried.
Nothing" said Jed.
do YOU know there's blood on your
hands,? Whose blood is it, JEDI" asked
the farmer, solemnly. ,.,
from Farmer Grants hen-coop, and the
question confused him. :,
II cut myself last night, l suppose"
he said, surGly.
Where's your sister," asked the
farmer. "She's always at the house Tor
milk by six, and now it's almost nine;
She's asleep up stairs said jed,
startled at the lateness ofthe hour.
"Call her, then," said the farmer
Jed disappeared, and came down
presently, "She amt there" he NUT
tered. "She went out this morning, I
SUPPOSE. She was here all night" he
added
Farmer Grant stepped inside. There
was blood on the hearth-blood-stains on
the floor. The farmer kept silence, and
went home with a sense of horror upon
him, fully confident that the young fel-
low had murdered his sister.
AS soon as possible news was sent to
| the authorities, and Jed was arrested and
put in confinement. The day passed
SlOW DuU VIC lkIUlC SOU1lu Qh1VJ "oo
stirred to it's depths at the enormity of
the crime probably committed in their
midst.
AS the time wore on, and Jed persist
| ed in his innocence,-whileth the farmers
testimony seemed to redouble his guilt,
for Jed, in his terror, had toldmore than
one lie,-the people:became excited. The
next day, near nightfall, Jed was taken
from his place of Imprisonment by an
angry mob, and preparations were made
to hang him without the benefit of
Judge or jury.
There was nothing to restrain the
popular fury, Jed had made himself OBJ
noxious, while Maddy was a pretty girl,
who had won friends, and the authori-
ties were miles away.
As for Jed he begged and implored for
his life, wen with tears, protesting that
he was innocent. Nobody believed him.
The words that the farmer had heard,
the blood on his hands, his previous bad
character, rendered all his prayers for re-
lease useless.
Hang him up!" cried excited voices,
Jed's face was the hue of death, and his
limbs refused to support him.
Il did not kill her! l am innocent"
he cried, in frenzied words.
Yes, he is Innocent" echoed a voice.
HE is innocent." exclaimed a voice on
| the outside ofthe crowd, and turning they
saw Maddy herself, her face pale, her
hands outstretched.
She had been found but q short dis
lance from the road by a villager who
was going to 4 neighboring town, and
he, having a vehicle, had taken her back
to her home. The neighbors told her
of Jed's danger, and, although suffering
from pain, she had at once gone to his
rescue.
Such q cry of Joy as went up then from
Jed and the assembled crowd, suddenly
arrested in their terrible work, is seldom
heard.
"Oh, Jed, I'm so glad" gasped Maddy,
and tainted in his arms.
In the wild reaction that followed too
much could not be done for the brother
and sister so wonderfully rescued from
death; and I am glad to add that from
| that day there was an improvement in
| the lives of BOTH YOUTHS Companion.