Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-27
THE BLACK CROSS. q

Notes and Queries
THE BLACK CROSS.
A black cross had been set against Judge
Hawkins name. Why, it is not for me
to say. We were not accustomed to ex
plain our motives or to give reasons for
our deeds. The deeds were enough, and
this black cross meant death; and when it
had been shown US, all that We needed to
know further was at what hour we should
meet for the contemplated raid. A word
from the captain settled that, and when
the next Friday came dozen men met at
the place of rendezvous ready for the ride
which should bring them to the judges
solitary mansion across the mountains. |
was among them, and in as satisfactory
mood as | had ever been in my life, for the
night was favorable and the men hearty
and in frst-rate condition.
But after we had started and were
threading a certain woods | began to have
doubts. Feelings had never before ex-
perienced assailed ne with force that
first perplexed and then astounded me. |
was afraid, and, what rather heightened
than diminished the unwonted sensation
was the fact that was not afraid of any
thing tangible, either in the present or
future, but of something uneXplainable
and peculiar, which, if it lay in the skies,
certainly made them look dark indeed,
and if it hid in the forest, caused its faint
est murmur to seem like the utterance Of
a great dread, as awful as it was mex
plicable.
nevertheless proceeded and should have
done so if the great streaks Of lightning,
which now and then shot zigzag through
the sky, had taken the shape of words and
babe us all beware. was not one to be
daunted, and knew no other course than
that of advance when once a stroke OF JUS
tice had been planned and the direction
for it's fulflment marked out. | went on,
but began to think, and that to me was
an experience, for had never been taught
to reflect only to fight and obey.
The house toward " hich we were riding
was built on hillside, and the first thing
we saw on emerging from the forest was a
light burning in one of its distant win
dows. This was surprise, for the hour
was late, and in that p ,rt of the country
people were accustomed to retire early,
even such busy men as the Judge. He must
have visitor, and visitor meant a pos
sible complication of affairs; so halt was
called, and | was singled out to recon
hotter the premises.
started off in a strange state of mind.
The fear | had spoken of had left me, but
a vague shadow remained, through which,
as through mist, | saw the light In that
far-away window bPCkonmg me on to
what felt was In some way to make an
end of my present life. AS | drew nearer
to it the feeling increased; then 1t,
too, left me, and | found myself
lo
was when | came to the foot of the hill
and discovered had but a few steps more
to take.
The house, which had now become plain
ly visible, was solid one of stone, built,
as | have said, on the hillside, 1t faced
the road, as was shown bv the large pOrtl-
co dimly to be discerned in that direction,
but its rooms were mainly on the side, and
it was from one of these that the light
shone. AS | came yet nearer | perceived
that these rooms were guarded by piazza.
which, communicating with the portico IL
front, afforded an open road to tFat WIN
dow and a clear sight of what lay behind
it. | was instantly off my horse and upon
the piazza, and before | had time to real
ize that my fears had returned to me with
double force, | had crept stealthiIy toward
that uncurtained window and looked In.
What did see? At first nothing but
calm, studious figure bending above
batch of closely written papers, upon
which the light shOne too brightly for me
to perceive much of what lay behind them,
Bot gradually an influence, of whose
workings | was scarce conscious, drew my
eyes away, and | began to discover on
every side strange and beautiful objects
which greatly interested me, until suddenly
my eyes fell upon vision of loneliness SO
enchanting that forgot to look elsewhere
and became for the moment nothing but
sight and feeling.
1t was picture or so ] thought in the
first instant of awe and delight. But
presently saw that it was a woman, llv-
ing and full of thoughts that had never
been mine, and at the discovery, Il sudden
trembling seized me, for | had never seen
anything like her beauty, while she saw
nothing but the man who was bending
over his papers. There was a door or
something dark behind her, and against
it her tall srong figure, clad in close
white gown, stood out with dlstlnctneSs
that was not altogether earthly.
But il was her face that held me and
made of nue. from moment to moment a
new man. For in it [ descerned what
had never believed in till now, devotion
that had no limit, and love which asked
nothing IL return. She seemed to be
faltering on the threshold of that room,
as one who would like 10 utter, but does
not dare, and in another moment, With a
smile that pierced me through, she turned
as If TO 60 Instantly forgot everything
but my despair, and leaned forward with
an impetuosity that betrayed my presence
She glanced quickly toward the window,
and, seeing me. turned pail, even while
she rose in height till felt myself shrink
and grow small before her.
Thr';sting out her hand she caught from
the table before her what looked like a
small dagger and holding it up, advanced
upon me with blazing eyes and parted lips,
not seeing that the judge had risen to his
feet, not seeing anything but my face
glued against the pane, and staring with
an expression that must have struck to TIE
heart as surely as her look pierced NINE
When she was almost upon me | turned
and fed. He'll could not have frightened
me, but heaven did; and for me that wo
man was heaven, whether he smiled Oh
frowned, gazad upon another with love
or raised a dagger to strike me to the
ground.
How soon met my mates | cannot say
In few minutes, doubtless. for they hat
stolen after me and had detected me run
ming away from the window. was forced
to tell my tale. and told it unhesltatlng
ly, for | knew | could not save him-lt
wanted to-and | asked that she b,
spared not only from sharing his tate