Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-10-02
4 WIN did be plead guiltyF ] asked,

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"But tchy did he plead guttyF' I asked
because he gas a fool" raped out M.
Crisp.
Because he was q fool, " raped out MI.
Crisp. at was like committing suicide. l
don't care a button for the man himself; but
l confess l was annoyed at seeing my case
all knocked to pieces by his o~bstinacy, !
went to him; il you were in court you no
doubt saw me. l begged him to withdraw
his plea. / told him l could ave him Yet
the fool insisted"
"Did penitence or remorse urge himF"
"Idon't know. He could have had more
time for penitence and remorse il he had
let me save him from the gallows. No; he
says. IT'S no good-not a bit Of good. You
don't know all l know. There's some one In
court who knows all about it-saw 1t all
done. She's come to hang ma Ihave no
idea what he meant"
l started. / knew what the man meant
He, in common with every one else In that
court, had turned and looked at Philippa as
she rose from her seat and addressed the
Judge. 1t was the sight of Philippe that
had taken away the wretch's last hope Of
escape.
81 wash my hands of the fellow, Of
course" continued Mr.. Crisp; "but l did
for the prosecution had been allowed to enter
the court am assured they were all kept
in waiting outside"
l sat for some moments in deep thought.
The solicitor looked at me as If be fancied l
had already taken up as much of his valu-
able time as he could spare.
'Is there any way Of gaining access to the
condemned mani" | said. "Could you, for
instance, get an order to see himf"
"No doubt l could; but l have no object In
seeing him"
Il will give you an object" I said. II
want you to see that man, and if possible
get a written, or at least dictated, confession
from him-not Of the bald fact that he is
guilty, but of all particulars connected with
the murder"
Mr.. Crisp looked surprised, and expressed
bis opinion that it was all but impossible to
obtain what l wanted.
l had taken rather a fancy to the brisk
spoken, sharp little man. He seemed to mt
trustworthy; SO that, after consideration, l
determined to confde to him my reasons
for making this request Under the assur-
ance of professional secrecy, l told him
briefly SO much as l thought fit of Philippa's
and my own connection with the events Of
that night. He listened with an interest
which augured we'll for the reception which
awaits the sombre tale / now give to the
world. His curiosity seemed excited, and
he promised to see the convict and Il posi-
BILE learn all l wanted TO know. ! left my
address and. babe him good day.
Ibid not care to linger at Tewnham; SO
walked down to the railway station, intend
ing TO return to town by the next train. AS
/ waited on the platform a down train
came in. A sudden impulse seized me. The
day was still young. / had time to spare.
crossed the bridge, entered the train, and
in a quarter Of an hour was at Roding. !
went there because / was impelled by a de-
sire to once more visit the actual scene Of
the beginning of all these troubles.
| walked that road which Sir Mervyn
Eerrand had walk ed that dark night. But
oh, how changed everything wasI Yet not
more changed than our own livesl 1t was a
glorious afternoon in September. The rain
Of the preceding day had left the earth
moist and fresh. The fields, on either side
Of the road, were cleaning with that bright,
pure emerald which they wear after the
ruthless scythe has swept away the rips
grass and the m~arguerites and other flowers
which grew among it; or else they were
filled from hedge to hedge with a COLDER
sea of waving corn, or sheaves waiting
to be garnered; for the harvest tina
year was not early. The wild roses wert
long over, but fragrant honeysuckle and
other wild flowers still made gay the hedge
rows and banks. The birds had awakened
from their August silence and were singing
once more. The great sleepy COWS lay under
the shade Of the trees. The large mows Of
new hay stood side by side with their dingy.
looking but more valuable elder brothers
The whole land seemed wrapped in happy
autumnal repose. The scene was calm, PEACE
full and thoroughly typical Of England. 81
beautiful it was, so full Inow felt Of love fol-
my native land that had those pages beer
then written / should upon my return home
have erased all my glowing description Of
Seville
Al breath Of soft but fresh afr came blow
ing from the faraway downs l drew in
deep draught, / threw back my shoulder
and stood erect. laughed aloud in my grea
happiness as a comical picture, familiar Il
my childhood, Of Christian losing his bur
den. rose before my mind, and seemed to b
the exact thing wanted to illustrate my own
case. Yes, the burden ! had borne had fallel
from my back foreverl
Ali here Is the spot-the very spot wher'
Sir Mervyn fell Il wal here, just undel
thdt cluster Of ra~gged-robbins, must have
q placed his corpse, little thinking thai
the kind white snow would hide it and save
nv love and me. On, how / prayed in thos'
davs that ths bitter weather might last; that
IA iron grip would hold the world fast until
PhiIippais health and strength returned II
lid SO, and saved usi
where are che SHOWS that fell iagt YEAR,