The Northern Pacific farmer., 1882-11-09

this"
"And then," said Mrs. Martin, ego
back to the poor old woman's home, read
her chapter through, and give her her
medicine. Think how much evil speech
Jesus bore, and we are his followers"
Ruth vert to her room; when she re-
turned to the study, her adopted mother
again advised her to 60 back to old Aun-
ty Markham. She gave jar of jelly to
take with her, and Ruth put it in little
basket on her arm. An! what bitter rea-
son the good woman soon had to repent
of what she did with the best and high
est motives.
As Ruth passed out of the gate the
old servant r;tn after her.
"Piease, Miss Ruth, be you going past
the hardware man 81 she asked.
eyes. Phebe," said Ruth.
'"Then won't you leave my bread knife
to be sharpened?' said Phoebe "it's get
ting dull"
Ruth nodded, and took the knife IN
long while. The tea table was set, the
sun setting in the sky, and still no
glimpse Of her simple blue muslin and
broad shade hat were seen along the
road; and at last the Old minister put on
his hat and declared that he would go
and meet her. The street seemed very
quiet; he did not meet the usual people
standing about; put at last he saw them
all gathered together in portion Of the
road that divided the lower town from
the ''heights."
On the "helghts" lived the gentry;
down in the '.hollow" lay the poorer
dwellings, A bit of road led under a
great rock, over a bridge which crossed
a stream whicl, made their boundary
line. Here was the crowd With great
foreboding of evil, the minister pressed
into it's midst, and saw old Aunty Mark
ham standing uttering curses loud and
deep as she shook her shriveled fist to-
ward the sky; group of women bend
ing over something that lay on the bank;
and, standing like one petrified, his own
adopted daughter, Ruth Gedney, in the
midst of rude, insulting crowd.
"Oh, papa!" she cried, when she saw
him; and he hurried to her, and took
her hand,
Don't tremble SO, my DEAR" he said
"What does this mean?"
1t was Mrs. Chalmers who arose, and
with her strong arms. pushed away those
who interposed between the minister
and what the crowd had gathered about
''1t means that the girl that calls you
papa, the daughter of John Gedney, that
we all know was hanged, has followed
hfln to the gate of the gallows," she
said
And now Mr.. Martin saw lying on the
ground little dead hoy covered with
blood, staring upward with his terrible
dead eyes.
"What is it," he crieo. "What does
I il mean?"
1T is my little grandson that she has
kiIledfor telling her the TRUTH !" shrieked
Alnty Markham. "She threatened
to do it. She said: Il could kill you
for that! and off she went. was look
ing up the child for his supper, and |
found him here, and her, with her
knife beside him. I'll hang her! I'll
hang her! Oh! poor little Sam"
Uttering shrek, the old woman fell
down on her face in a sort of fit.
"Papa," cried Ruth, "Oh, papa, I did
say Il could kill you,' tut was not
even angry when l went out of the
house. came down the road to cross
saw poor little Sam lying dead.
shrieked and my basket fell out OF my
hand. | could not speak or take step.
| held to the rails of the bridge and ev-
erytlling was blank before me. Then
Mrs. Markham came, and other people.
They said l killed Sam. II, Oh,
papa" =,
''They are all mad, my child" said
the poor clergyman: but what he said
and thought was of little avail.
The sheriff appeared upon the scene
and took the poor girl in custody. Her
adopted fat ,er went with her to Jail, and
alas! left there and went home with the
awful news to his wife.
He believed Ruth's storv.e but alas;
the little basket, the knife, the package
Of medicine had rolled into the pool OF
blood at the boys side. All were be-
daubed with it. It was certain to him
that Ruth had tainted and that she did
not know how time had passed; but
people had seen her go toward the
bridge long before, and evidence was
against her. Three or four swore to her
their own old servant had heard her say
that she had felt like killing him.
The poor girl, beside herself with
shame, still never doubted that her in
nocence could he proved. But the trial
came. Al the malice Of years and all
the indignation that was inspired by the
evil deed they really believed the girl
t, have committed had it's full influence.
The young creature, with her blonde
hair, who looked like all angel, was de-
c]ared guilty by q jury who thought
themselves unbiased by prejudice, but
who all remembered that John Gedney
was hung, and the girl was condemned
to death. The murder was premedi-
ated. She had knife with her. Vain
y old Phoebe swore that she never
would have taken it but for her. No
one believed her.
Ruth lay in prison The dreadful day
draw near. But she was strangely calm.
Her adopted parents believed her
word and she asked no more.
IL was so afraid" she used tosay, 'that
you might come to think l killed the
Door little BOY. But l was wicked to
feel so-you are always SO good"
Mrs. Martin never left the prison, and
was with the girl day and night. Mr..
Martin came often. Their hearts were
we'll nigh broken. Every effort was
lruitlessly, and the end was hard at
hard.
"Papa," Ruth said, ~ have one COM
fort out IF this: believe my own faith
er was innocent, too, and when shall
meet him inheaven l shall be glad. You
seeany one can be hung who is inno-
cent if must be-"
The poor clergyman burst into tears
for the first time, but Ruth soothed him
and kissed him, and babe him good
night On the morrow the dreadful end
would come.
Mr.. Martin walked out of the prison
door with his head bent down, but as he
would have passed the prison door a
jailer stopped him.
"There's man inside dying" he said
The policeman shot him in self defence
He wants to see you (the minister you
! know. He's got confession to make
Mr.. Martin turned slowly back. and
went with his heavy heart into the pris.
on again.
The wounded man lay upon a cot. He
a | been takenin in the act Of burglary
= ',i~ h,:,:,'l, was fast leaving hi'>'
"You don't know me parson," hi
gasped. "You used to years ago. an
Seth Markham, Granny Markham's son
and the father of little Sam who wa!
killed. am going fast, and don't van
to hurt girl that has kbeen good to m,
old :nother, and that I've done barn
enough, to any way. Let them come anC