The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-04-27
SELECT STORY.
TIE STRANGE STORY OF GABRIEl
FOOT, HIGHWAYMAN.

the red robes and the red face OF my
lord judge opposite that stared through
it and outshone the candles; the black
crowd around, seen mistily; the voice
of.-,he usher calling sSilepcr!n III,
shuffiing of the jurymen's feet; tn
blank pallor on their faces as leaned
forward and tried to read the yerdic,
on them; the very smell of the place
comp unded Of fog, Jail fever,the Close
air, and The dinners eaten earlier in th'
day by the crowd-all this strike.
home upon me as sharply as II then dic
after the numb apathy If waiting.
As the jury huddled into their plsc,
| stole look at. my council. He pau
ed moment from his task of trim
ming quill, Shot quick glance y
the foreman's face, and then went OF
nuttng a. coolly as ever. -
Gentlemen of the jury"-it wa
the judges voice." are you agreed up
on your verdict"
"We are.'
"Do you find the prisoner guilty o
not guilty. : WG
"Not guilty"
Ii must have been fully minute, q
| leaned back clutching the rail i,
front of me, before II saw eanythip,
but the bleared eyes of thesuapd&R D
heard anything but hoane niprmu
from the crowd. But as soon VI th,
court ceased to heaves, and i .cpub
4 are about me l LOOKED toward m,
counsel again. N BjIMl a
He was still shaping his pen, h
made no motion 10 come forward an
shake hands over my acquittal, TO
which ne had worked untiringly al
day. He did not e> en- offer to speak
He just looked up, nodded carelessI,
and turned to his junior beside him
but in that glance had read some
thing which turned my heart cold
then sink within me, and from tba
moment my hatred of the man wa
fixed. He knew my secret!
In the fog outside l got clear of tn
gaping crowd, but the chill of tn
night after that heated court piercet
my very bones. had on the clothe
l had been taken in. 1t was Jun
then, and now it was late in October
| remember that the day they caugb
me ! wore my coat open for GOODNESS
Four months and half had gone ou
of my life. Well, l had money enougl
in my pocket to get greatCoat, but
must put something warm inside m
first to get out the chill that curse
lawyer had laid on my heart. .....-
had purposely chosen the by-lane
Of the town, bat ! remembered Gel
tain tavern-the Lamb and Flag
which lay down a side alley. Presen,
ly a light from its windows loome,
like beacon ahead. 1 pushed opel
the door and entered. t-f-.a- F..
The small bar was full of peopl
newly come from the court and discuss
ing the trial in all its bearings. In sh
babel heard dozen different opinion
given IN as many seconds, and learne
enough, too, to make me content wit
the jury l had had. But the warmt
of the place was pleasant, and ! elbow
ed my way forward to the counter.
There was woman standing b
the door as entered, who looked cuI
iously at me for moment then turn
ed to nudge man at her side an
whisper. The whisper grew as press
ed forward, and before l could reac1
the counter a hand was laid on m
shoulder from behind. ! turned.
"Welli" said /. a
1t was heavy looking drover tina
had touched he. 4.
"Are you the chap as was tried to
day for murder of Merchant Todd!
he asked. .w $50 s.,s
"Welli" said l again, but l conl,
see the crowd falling back as if l wa
leper, at his question. f..
"Welli Tain't we'll then as l reck
on, to be making so free with respect
able people," .r-,-
There was a murmur of assent from
the gaping mouths turned toward me
The landlord came forward from be
hind the bar.
Il was acquitted" l urged defiantl y
"Acquitted!" said he, with bi,
scorn in the syllables. "Hear 'iu
now-'acquitted!' Landlord, is this
respectable housef"
The landlord gave his verdict.
"Hont yer goes, and blame yer i'm
pudence!"
looked round, but their faces wer,
all dead against me. s0t
"Hout yer goes!" repeated the land
lord. sand think yerself lucky i
amt worse" added the droyer.
With no further defense slunk ou
into the night once more.
A small crowd Of children (heavel
knows whence or how they gathered
followed me up the court and out int
the street. Their numbers swelled a
! went on, and some began to hoo
aud pelt me; but when / gained tn
top of the hill, and a lonelier distric,
l turned and struck among them wit
my stick. 1t did my heart good +
hear their screams,
After that ! was let alone and tramp
ed forward past ths scattered house
toward the open country and th
moors. Up here there was scarcel
any fog, but ] could see it by the rit
ing moon, hanging like shroud owe
the town below. The next town wa
near upon twelve miles off, but l d
not remember that thought of ge,
ting 80 far. l could not haye though
at all, in fact, or | should hardly hay
taken the high road upon which tn
jeweler had been stopped and murder
ed.
There was shrewd wind blowing
and | shivered all over; but the cold Z
my heart was worse, and my hale fo
the man who had set it there gre
with every step. ! thought of tb
four months and more which parte
the two lives of Gabriel Foot, an
what ! should make OF the new on,
had my chance again--a ehsnc
gained for me beyond hope by ths
counsel but for whom should be sleel
ing tonight in the condemned cell;
chance, and a good chance but for ths
aama cursad lawvar JTohl haw ool