The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-04

society, when from among the masked and
draped figures on his right there arose one
who, with an ingenuity that seemed no less
than tlendish. and q patience that knew no
limit, proceeded to narrate and expatiate
upon all the offenses the prisoner had COM
mitted against the student code and the
traditions of the university, Occurrences
that the unfortunate man had long since
forgotten and had imagined buried in the
grave OF the years, were resurrected and
told with most damning effect. Witness
after witness was beckoned forward, exam
ments made and the charges formulated
against the prisoner. Wherefore, nv
lord" the speaker at length concluded, 1T
has been deemed necessary that for these
and many other similar offenses the pris-
Oner should be put on his trial, and should,
II found guilty, receive such condign pun
lshment as this court, in it's sagacity, may
deem most fitting
Then at length the terrible Judge broke
silence, and his words fell on the ear of the
prisoner sharp and clear as the stroke of
doom. prisoner at the bar" he said,
ment should not be pronounced upon you?''
What reasons had he? Thousands-it
seemed to the poor wretch. Was he to be pun
ished without opportunity of formal defense?
They could never be guilty of such gross
injustice! He would assure them-but his
brain seemed all afire, his swollen tongue
Glove to the roof Of his mouth, and articu-
late words were utterly beyond his power.
He mumbled. something something unin-
telligible even to himself-and strove in
vain to shake off the leaden weight that
loaded down all his faculties.
!, And then again, in ringing notes, came
the jury find in this case? Guilty or not
guilty?' Surely it was all a burlesque, yet
with but few words to one another the
jury seemed to come to decision, and
from the lips of the outstanding foreman
fell the one ominous word Guilty"
But see! it cannot be, and yet the judge
in the folds of his sable robe; and yes,
even now, he is assuming the black cap
the grim symbol of death; and the prison.
er's eyes start from his head and his hair is
dank with perspiration, as he hears that he
is condemned to die and that he will be al
lowed but five minutes of preparation to
meet his doom.
At once he is hurried off from the cham
Der of death to smaller room, cast in
there, and left to himself. In vain the
wretched man tries to pray. Thoughts of
wife and BARNS at home crowd upon his
mind, and, when the door is once more
thrown open, he grovels upon the floor and
screams: ''Time, more timev'
OF no avail. He is ruthlessly dragged
forth, and there, in a cleared space in the
center of the hall, stands-Oh, merciful
heaven!-a block, and by it's side grim,
masked executioner,, cleaning ak in hand.
Rude hands seize and blindfold him, hurry
him toward the block in spite of cries, in
spite of entreaties that would have melted
hearts of stone, force him to kneel; and
then-and then. after a moments silence,
comes-a perfect peal of laughter from
young voices that ripples through the
CHASTITY hall like sunshine in q vault.
Eager hands are stretched forth to raise
the prisoner from his kneeling posture, but
the thing they raise is-dead!