Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-11-10

1
Autumn was upon the earth 10 The
richness Of mpny-tialed foliage and
the iallness Of the gathered harvesl'
and ripeued fruits, l had suffered Sc
acutely that no more physical pain
could have any terror Tor me now
Indeed ! welcomed tue day OF my
death IA bringing q release at last ia
the anguish ! had suffered In
distinctly, aS In dream, ! recall the
events OF that mellow September
morning. The Kindness Of tho prison
officials as they brought me my last
meal tho comforting words spoken
by tho clergyman tho honest emo
tions OF the lawyer who had striven
to save me from my doom ! the first
sight Of the scatfold looming ominous'
" before me as | stepped into the
narrow prison yard the flood ol
memories that rushed over me as !
mounted the steps the last look at
the little knot OF spectators and at the
blue arch OF heaven above mo; the
reading of the service OF the dead,
which SOUNDED as II atsr Oft though
the minister stood close at myself
the last shaking OF hands with the few
who had taken the deepest interest in
my case the adjustment OF the black
cap one horrible moment which
seemed like an eternity, and then n
sudden sinking down, down-'a flash
as of fire before my eyos-darkness--
blackness- -nothingness
"Jack, can you hear me Z
Surely that was n voice, friendly
voice, that / heard. Like the prayer
on the scailold, it sounded afar off,
aud when l tried to answer found
the power Of speech gone. But the
words were repeated again and again,
and each time the voice seemed to
grow a little nearer. At last, by o
mighty effort, | opened my eyes
With that simple act the memory OF
what had occurred dawned upon my
mind. But was this death ? | saw
about me the bare walls Of wretch
cdy furnished room. ] was lying
stripped and naked upon IL narrow
Jcavsc%%Se Some Gas Ss wsfh wasfhJb JbfRaIAg GysF ny %
delight as opened my eyes.
"Balch," l murmured family.
eyes" he answered exulting, "and
I've saved you, thank God, Eve saved
you!'
Thee houls later sat listening
with terrible interest TO the story the
doctor told. He believed, he said, in
nv innocence yet circumstances
compelled him to be the chief witness
against me. After my sentence he
had set to work to get possession OF
my body in case | should be executed
Through some political influence he
had been enabled to carry out his
plans. ! had been pronounced dead
four minutes after the drop tell. len
minutes later my body was in the
room which the doctor had procured,
while the coffin which was supposed
to contain my remains, held the body
Of pauper who had died op Black
wells Island. Furnished with strong
electric battery and with every APP
pliance known to the medical pro-
fession, my friend had set himself
about the work of resusc:tation. -,
After more than an hours untlrlng
labor he was rewarded with the first
sign Ct. returning life--and from that
moment on, my recovery was rapid
aud complete.
Two days latter l took passage in a
sailing vessel bound for Brazil. Every
preparation was made by the DOCTOR
who had not only restored me to life
and secured my passage, but who' as
he bade me goodbye on the Dock
put an envelope INTO my hand saving
as he did so:
"You will find in this enough fol
your present needs, and something
besides" e,
With that he wrung my hand, and,
turning, abruptly LETT me.
When I came TO open this envelope
which I did not do until the third day
out | found letter Of credit for $500
on banking house IN Rio Janeiro.--
| also found the something else Of
which DR.. Balch had spoken. 1t was
this letter in his handwriting:
81 cannot ask your forgiveness
God himself can only pardon anf
humble guilt such as mine. 1t was
who murdered Branch / who stole
the $500; l who sent you to th'
gallows. As briefly as l can pu
i Al