The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-11-04

THE SKELETON IN TILE cIosLr.
Craat excitement prevailed throughout the
,;Ieoe of W, III the Safe OF Counect.-
1 man sentenced for life had escaped
from the PRISON
The crime for the commission Of which ho
had been incarcerated WAS tue most horrible
in the calendar murder Branded with
sbA brand of Cain he had been claimed by
Justice, to appease her vengeance.
After seventeen long years of servitu1e,
tbe mapslayer had b, Ill tue darkness Of tae
nigbt, effected his escape by fling the bars
ofbis cell. ascending to the roof, and letting
himself down outside the prison walls.
With bloodhounds betole them, officers
and towns people searched and beat the
wood. But every eturi proved futile; the
bird had flown beyond the reacl of the
Hunters before the discovery was made that
hewas gone.
In the village nothing else was talked of !;
this was the one great tnene of the de-
lighted gossips Some werc Of opinion that
the convict had hidden himself in the
adjacent woods, while others asserted that
be must have crossed the river.
To this latter opinion the arCrs-eved oti-
GERS humbly inclined, which TACT, becoming
known. somewhat allayed tie fears enter
tanned by many OF coming face to face with
bloody man, desperate and terce, demand
ing protection from his puro'ters. 80, grad
ually, the slmple-heartel villagers bttooll
themselves again 10 the'r Interrupted worA,
and left the prison authorities alone with
their man-huntinG.
South of tle olG Stale prison, and some
distance from it, stood Il handsome stone
mansion Il WAS the home oi Tie wei.itn.est
inhabltan. of VI.
Hitler he had come to pass the rem'in-
der of his life ut WAS supp 5edl III the
peace and quiet OF It's Lli.ut4iuI oGIfouuu-
ings.
Mr.. John CT yton and his daughter Cecil,
with their servants, were tbs Sc e occupants
of the stately edihce, which had become,
with Cecil's budding maidenhnoi, a t;ycrlte
resort for the young gentry FIR Gi,l reN.
The morning following the night of The
prisoners escape on descending from hel
boudoir 10 the iinirg room, Cool Clayton
was astouished n finding her father a9ita
tedly pacing thefoor.
His usual calm. tuough'ful demcaror was
entirely gone. He seemed raoked wits
emotion.
The young girl paused in the doorway
not knowing whether to advance or retreat.
Presently she found voice to ask:
"Why father, what Is wrong WHY ar
SOU so aeitated?'
John Clayton hailed abruptly as lie he
came aware of bis chiia'1 pr esouce by h
question, and erdeavored to choke down III
feelings
"Notaing daughter rothing!' he replied
81 do not feel well. Tni.s is All" and SAM
into chair
Cecil came forward and knelt beside him
'Do not tell an untruth, father 81
pleaded. This strange agitation does no
proceed from any small caasc. Somethin
has happened since hast nIgat. What Is i,
You know you always tell NE everything
Trust me nowr'
Two beautiful dark eyes looked anxious!
Into the Old mans hall-ayeTttd face.
BE hesitated.
Speak, father, sreNk,' she urged.
Unable longer tu conttol himself. he IN
swered, in choked, almost iuart.culatl
voice:
"Ned Jasper twas he escaped frol
prison last nghtr'
"Uncle Ned, Oh, father"
The girls bps Whitenei as the word
Issued from them.
'Yes; he has thrown away the chance {
pardon and lied. | was sire alnp, that "
should succeed in orr efforts for his rlleaS'
Even now the governor may be tnvorabl
inclined. Ned has destroyed al ALI.
Poor Uncle Ned. how foolish OF him
said Cecil, with long-drawn sigh. "Wi
they kill hiu?' she asked, quickly.
Without raplviner 4, b.r onyiorc iDpnir'
John Clayton went on:
"A terrible feature of the affair is til;
Ned's real name may be fonad out. l can
to this village. as You know, to be near hin
that might tighten his dreadful load a trit
pysending him delicacies and gain, throu2
the officials of the prison, favors for hlu
1t Is thought that have done an act
charity toward an unfortunate. when. We
the true state of things Known, should
irowned upon and our name sneered at
being allied to that of a-a-murders
Only two persons beside ourselves kno
TINS, One of those persons would soon
think of suicide than Of lspi2g word
The matter; yet the other-ah. Oar enen
the enemy Of my life-greod i4dghS NJ
cause him to expose all, or hound mo
death. shudder to think of what n,
result from this ungratetul, mad movsr
Cecils eye flashed She drew her "
!owy form erect aud placed her hand up
sne Old mans shoulder, as if to prote
him.
81 defy Jared Clark to uttor one wore
sne said "While l have life. you sh
eever suffer at his hands. He is scou
'Gel unworthy the title Of mani" --