Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-02-24

'Some of you offer this boys youth in
palliation of his offense. You might as
well urge the youth Of an infant viper.
He is probably the son OF some yillainous
father, who has left the States on account
of his crimes anC comes here TO prowl
around in search OF wealth which he is too
lazy to eari, for himself. regard il rs a
case of Inherited dishonesty: of natural
propensities cropping out early; ana If he
10 allowed TO escape this time, he will
probably grow crafty with years and de-
velop into desperate who may take the
life Of some of us rs "a reward for the mis-
taken charity that spares him.
"You all remember our comrade who
was shot and killed by one of these des-
perate characters few days ago. The
murderer probably began to practice those
things in his youth. AID if he had been
caught and promptly executed at the com-
mission Of his first crime, our friend might
have beer living to-day"
The speech decided the fate of the pris-
oner, and he WAS sentencrd to be hung on
the following morning, and given over 10
singular Bill" for safe-Seeping until
time for his execution,
He was taken into y rule cabin and al
lowed to sit down. A blazing fire Of pine
knots lighted the building, and the boy
glanced at the cord which cut deep into
the flesh OF his swollen wrists.
Yes, they're painful, no doubt, said
the jailer; sin always bringe pain; the
way Of the transgressor is hard, and the
only way to svade the penalty is not TO
transgress. Pm sorry 10 witness your
pain, but If my own boy had lived to be n
horse thief, | should say, let him suffer
the penalty; aye, the full penalty. What
Gid you come here for, any how"
"I want to find my father" was the
brief reply.
precious little use he would have been
10 you if you had. Ii he had been the
right kind Of man you wouldn't have
been here"
IL don't know. I haven't seen him
since was four years old. Mother used
to say that he was a cross old brute, but
| never believed il. He was the only
person in all this world who was always
kind TO me. l can remember yet how he
looked when 1 used 10 hide behind the
rose bushes whea saw him coming, and
wait until he said: where pspa's boy 2"
before ran 20 meet him. But he went
away one day and mother took me and
ran away. She never seemed TO think
anything of him, but could hardly live
without him. used 10 cry TO go TO him
and she whipped me, and hard life l've
lea ever since. She wasn't like him.
She smothered Inc with caresses at one
time and vented her wrath upon me the
next. always wanted him. She said he
had gone to Denver, and when was fif-
teen years of age ran away, hired out to
some d-oyers and crossed the plains. But
| didn't find him. | went to every party
Of miners that | could hear Of. Some
times | worked my way with freigh,ing
parties, sometimes | followed trains on
foot. found man who said he knew
him and that he had gone 10 the Black
Hills, and came here. heard there
WAS party of miners over in RatLlcsnake
Gulch, but my feet were SO sore that i
couldn't walk any farther, and | found
the horse grazing down there by the
stream and thought would ride hin, and
if my father was there lie would help me
through, and If didn't find him didn't
you want to; 1t won't be any worse than
what have borne"
The miner pushed the hat back from the
tanned forehead and gazing intently into
the prisoners face = moment, then drop
ped upon Iris knees beside him.
care your wrists very painful, boy F"
he asked, huskily, as his knife descended,
cutting the thongs away and leaving the
prisoner free. f
There, let me bathe your poor, swollen
hands, and bruised and blislered feet ~
and the tears rolled down the sunbnrned
cheeks and fell upon the bleelimg wrists
so recently freed from cruel bonds. 'l'ye
always longeL for justice, aud now II the
boys will take me out aud hang me-, III
feel as If I'd had it,"
care you father?" asked the boy, wind
ing his arms around the miners neck and
pressing his cheek against the bearded
face.
sim your father" returned the man,
clasping the boy to his bosom aud sob5ing
eonvulsively. "l'd have found you long
ago II she hadn't bribed doctor 10 write
me OF your death"
The next morning when the men came
for their prisoner they found him sleeping
peacefully, with his head upon his jailer's
breast aud his wrists aud feet bandsged
with strips torn from one Of the miners
shirts. The father had not slept, aud
when Ie saw the rope and the asfonisiie.l
faces OF the group, and the full signif-
canoe OF their coming flashed across his
mind he said with strong effort at self
control: "Boys, move for new trial.
II I hadn't known you would treat me
with more kindness than deserve, day
light wouldn't have found me here, but
preferred TO trust 70 your generosity
rather than leave you With the matter nn-
explained. II 10 thirteen years since l
left my boy, expecting to see him again
after the lapse Of few short days, but for
all these years have thought him dead.
have been bitterly wronged aud IL broke
my heart, soured my nature and made rne