The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-02-02
Seleff Story.
ANGEL WINGS.

Many yesrst ego the communirv OF q
certain hamlet in the south OF France
wac startled by crime rare infeed in
their quiet agricultural district. A veal.
thy farmer vac found dead at early NOR.
ming within hundred yards OF bis own
house. He had been killed by blows ad.
minis,ered by heavy stake, which lay
near the body covered with b'ood and
his pockets bad been rifed OF their con.
tents, including . considerable sum o.
money which be was known to have ee
ceived the previous evening for some
sheep sold by him in the neighboring
market town. -.
When the awe and excitement created
BY this event had subsided little, every
exertiun vas made by the authorities to
ferret out the perpeirator OF the crime.
A reward was offered for the discovery
Of the murderer, proclamation OF which
honnty was made for several successive
Sundays at the church door. At last
some disclosures we're made, duplicating ne
q young man named Lar oche-a strip.
ling eighteen years of sge.
The persou who brought the charge
against young Lsroche was man OF the
name OF Lsndry--a stranger 10 The dis.
trict. but who had lately been appointed
by the lord 0f The manor a. one of the
keepers VI game preserves. Landry Tee.
titled that he had seen Laroche cutting q
stake, from the hedge on the afternoon
previous 10 the purdef, and that be bad
reproved him for It. and taking the stake
from him had stuck It on the bank OF the
hedge At particular spot. The stake
was the same one that was found lying
near the body Of the farmer Landry
could swear to II, because after taking Il
from Laroche, he had nicked It in . pc.
cuiisr way with his reuknife. sa -
Nov, Il so happened that the murdered
farmer had many and influential friends,
while Lsrocbe bad bat few. Therefore
Laroche was convicted OF the murder
and sentenced to be hung on . certain
day add st . certain plsce. until which
time he was placed for safe keeping in
the Jail Of the district-the third floor OF
q large stone building, the lower part Of
which wss mill
The prison consisted Of q single apsrt.
ment. lighted by ANAL window, at the
height of about sixteen feet from the
door The side OF the building from
which the window looked ran sheer
down to the water OF dark, deep river,
which creeps lszily BY the mill, but quick
ened the pace little lower down, until II
gradually became rushing torrent, leap.
ing wildly on to its fall over pespendic.
ulsr ledge OF rocks. Bodies carried over
the fall we're said TO never have been re.
covered and fixed notion among the
country people thst there was suctionsl
force below by which everything falling
into It was carried do~n into the unex.
plored abvsses Of the earth. 9'''
1t Was the day before thst fixed for the
execution of young Laroche, and the
priest OF the parish, Father AlIsrd by
name, had been left slone with the priso-
ner 10 order to prepare him, nv the con.
ISOLATION OF religion, for bis approaching
doom. To bis words OF comfort Lsroche
listened with humility and silence. until
the good father hogan to dilate upon bis
chances Of forgiveness 10 the next world
for the great crime committed by bin
Then the prisoner electrified him by de.
claring bis perfect innocence Of the crime
"a position which he meant to maintain,
he said, until bis latest breath.
To be brief, the youth of the prisoner,
his earnest assevera,ions Of innocence,
and wavering doubt Of bis guilt, which
had all along troubled Father Aliard's
mind, so wrought upon that worthy man
that be at last consented to commit him.
self to q pan for giving the prisoner a
chance Of escape, il not from death, at
least from the ignominy OF dying by the
hand of the aecursed hangman,