The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-07-14

! lIC ltAl ttstN Sstl ut Tic NtllQDW
again, never once taking my ewes
from the place, which, although it
was covered by the grass, was as
plain to me-its shape, its size, its
depth, its jagged sides, and alias
if it had been open to the light of
day. When a servant walked across
it, | felt as if he must sink in; when
he had passed, l looked to see that
his feet had not worn the edges. If
a bird lighted there, | was in terror
lest by some tremendous interposi-
ton it should be instrumental in the
discovery; if breath of air sighed
across it, to me it whispered murder
There was not a sight or a sound
how ordinary, mean, or unimport-
ant soever,-but was fraught with
fear. And in this state of ceaseless
watching | spent three days.
On the fourth, there came to the
gate one who had served with me
abroad, accompanied by a brother
officer of his whom | had never
seen. | felt that | could not bear to
be out of sight of the place. 1t was
a summer evening, and | babe my
people take u table and flask of
wine into the garden. Then / sat
down Nth ay chair upon the Craze,
and being assured that nobody
could disturb it now, without my
knowledge, tried to drink and talk.
They hoped that my wifew was well
that she was not obliged to keep
her chamber-that they had not
| frightened her away. What could |
do but tell them with a faltering
tongue about the child? The Off
Ger whom ] did not know was
dOwn-looking man, and kept his
eyes upon the ground while | was
speaking. Even that terrified me!
| could not divest myself of the
idea that he saw something there
which caused him to suspect the
truth. | asked him hurriedly if he
supposed that-and stopped. THAT
the child has been murdered?" said
he, looking mildly at me. "Oh, no!
what could a man gain by murder
i ing a poor child?" Icould have
told him what a man gained by
such a deed, no one better, but |
held my peace and shivered as with
an ague.
Mlstaking my emotion they were
endeavoring to cheer me with the
hope that the boy would certainly
be found-great cheer that was for
me-when we heard a low, deep
howl, and presently there sprung
over the wall two great dogs, who
bounding into the garden, repeated
the baying gsound wehad heard before
BIood-houndsl7 cried my vis-
itors.
What need to tell me that! / had
never seen one OF that kind in all
my life, but | knew what they were
and for what purpose they had
come. grasped the elbows of my
chair, and neither spoke nor moved.
They are of the genuine breed, y
said the man whom | had known
abroad, and being out for exercise
have no doubt escaped from their
keeper"
Both he and his friend turned to
look at the dogs, who with their
noses to the ground moved restlessly
about, running TO and fro, and up
and down, and across, and round in
circles, careering about like wild
things, and all this time taking no
notice of us, but ever and again re-
peating the yell we had heard al
ready, then dropping their noses to
the ground and tracking earnestly
here and there. They now began to
snuff the earth more eagerly than
they had done vet, and although
they were still very restless, no
longer beat about in such wide cir
cults, but kept near to one spot, and
constantly diminished the distance
between themselves and me-
At last they came up close to the
great chair ON which | sat, and rails
ing their frightful howl once more,
tried to tear away the wooden rails
that kept them from the ground be-
meath | saw how | looked, in the
faces of the two who were with me,
They scent some prey" said
they, both together.
They scent no preyw cried |,
"In Heavens name, move" said
the one | knew, very earnestly, or
YOU will be torn to pieces"
Let them tear me from limb to
limb, III never leave this placer
cried |, Are dogs to hurry men to
shameful deaths? Hew them down,
cut them in pieces"
There is some foul mystery here.'
said the officer | did not know,
drawing his sword. In the name of
King Charles, assist me to secure
this man."
They both set upon me and forced
me away, though | fought and bit
and caught at them like a mailman.
After a struggle they got me quietly
between them, and then, my God!
| saw the angry dogs tearing at the
earth and throwing it up into the
air like water.
What more have | to tell? That
| fell upon my knees and with chat
tering teeth confessed the truth and
prayed to be forgiven. That | have
since denied and now confess to it
again. That | have been tried for
the crime, found guilty, and sem
fenced, That | have not the eour-
age to anticipate my doom or to
bear up manfully against it, That
! have no compassion, no eonsola-
ton, no hope, no friend. That my
wife has happily lost for the time
those faculties which would enable
her to know my misery or hers.
That | am alone in this stone dun
geon with my evil spirit, and that |
die to-morrow,-C ID.
Improved Methods.
Farming of all occupation is sus-
ceptible of the greatest advance
through a thorough study and knowl-