The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-08-13
A HILLSIDE STORY.
lcoNrIyrEp FROM FIRST PAGE

and more in his own.
.'Do you blieve Bill Sprouse is guilty?
he asked. and each man said ''Ies )!
do you blieve murderer ought to be
hung ~ and they answered ayes !"
aWell, what's the use o waitin ? The
county oughtn't to be burdened with sech
man any longer, Twin in idleness. And
eff tbs right he should be hung at ALL tbs
right he should be hung today eft We could
do it, l say on Friday night at Il O'Clock
we will do it eff you's all agreed,
And they all agreed. They were to come
into town into couples, by different roads,
to avoid notice; meet at the Jail, and de-
mand the prisoner.
Jim Carver told his faacee, Nancy, their
determination to lynch Bill Sprouse, and
Nancy, being something of talker and
wishing to tell the latest news, mentioned
the same to Tildy's crippled father when
she went to carry him some fine sweet
potatoes. And 50 it came to Tildys ears
Friday morning She very quickly made
up her mind that she would 20 to town and
tell Bill, and perhaps he might know what
to do to save his life. The sixteen miles
which she must needs walk did not daunt
her, and telling her mother she was going
down the valley and might not be back till
late, she departed on her errand Of mercy
to the most unworthy Of men. She stopped
by Nancy's and asked her to 20 over and
do her milking for her if she was not back
in time, and Nancy, thinking she was going
as she often did to get work from the wives
of gentlemen farmers in the valley, went
on talking and forgot to question her.
Tidy carried covered basket on her arm
that she might appear to be taking some
thing to town to sell, as the country women
were accustomed to do.
The walk was slow and wearisome one,
for the succession of long red hills follow
Ing close upon each other, now up, now
down, seemed interminable. If Tidy had
known anything Of Hannibal she might
have been cheered by the remembrance of
his animating words to his men, "Remem-
Der, beyond the Alps lies Italy. But
having no historic heroes in mind, perhaps
it did as well for the present need to say
to herself, after I've pulled up this long
hill I'll be that much nearer savin him"
She reached by-and-by the river, and be-
yond was the town. 1t was bctween3 and
4 in the afternoon as she entered it, aud
she went at once to the Jail. Could she
see Bill Sprouse she asked of the jailcr,
a middle.aged man, with Il liver that made
him always cross, he told his wife, heart or
liver the effect was the same.
Nov. what re you?" he asked; his sis
ter?'
NO" answered Tidy
"Wifc?"
Tidy hung her head.
No she replied,
well, you needn't come round here if
You amt kin to him. You ought to be
ashamed of yersef comm to see man no
kin to you. Amt you had no rasin?
Tidy was not too obtuse to feel the
thrust, and turned to 90. She forgot for
the moment the Importance of her journey;
but only for moment Retracing her
steps she stood again before the iailer.
II got somethin' to tell him to save his
life, " she said, please, sir, femme see him.
The man with the overmastering liver
grunted with the accent of Berkshire,
and looked at Tidy There was some
thing almost pathetic in her wearied, anxious
look.
Il come sixteen mile to tell him" she
said.
'Umph' You might as well have
stayed at home, | reckon. But come
along, and he led the way to the cell, and
left her there with the guard. This pris-
oner at the sound of their coming looked
mp alphabetically. Nothing good would be
likely to happen to him from any quarter,
he thought. Perhaps the sight of Tidy
was the best the world held for him. His
eyes changed little from their logged
look, but did not beam with pleasure.
Tildys were suffused with tears. To her
he was an uniustly accused man, innocent,
and yet suffering.
THAT you, Tidy he said, and she an-
swered after a moment:
"Yes, Bill. rs come to tell you some
thin"
His evil black eyes showed no interest.
She could tell him nothing to help him in
any way, he knew.
HNothin much, reckon" he respond
ed, nless you can tell me how to git out
er this COMPOUNDED hole"
Il come to tell you sOmethin so you
kin save yer life, Bill" she said, "ef You
knows how May be yu'll know
Bills face showed more interest.
iSOut with it, then.
"Mr. Scruggs an ten men is made Il
bargain to come here tonight and take you
out For minute as Tidy paused
the idea flashed through Bills mind that
his friends were going to rescue him and
set him free. Tildy's next words dissipat-
ed so wild fancy. "An they say as they
is goia' to-to-hang you, Bill walked
all the way to tell you.
The face of the prisoner blanched with
terror as he heard the words, his hands
trembled as he mechanically picked at the