Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-02-21
CHAPTER XVI.

BEIM ZEN TWO WOHLDS.
A wide plain on the southerly outskirts
Of the town, bordered by the London
highway, slOping up to a ridge a quarter
Of a mile away.
A light fall Of snow everywhere; lead
en- winter sky, through which pale sun
beam could hardly pierce.
Two uprights ana q beam, with
rope dangling from It; a platform be-
meath, with four men standing on it. The
platform hedged all about with staked
ropes, and a policeman with club at
every stake to keep back the crowd.
A vast sea OF human faces, all turned
to this spOt the earth bleak with thou
sands upon thousands of human figures.
One might have fanciei that the whole
population of the county had turned out
to see a fellow creature diei
Such was the scene that the morning
Of Dec. 2 looked upon.
Ralph COurtenay stood upon the trap,
his arms piniOned, his eyes looking va
cantly over the great mob on the south
erly side of the platform. A murmUr
came to his ears that was like the muir
muir of the sea; he seemed already to
have let 90 of life.
The clergyman had prayed for his de-
parting soul, had pressed his piniOned
hands, and turned aside, overcome with
emotion.
The executiOner, his face covered with
q Grape mask, at a sign from the Sheriff,
approached the condemned and drew the
black cap over his head. Earth had for
ever vanished! The moose was adjusted.
The man laid his hand upon the lever
/ by which the trap was to be dropped, and
looked at the Sheriff.
It was mere chance-nay, was it not of
divine direction?-that the eyes of the
latter were at the instant turned up the
road.
He SOU O bOrearoaT sTdderlv break in
to view at the top of the distant ridge,
and spur madly down the s'Ope toward
the gallOWs. The sun burst out from the
clouds, flooding the scene with light. Ii
| could be seen that the hOrseman, approach
| ing at a fast gallOp, was frantically wav-
/ ing paper in one hand.
Hold" said the Sheriff.
The executiOner took his hand from the
/ lever.
A whisper ran through the throng
/ swelling to a murmur, and quickly deep
| ening to a roar of shouting, IN which the
! word "Reprieve -reprieve!" was uttered
! by countless tongues.
| The condemned heard it from the shad
ows Of the valley Of death. He was re-
/ called to life.
The horseman, squirting and waving
! the paper, reached the confines of the
| crowd. The people made way slowly
He yelled kicked, and even swOre il
hearty sailOr-fas hiOn.
stand aside here, you lubbers!-ou
of the way, or I'll ride q dozen of YOU
| down! In the Kings name, say, let me
pass, and save that poor fellow with tn,
| rope round his neck!"
BY direction of the Sheriff the officers
| Joined in the effort to press back TIT
| crowd. Soon a narrow lane was formed
through which the messenger rode up Il
the ropes. The Sheriff took the enveiOp
and tore it open.
"A free pardon!" he cried.
ITO be sure" said the rider; @ant
trouble enough I've had to get it here
! He climbed over the ropes, rushed III
the steps, and as the black cap was takel
from the head of the rescued man, an,
his arms were unbound, the other seize
his hand.
Good luck and long life to you. Cap
tain Courtenay!" he cried. I've wOrke
hard for you. I'm Absolom Bright, boat
swain of his Majesty's frigate Hero!"