The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-04-18

L
Once | thought would deny my identity
give an assumed name, and make up tbe
best story | could for the occasion. Rnt
fortunately for me, l finally concluded
that, as | had done nothing criminal. +,
would tell straightforward story and
abide the consequences.
Accordingly told them my name, and
also just when and where and how I cot
the horse. That was really what ,ayed
my life, too, though it had no Immediate
effect.
eyes; just 80, just so,' observed tba
spokesman, dryly, when | had finished INV
story. And then turning to the crowd Of
sturdy backwoodsmen that surrounded me.
he said
Gentlemen, you've heard the fellows
story. What's your opinion of it?'
=" It's lie! Her roared the crowd.
fferccly.
"'Well, then, what shall we do with
him? came next.
Hang him" String him upp Stretch
his neck for him!' These and other excla
nations of similar reassuring nature
were the quick and unanimous responses
which that question elected.
81 scanned the stern and resolute faces
Of the men around me, but they were cold
and pitiless. 1t was too clear a case. There
wasn't a shadow of doubt about NV guilt.
as they viewed the matter, and knew thew
meant exactly what they said. These men,
you must remember, were not desperadoes
but honest, Woodworking farmers; and, as
a rule, peaceable and law abiding citizens
But they had suffered often in this wav be-
fore; and just as often as the law had failed
to protect their property, just so often had
it failed to punish the thieves who robbed
them.
This time, however, they were sure Of
their man-as they thOught-and had de-
termihed to take the law into their own
hands. But had hardly a minute to think
before the spokesman addressed me again
10y oung man. said he, you've heard
our decision. IL you have any prepara-
ton to make, be about it, for you have only
ten minutes to liven and he took out his
watch and noted the time.
what did do? | didn't do ANYTHING
only Hi7k. What else could do? If you
want to know how felt, | can't tell you.
If you have never stood face to face with
the grim monster, as | did then, you can't
imagine it, either. | tell you. have been
in some tight places, and had more than
one close call since then, but never aEy-
thing that took the stiffening so completely
out of me as that did.
81 was limp as a rag. You may think
what you please-call me cowardly and
unmanly, if you will-but was thoroughly
frightened. [ opened my mouth and tried
to speak, but the words died in my throat.
| grew sick and dizzy, and l solemnly be-
lieve | should have tainted dead away be-
fore the ten minutes were up, if there had
not appeared upon the scene. in the mean
time, an unexpected deliverer.
"He was a rough looking old fellow, but
! could easily overlook that in considera-
ton of the service he rendered me- He
lived near by, and, as / afterwards learned,
was well acquainted with most of my
would-be executioners. Joining the crowd
just in time to hear me tell my name and
my story, he had, up to this time, remained
a silent spectator; but now he elbowed his
way to the center of the crowd and said to
me:
eyer name is Thomas Watson, is it?'
eyes, sir said l, for there was some
thing in his manner that gave me hope and
revived me wonderfully.
"What's yer fathers name?' was the
next question.
"Abraham Watson l replied.
81 thought so. most knowed it, said
he. But did We ever hear the old man
speak o. Bill Price"
Eyes said l. 4 have heard him tell of
saving the life of a man by that name,
while rafting logs on the Allegheny River
"'That's 'nough that man was me.' ex-
claimed the old fellow, sententiously. AN
now, Thomas, | reckon III never git q bet
ter chance to square up that account than
y
perdicament, mighty bad.
cam now, neighbors,' he said turning
to the astonished and impatient crowd, Pm
sorry to disappint we, but I'll hev to do it
this time. Ye mustn't hang that boy
I've knowed his father ever senceI kin
remember-lived right 'longside of him
half my life-an' | never yet knowed him
to be guilty of a mean trick, an it don't
stan to reason that he'd bring up his boys
to be hoss-thieves and liars, does it now?
| tell We the boys innocent! an We might
Jest as well put away that rope, NeighbOr
Harris, fur we won't git to use it to-day.
"'Now, I'll tell ye,' he continued, de-
cisively, Pm goin' to take the boy right
over to my house an keep him thar till to-
morrer noon. It's an easy matter fur you
TO find out whether his stOrv's true or not.
Go back an see. If It's, know We don't
want to hang him. If faint, why, then, III
turn him over TO the officers of the law,
but We can't hev him to hang nohow, an
that's the end on'tr
with that the old man paused and faced
the crowd, COolly and deiiantlY. But there
was no demonstration, other than sullen
looks and few muttered imprecations. |
believe most of his hearers had been con-
WINGED of my innocence, and were heartily
glad of the old mans interference. At
any rate they allowed me to walk off home
with him, which was all I cared for Just
then. | suppose they stopped and verified
my statements as they returned; at all
events they troubled me no more, though
the old man kept me with him till the
next day noon, as he had said he would.
"There is but little more to tell. 1t was
useless to think of buying another horse,
for had not money enough; and besides
that, my overweening self-confidence was
all gone. For the first time in my life |
realized that | was not as wise as ! might
be.
"There was only one thing left for me to
dO-go home and make clean breast of it;
did so; but o, how mortified and humil-
lated | felt!
However, lived through it, and have
since come to the conclusion that the eX-
perience was worth to me all it cost my
father; for [ learned that it isn't always
best to take advantage of another mans
necessity, and also, the importance of adj
herring strictly to the truth at all times and
under all circumstances.
what did we do for team? o, we
found chance to buy a horse near home
One of neighbor Gordon's brothers had
moved in from the East while l was gone,
bringing with him three horses, and father
bought one of him. Then | went to work ;
and | worked like a beaver all that win
ter trying to atone for my expensive folly"
G. L. Wood, in Youths Companion.
Smart London Girls.
The latest way of making money is
that of girl in London, whose method
il tO rom ain 9lor0Jy9 near any hOuSa CHI