The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1880-04-08
WHOLE NO. 2289.

There was a courage in his face that
! appeared for a moment to Outshine the
I dickering resolution Of the COWardly
mob. The stairs were gained, Jordan
foremost, and before the crowd could
understand the movement the retreat
/ was suddenly accomplished. Passing rap
/ Idly upstairs along the balcony, the two
| officers and the prisoner gained the Jail,
and for a moment the victim was with
drawn from the murderous, baleful eyes
under which her heart had sunk in
strange, unutteTrble fear.
A hOarse shout burst from the mob
/ the tally-hO Of the hunt Of murder In
a moment they had collected in the iail
Z from which there was access to the street
/ by a covered stairway. Loud threats,
/ Oaths and terrible maledictiOns told Of
/ the sudden fury of the crowd. The
/ former quiet tones were replaced by
I yells and exeCratiOns; It was anew mood
Of that changeful, cOwardIy monster
{ q mOb-nOW ClamOring for its prey, sway
ing to and trO in its devilish, unsightly
greed.
"Hang him, hang him P' Those brief
terrible words, mechanically repeated
like the refrain Of fends, and with the
quiCkness Of an electric shock, they
slammed the Jail door violently in the
face Of Maitland, and q deYilish laugh
rang in his ears.
He answered with a shrek Of agony.
He beat his fist upon the closed door.
he tried with the assistance Of his supe-
riOr officer to break the door, but it was
secure, and he could hear nothing be-
yOnd but a hOarse and lesseningmuFmur.
Suddenly a thought struck him. He
rushed past the sheriff, he mounted the
stairs with long, quick leaps, and ran out
on the balcony hanging over the street.
He had only time to see the mob running
in a confused, scattered way, and an eE-
press wagon driven at the top Of its
speed in the direction Of a field, going
outside the town. There were several
men in it and they appeared to be
struggling.
"Why don't he comer' And the wo-
man who had so prayed in the morning
for the freedom Of her husband, and an
hour ago received such message Of
happiness, looked Wistfully out on the
long road. She reasoned with herself
that he had delayed to receive the con-
gTatulatiOns Of friends; but she thought
her love and anxiety should have been
first considered, and she framed in her
mind q reprOOf for the truant, and dallied
with the thought of the pretenss Of
anger with which she should receive
him.
Four, hours, five hours, passed since
the happy news Of the messenger, and the
sun was sinking to the verge Of the
horizon. Her sOlicitude deepened, and
vet she thought she could have no rea-
son to disquiet and distress herself
-n-s Nr-I .l---lNDl h-a
passed, and God had been so good TO her.
But love is more vigilant than patient; (;
and as again and again she turned from
the windows that looked out on the
long road, it was to pace the floor with
disOrdered steps, and murmured mnCles
Of resentment against the man who
kept her passionate affection so long in
waiting.
The sun was nearly down, but on the
long road at last appears the figure Of
a hOrseman-a single horseman. Could
it be he2 and her heart beat quickly as
she advanced toward The gate, watching
anxiOusly the approaching figure. Why
should he approach so slOWly2 Presently
look Of pleasant recognition lighted
up her face, succeeded instantly by
shadow of alarm and anxiety Ib was
John Maitland-and alone, riding slowly
and thOughtf1lly toward her.
She rushed to him, almost breathless,
with questions: @Where is Harry, my
husband-Why is he not with your My
God what means this? What is this
solemnity-this hesitation? I read some
thing dreadful IN your face"
He turned to her the full expression
Of that face. He gazed into her eyes,
As if unwilling to speak, he pointed to
the fading sky above their heads
"What% she gasped.
"He is dead"
She fell heavily upon his arm, without
shrek, or wall, or moan. The unhappy
woman had tainted. Happy far had ie
been the unconsciousnes5 Of death, for
all the wealth Of life had been Tol55sd
from her in those few words for the
hr0ken-hearted In this world live only
in the torture Of memory.
And so the brief course Of one sun had
measured of one human life from eX-
tremest happiness to EXTREMIST misery,
and in one short summer day q heart
had been broken forever.