The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-05-02

NAL. as we'll as ! could see by. the
starlight seemed 10 have been hardly
used. His painting sides bore witness
OF merciless riding; and tremendous
shrinking. at the Slightest touch. being
token OF recent fright. On re-entering
the house. I found the stranger was
not there. His absence excited no
surprise; he would doubtless soon re-
turn. 1t was little singular. how
ever. that he should have left his
watch lying on the table.
''At the end OF half an hour. my
guest not returning. l went again 10
the stable. thinking he might have
found his way thither 10 give personal
attention TO the wants of his horse. Be
fore going out from mere force OF
habit-for we were as yet uninfested
by either thieves or policemen took
the precaution OF putting the strangers
watch in drawer In which kept my
own valuables. found the horse as /
had left him. and gave him the food
which he was now sufficiently cooled
TO be allowed to eat; but his master
was nowhere TO be seen. As / APP
preached the house crowd OF men on
horseback dashed up, and was COM
handed. in no gentle tones. TO 'standr
In another moment was In the
clutches OF those who claimed me as
their prisoner
II was too much stupefled nj first TO
ask what IL all meant. did so at
last. and the explanation came-it was
terrible! My friend, with whom had
go lately set out in company. had been
found murdered and robbed near the
spot at which /. but alone. knew we
had separated. / was the last person
known 10 be with him. and / was now
arrested on suspicion OF his murder. A
search OF the premises was Immediate
~ instituted. The watch was found in
the drawer in which had placed IL
and was identihed as the property OF
the murdered man. His horse. too
was found in my stable, for the animal
had just put there was none other. /
recognized him myself when / saw him
in the light. What ! said know not
My confusion was taken as additional
evidence. And when. at length. | did
command language. to give an intelli-
gible statement IL was received with
sncers and incredulity.
THE mob spirit is inhere Mt In man
at least. in crowds OF men. II may
not always manifest itself in physical
violence. IL sometimes contents itself
with lynching n character. But what
ever its FORM Il is always relentless.
pitiless. cruel.
LAS the proofs OF my guilt. one after
another, came 10 light, low mutterings
gradually grew into a olamor for ven
geahce; and but for the firmness OF one
man-the officer who had me In charge
Il would doubtless have paid the pen
atty of my supposed ofiense on the
spot IL was not sympathy that actu-
ated my protector. His heart was as
hard as his Office but he represented
the majesty OF the law, and took a sort
OF grim pride In tho position. As much
under the glance Of his eye as before
the muzzle OF his pistol, the cowardly
clamorers drew back. Perhaps they
were not sufficiently numerous 10 feel
the full effect of that mysterious reflex
influence which makes a crowd OF men
so much worse, and nj times 50 much
better. than any one OF them singly.
''At the end OF some months my trial
came. IL could have but one result.
Circumstances too plainly declared my
guilt knew they lied. The absence
OF the jury was very brief. To their
verdict paid but little heed. II was
a single hideous word. but had long
anticipated H. and IL made no impress
sion. AS little impression was made
by the words OF the Judge which fol-
lowed IL and his solemn invocation that
God might have that mercy upon me
which man was too just TO vouchsafe,
sounded like the hollowest OF hollow
mockcries. IL may be hard for the
condemned criminal 90 meet death; IL
is still harder for him who Is innocent.
The one. when the first shock Is over,
! acquiesces In his doom and gives him
self 10 repentance; the heart OF the
other, filed with rebellion against
mans injustice. can scarcely bring it's
self 10 ask pardon OF God. had grad
ually overcome this feeling. In spite OF
the good clergyman's irritating efforts,
which were mainly directed toward ex-
tracing n confession. without which
he assured me- he had no hope 20
offer.
ION the morning OF tho day fixed
for my execution / felt measurably re-
signed. had so long stood face 10
face with death. had 80 accustomed
myself 10 look upon II as only mo-
mcntary pang. that no longer felt So
licitous save that my memory should
one day be indicated. She for whom
1 had gone 10 prepare home for had
already found one In heaven. The
tidings OF my calamity had broken her
I ha..t Oh. oion. - al H. ,,o,ta