Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-06-21

tHc piiSoHeT- any OBJECTIONS 10 accept
ing him as your counsel?"
Your Honor, 1 have no defense to
| make"
"Will the Court grant me per-
| mission to confer with the prisoner"
asked Mr.. Aingsala.szvz NsEs asF~ -
Permission was given. but, after a
few moments of earnest conversations,
in which Rodney absolutely declined his
services ca gerly pressed upon him, the
lawyer gravely announced that his re-
quest was withdrawn. The prisoner
was arraigned in due form, and the
question put:
What say you, Rodney, France: are
you guilty or not guilty?
GUILTY." came the reply, low, but
distinct.
A silence like the silence of death fell
upon the assembly. Even that sense of
keen disappointment at being cheated of
the edifying revelations attendant upon
a trial, was held in allowance for the
moment. before the solemn realizatio
that this man had denounced his own
inevitable doom. One low moan, far
back in the audience, died out too quick
ly to be observed. Mr.. Kingsala, glanc-
ing anxiously in that direction, saw
HotIIiiS Out INC Neileu uedu VI Il SlTl,
bentfdown. - -
A little buzz was checked instantly by
the tipstaves. The scratching of pen
was heard as an entry was made on the
records. Then the Judge spoke: -
"Stand up. Have You anything to say
why sentence of death should not be
passed upon Fou?'& - -
Il ask your Honor to order exc
,,f
possible. l acknowledge the JUS
tice which. demands a life for life, and
am ready to bear the fullest conse-
quences of that murderous deed
1T is not in the power Of the law to
grant you any clemency where sentence
is concerned" responded the Judge
You are convicted, on your own plea,
of 4 crime which has Mortified the COM
munity. and brought mourning and des-
oiation into your own shome. | am the
more willing to grant your request as
l understand that the shock of your
guilt has brought your unhappy wife to
The very verge of the grave, and should
she recover at all. her recovery could
only be retarded by the knowledge of
the doom impending over you. There
fore, l pronounce the sentence of the
law, that YOU be taken from this place
to the county jail and there be kept in
confinement until the second day of
March, when YOU will be hanged by the
neck until you are dead, and may the
Lord have mercy on your soul"
The solemn words ceased; the prison
er was led away, and Mr.. Kingsala,
making his way through the yielding
crowd to the still motionless figure
which had been the object of his anxious
regard. found that she had quietly
tainted. She came to herself as quietly
under the combined effects of smelling
salts and fresh air; and, later in the dav,
the lawyer obtained admission for lady
visitor to the condemned prisoner in his
cell.
The mental strain had worn upon
Rodney; he looked haggard and i'll in
the dim light which sifted down from
the close gratings. "A guard had al
man walked away, leaving them COM
paratively alone. Then the girl swept
back the vail-which hid her. pale feat
ures and held out her hand. Itwas not
taken. A pang of self-accusation went
upon the pale, pale face, and into the
that YOU can afford to despise |
even me?" she asked, with a touch of |
~ -..l "a
'.Despise you! Oh, Rose, Rose, 1 |
dom deserve q place in one thought Of
yours, but if you can, forgive me-for-
give met s s
A great chokin lump came into his |
throat. For the first time since his |
trouble had come upon him, he was I'M
nerEed. unframed. He had wronged
this girl in Il manner which few girls |
would forgive, and now, when it was |
too late. it came home TO him what |
different fate his might be had he but |
been honorably ,ttueto her. -E.sE /
There is no forgiveness needed be-
tween u.s. said Rose, pitifully. Il
could not bear the thought that you
should be left all alone; and we've
were like brother and sister once; i /
you to know that i have a sis
ter's regard for you still; and if it is
possible to do anything for you, in any
way
My poor little Rose! There is moth
ing to be DONE He had regained his
while she spoke. Il am
thankful to you from my very heart for
this evidence of kindness. 1t is the one
thing | would have asked, had 1 dared.
There is nothing at all to be DONE;
Even as he said it, a pickering shadow
crossed his face, a doubtful eagerness
which came and went. vet in its brief |
duration. Rose saw it and thought she
For one moment she fall
tered, then lifted brave face. |.
What is it, Rodney2 DO you want
me to go and see her? 1 can do even
that if it will give you any comfort
now"
at is not that. I have no right to
ask. anything of you-that least of all"
He turned away and walked once or
twice across the cell. Coming back, he
said. hurriedly:
There is nothing to ask of you
now. Rose, but, perhaps, the time may
come that | will turn to you for help in
a matter which troubles me exceeding
v. but that time is not yet. Pray
Heaven for me that it never CW come, !