Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-08-03
CHAPTER X.

The understanding which had como
about between Elaine and Redfern bad
considerably altered the young mans
views regarding his fate. ne would
have died willingly in her place, keenly
as ho had felt her strange conduct In al
lowing him to do so. He had not cx-
pectcd her for one moment to come for
ward and confess what hc had believed
her TO be guilty of; but he had hoped
that she would give one sign--to him
alone--that she understood and appreci-
ated the sacrifice he was making. He
did not want gratitude-only recogni.
tion, TO show that she was what he be-
lieved her to be. Now he had discovered
her innocence, he was overwhelmed at
his own mad and even shameful suspi.
cions. How he could thus have suspect
ed her seemed incredible to his under.
standing. Every word, every look, every
sign of fear aud confusion he could in
terpret now in the light of her own sus-
picions of himself. His soul was filed
with remorse at his infamous doubts Of
her, and he felt no bitterness against her
for her doubts of him. If he, like the
base, unchivalrous madman nc had been,
could have suspected her, was It even
surprising that sho should have suspect.
ed him2
He glanced up, for no had been walk.
ing silently and mechanically along by
tho side Of the two citizensof Deadman's
Flat who had been elected his wardcrs;
the rest of the men had dropped little
behind. There was something in his
face that they respected. And, after all,
it would not be easy for him to escape.
The first attempt at flight would bring q
dozen bullets about him. 1t would only
DO fastening the sentence by few mo.
mcnts. Redfern Churchill, however,
had been too much absorbed in his
thoughts to think of trying to escape
even if he had imagined it possible. Il,
was only now that, raising his eyes from
that troubled meditation, no saw how
near they had come to the fatal rendez
vous. Then suddenly great and terri
BILE revulsion of feeling set in. In one
swift thought lie tasted to the full all the
delights and triumphs of life, all the bit
terness of death. He was innocent.
Why should he suffer for an unknown
murderers crime?
lie stopped abruptly, turning sharply
round in the dusty road, his face flush.
ing with wrathfulness against the men
who had condemned him so uniustly.
Sudden as the movement was, the clos
ing up of the men lettering behind him
was quite as swift. Careless as il appa
rently was, their guard was as stern a.
their faces were pitiless. IIc saw that,
and saw how hopeless it was to attempt
10 cscape-nevertheless, ho resolved tG
try. 1t would bc death, he knew; but il
should not bo the ignominious death of o
dogi
lie drew in his breath hard between
his clenched teeth and turned to walk or
again, and the men dropped into theiI
previous positions. They had not said o
word; but their watch was more vigilani
tnan before. He knew the place they
Were going to, and he thought over q
plan as they marched along.
The tree which had been set apart foi
the use Of an avenging justice stood, soli'
tary, on mound, which, sloping down
gently on three sides into the great pine
woods, on the fourth dipped abruptly
into a ravine some two hundred feet
deep, the sides of which were rocky,
covered with short furze and thorn
underground, with here and there a pine.
There was no foothold-at least none 10
be found for man who would not wait
10 search for one, and he knew that no
time would be given him to choose hi.
steps. He would go over it headlong-
10 certain death; but he would go. Tn,
only difficulty would be TO reach the edge
Of that precipice, as there would be 50
many willing hands To prevent him.
Now, for the first time, lac noticed how
limited the witnesses Of the approaching
tragedy were 10 be- Generally, such an
event attracted nearly all the town and
outlying settlements. He wondered what
had happened to assuage SO suddenly
that grewsOme curiosity. He could not
guess that, out Of sympathy with tina,
girl, with that cry OF hers still ringing
In their ears, the committeeman had
quietly, but decisiycly, dismissed the
crowd awaiting 10 escort the prisoner.
They had told the people that rhey had
better depart Quickly--that. if than