Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-28

So Deliverance was married in the
fashion of the Friends; and there were not
wanting venomous busybodies (God pity
them J with slanderous tongues, who
! wagged their spiteful heads and tried to
| besmirch the two fresh young lives by
slurs and innuendoes. But Deliverance
indicated her life by her chaste discre-
ton, and her face was an irrefutable argu-
ment against evil report. For time she
was very happy in her humble home. But
with the opening spring trouble began to
Puritan nature to brook Christopher's bold
apostasy. His case was discussed at length
in the church conclayes, and with much
bitterness of feeling. One dreadful morn
ing early in August the Constable appeared
at his door and arrested the young husband
for pestilent heresy. After two weeks of
suspense in Jail he was sent to the house of
correction for three months, with not even
chance for parting word with his sad
wife.
Then a month later the family of De-
liverance were banished from the planta-
ton for outspoken utterances against the
gross injustice to which the peaceable and
inofensive Friends were subject She felt
that her own turn might come at any
time. She was regarded with bitter ami
mostly by the most of her neighbors, who
attributed Christopher's heresy to her ac-
cursed influence. But she kept quietly at
her work, taking up the management of
the little farm at time when it needed a
mans strength and judgment. Her tender
hands learned to guide the pillow, when the
land was prepared for the fall crop of
wheat. Indoors she kept the fires, split
wood and blistered her pretty fingers over
hundred tasks which ought never to rest
on a woman. Still, she was not at all I'M
happy. Her bright spirit scared at times
away from the sorrows and cares of life
and found resting place in the shadow
of the great Rock.
1t was one pleasant morning in October,
as Deliverance was working in the garden,
that she looked up and saw the Constable
dismounting at the gate. He held legal
looking document in his hand and stood
gazing earnestly at the young and graceful
figure before him.
''Is your name Deliverance Burden ?"
eyes" answered Deliverance quietly.
swell, the Governor wants to see you.
You have been spreading heretical doc
service these many Lords Days. You're
a schismatic, and that isn't allowed, you
know"
81 have spoken only the truth" said
Deliverance, firmly. "And as for the
Lords Day service, 1 have worshiped
where my own heart compelled me. l
have committed no crime against thee or
the laws that thou shouldst seize me by
violence"
81 have my ORDERS" said the Constable,
sturdily, "and | am bound to carry them
out. shan't hurt a pretty woman like
you, so hope you will come without any
vain resistance"
at is the Lords will, murmured De-
liverance, as she cast despairing look
around over the distracted little farm
ale will keep His children in the hollow
of his hand"
When Deliverance Sothwicke answered
"Here" to the summons of the Clerk, there
was start of surprise in the Courtroom
Her pure face sensitive with pain at the
publicity of her position, was flushed to a
radiant color, and her full lips were half
parted. She looked bewitchingly beauti-
full as the carmine fled from her throat to
her brow and then receded, leaving her
cheeks as pale as lilies. The Governor,
after regarding her earnestly, began his Sc
we're examination. 1t does not concern us
here to give his stern, scathing questions,
and the fearless answers which Deliverance
made He couldn't make her quail, nor
would she admit the justice of his quisi-
ton. His brow darkened with fierce pas
sion. The glory of God Ito say nothing of
his own glory demanded that this hereto,
who dared uphold the right of free speech,
should be made an example Of Deliver
ance had expected some punishment, per-
haps a severe one; but she nearly tainted
with horror when the Clerk of the Court
read in a monotonous voice the sentence
that had been decided upon:
"Deliverance Burden, you are to be tied
to carts tail, with your clothes stripped
off to the middle, and to be drawn through
upon your naked body"
A murmur of pity ran around even
among those hardened inspectors. Those
who were near to her might have seen
Deliverances eyes flash with righteous
indignation under her meek Quaker de-
meanor, as the unjust sentences were pro-
nounced against herself and FIVE other de-
fenseless women; but in moment her
glance fell and meekness sat upon her
bowed head as she said half aloud:
"The chastisement of our peace was
upon him, and with His stripes we are
healed. Shall the servant be greater than
his Lord ?"
The hour, the moment, was drawing
near when Deliverance was to receive her
punishment. At times her heart tainted
within her as she waited her turn in the
gloomy prison. The spirit may be strong
to endure all affiiction for conscience's sake,
and yet there is a mere human, physical
strength which is perhaps equally neces-
sary to meet and overcome the stupid con-
tempt of those who can see only the shame
of the flesh and not the triumph of the
spirit; the martyrs cross, but not his
crown.
And now they have led Deliverance out
and tied her to the numbering ox-cart
Her face is concealed, for she has shaken
her long golden hair about her, and it rip
Piles to her waist. The most of the crowd
stand in respectful silence as she passes by;
but few ribald fellows boot aloud and
call her foul names. AT last the long walk
is ended, and the people wait in silent ex-
pectation as the Constable prepares his
three cord lash.
Onel two threel The cruel blows cut
the tender back; a fourth, and then fifth,
more cruel than the last. Deliyerance
toffaro a ,,1oyoo,,t nd thor faIIs Tbaza -
blood on her white arms, and purple Fne
across her cheeks, where the lash hadsin-
adyertantly fallen. The Constable drops
his whip and hastens forward but before
he can reach her man dashes through
the crowd on horseback, his cloak wildly
flying and his lips fecked with foam. In
moment he has sprung to the ground
and cut the thongs which bind Deliverance
to the cart Then he mounts again with
her in his arms. 1t would have been