The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-07

THE CHASTITY AFTERMATH.

natural outlet on one side, converged t.
small circular plat in the centre. Upon
this spot had been erected framework
of beams, posts, braces, a:platform and 9
trap-door. 1t was the gallows-that grim
monument to the majesty of the law
The hollow was avast earth bowl;the gal
lows, a lump of sugar at the bottom; the
crowd, a swarm OF proving ants that
crawled around like pestilence.
For be it known that this was the first
execution that had ever occurred in
Kempton County.
If there is one thing more entertaining
than hanging per Sc, it is the variety of
effect produced by the ghastly spectacle
upon the faces and manner of the as
sembled witnesses. The majority were
present because they had never seen a
hanging ;others went to crafty natural
vengeance of outraged humanity; a
moietv went in the interest of Science"
hoping to hear the swapping caused by
the sundering of the spinal ligament.
They assisted the trembling, faltering
footsteps of the victim up the ladder
constructed with the finest ingenuity of
awkwardness; stood him on the trap like
a wooden soldier that was to be shot
down with tin cannon and cork ball; and
with exquisitely polite condescension, in
vited him to feed the assembled multi
tude on the philosophic loaves and fishes
of the hangman's prestidigitation. And
yet no tickets had been sold to that rare
banquet.
A pretty, dimpled, rossy lass from the
country-bareloot, and arfayed in yell
low calico dress and white sun-bonnet,
and pervaded by an odor of fresh butter
and milk, and wild violets and innocence
stared horror-stricken at the awful pre-
parations. The bright roses soon fled,
and refused longer to play hide-andseek,
with the dimples land the large blue eyes
overhowed with tears
The cap was drawn; the loop was ad-
justed The girl buried her face in her
gaunt old mothers bosom, and gasped.
There was another interesting group,
composed of boys between the ages of
four and half and seven years. One
was negro named Tony, six years old,
black as tar, homely as an ape. The
Others were all white. One of these,
Buck" was chubby boy of five, with
freck led face, red cheeks aud white hair.
These two and the five or six others
were standing or sitting in every imagi-
nable posture indie tive of awe, interest
and fear. Tony was dressed simply in
pair of his fathers pantaloons cut off at
the knees. Consequently the waist-band
came quite under his arms, dispensing
with the necessity of shirt; and the
buttons in front were connected with
those behind by short strings, that
served as suspenders. He was quite small
and weazened. Buck, on the contrary,
was large and strong; his general manner
was nearly like that belonging to the ad-
vanced years of a patriach.
After the body had been placed in
coffin, Tony wriggled to his feet and
staggered pompously up to Buck, and
burying his skinny arms deep in his vest
pockets, exclaimed:
"Wh-what yer suckin' yer thumb fer?'
Buck snatched the thumb from his
mouth, and looked ashamed. Tony pur-
sued his advantage by remarking, taunt-
ingly:
"You was skyered, tool"
81 wasn't" protested Buck.
"Yas you was, wh-when he chopped de
strinef'
81 wasn't; but you was, though"
"H-howw
"Seen yon."
"Seed meT'
The white boy nodded. He never
wasted words.
"Seed me, did yer?'
Buck did not deign a second nod.
"What yer see?" persisted Tony.
The white boy took the thumb from
bis mouth-it had again found its way
there-and answered:
"You got pale"
"Me got paleT"
A nod The thumb prevented utter
ance.
"H-how you knowsw
"Seen you"
"Seed meY
A nod.
"H-h-how kin yer see me Git pale VIII
wh-when rs black? Now kin yer answer
dat?'
"You know them little red streaks in
the white o your eyes%'
"Yas."
''Thats how you can tell when you're
pale"
"H-howw
"Cause the streaks turn white, an you
can't see 'em."
Having delivered himself of this start
ling physiological truth, the young man
rose to his feet, and he and the negro
trotted off to regain their companions,
who were already several rods away deep
in discussion Of the scene they had just
witnessed.
Buck had developed an idea.
"Le's hang Tony" he said.
But numerous obstacles presented
themselves-there was no material for
building scaffold, no carpenters tools
Buck solved the problem by suggesting
a tree. There was no rope. Buck stole |
IN old, partially decayed clothes-line.
They soon found an appropriate spot
H. tbn o1aan+,o,, r. IL -