The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-05-31

ellis not night for dog TO lie our,
let alone Christian, sir; but this is 4
poor place for the likes of yer Honor. "
said Bett1, who had been cycling the
fine cloth of the gentlemans cloth $,
his splendid fur cloak, and other signs
of wealth.
ooh! I'm contented,p he said, his
smile disclosing the whltest and most
regular teeth. I've put up with worse
in M time" and ne proceeded to fas-
ten up the horse, while Betty barred the
door against the intrusive blast. She
fastened to throw more sticks on the
fire. drew seat to the blaze, took the
gentleman s damp, heavy overcoat from
him and made him sit down. He
placed the rush-light in its queer arm
and-soeket candIestick, just what the
Anglo-Saxons used, to one side, saying
it panied his eyes, and stretching oit
his feet to the fire asked could she give
him anything to eat.
''No! There is nothing in the house,
and no money, neither, she added,
with kind of defiance.
The stranger looked sadly and ear
nestly at her /; perhaps the idea of any
one wanting money seemed strange to
a rich man. His lips moved as If he
We're about to speak, but, changing his
mind, he drew out heavy purse and
laid gold piece on the table. "Buy
something with this, then,' he said, 81
shall pay you well tomorrow for your
trouble. .
She took it in silence, wrapped her
dark coax about her, and passed out
into the wild night In less than half
an hour she raped for readmittance.
and entered laden with bread, meat,
eggs, and spirits, not forgetting bun
die of hay ON her shoulders for the
horse. The stranger rubbed down and
foddered tt eanimal, while she prepared
his frugal meal. which he insisted on
her sharing.
When he was refreshed and warmed,
she gave him up her bed, saying she
would sleep by the fire, and he unwil-
ling consented to deprive her of her
couch.
He retired, and his regular breathing
soon announced he slept She resumed
her place by the hearth
| know not if it was then or at the
first sight of the gold that temptation to
the blacklist treachery entered her mind
It eachery that she now broodingly
matured. 1t is painful to dlssect a mind
like hers-cold, callous, covetous, soured
by a hard life and disappointment, long
ing for the ease from daily toll that
money alone could bring, without NOR
al sense or fear-save of death, so let
me pass as quickly as may be th s
most shocking part of true story; she
resolved TO do away with the unknown
traveller.
Z AS far as she could Judge he was not
an shman certainly not native OF
hoscommon; none had seen him enter
her cabin; she could unfasten the horse
and dri it forth before morning. The
money she had spent in cd could lie
a'ily accounted FOR by a pretended
letter from America. She had seen the
purse filled to bursting with god, in
short, she argued with herself there was
everything to gain and little or no risk.
''Ihe woAan who delibera.e3 is lost, y
says Rosseau, and so it pro ed in this
instance. She murdered the unhappy
man as he slept. possessed herself of his
papers and aluables, set the horse free,
and sat by the dim rushlig hit to examine
the treasure.
1t was now nearly sunrise Was it
the cod wind that blows before dawn
that chilled her to the bone, and made
her shiver as if in an ague fitp-or-
what did those papers containp I'm
happy, wretched mother she had
slain her son.
He had come back, successful, rich
beyond his expectations, to take her by
surprise, to mike her a sharer in his
good fortune. She did not recognize in
the dark-bearded man the slender youth
of years gone b.. The temptation was
irresistible to his laughter loving dis
position. He would pass h mselt of as
grand gentleman until morning, then
how they would laugh together when
she knew all; reveal himself. Alas!
the morning never dawned for him.
The woman's mind was unhinged by
the a2pall ng discovery. She shrieked
and laughed aloud like maniac. Then
rushed wildly out into the cold, gray
light, by her awful cries drew terrified
neighbors round her, TO whom she
yelled she was a murderess, hal killed
her only child. They thought she was
mad or possessed of a devil; but one
holder than the rest having ventured to
enter her cottage, rushed back horror
stricken 10 confirm her broken utter
ances. She was secured, tried, found gull
ty,and condemned. Ros ommon was fix
ed for The execution. These were the good
old days, hen it was death 10 steal a
steep or forge Il signature, to rob q
coach or take q horse, so the cart that
drew Betty to the gallows conta ned a
go dly number of wretches, all he in
feriors in guilt. Every available foot
of ground was thronged by yelling,
hooting crowd; every window looking
on the Jail was filled with sightseers,
joking, laughing, chattering, but when
the tumbril stopped ct the gallows' foot
silence fell like pail. and the multi
tude held their breath There was a
long pause; officials hurried to and fro.
There were whispered consultations
what had happened? The news soon
| spread The eXecutioner was absent.
was taken suddenly i'll, and had sent
an excuse at the last moment all was
confusion. 1t was the Sher.if's duty to
carry out the sentence, but that gentle
man fatty refused, saving lie would
forfeit all he possessed first. What
was to be donee Even the criminals
| raised their h, ads a kind of 4 n