Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-06-15

which is so terrible to any country
harassed by it.
In Palmyra there lived one Taylor, a
man of union tendencies, but obnoxious
to both northern and southern men in
the place because of his low standard
of morality He made a practice Of
spying upon his neighbors and report
ing to the Tuerrillas of like belief.
Many were the horses seized and men
taken prisoners at his instigation, 50
that even the children avoided him,
and were seized with fear and trembling
if he came near. This state of things
continued for some time, until, one day,
a band of southern guerrillas came
through the little place and captured
Taylor. He was never heard of again
and the citizens breathed freer, and
said good radiance 10 bad rubbish"
A band of the northern guerrillas
hearing of the incident galloped to the
town, and seized as prisoners some of
the southerners of the place, declaring
that if Taylor were not Immediately pro-
duced, ten lives should be taken. Con-
sternation seized the people.
What were they to do? Taylor could
not be produced They did not know
what had become of him. 1t was sup
posed he had been killed, and dead
man could not be produced.
Prayers and entreaties avalled moth
ing. The men were determined and
the people had to submit.
The day following the capture of the
men was set for the execution. The
whole town was in mourning. Wives
and children We're weeping over the
fate of husbands and fathers, mothers,
over their sons, and one young girl
mourned for her lover to whom she was
to have been wed in two days.
Early in the morning on the day of
the execution, young Graves wended
his way toward the place of the shoot
ing.
A most affecting scene was transpr-
ing. The final partings We're taking
place, and the cries of the heart broken
women were dreadful to hear.
One little group, particularly, at
tracted his attention. 1t consisted of
wife and six little children taking a
last leave of the husband and father.
The wife's grief and despair were heart
rending. The husband was bowed
down with anguish at leaving them un-
protected during the cruel war.
Graves stopped, his own heart throb
bling in great sympathy for them. He
offered consolation, but nothing could
comfort them. Fearing to intrude long
upon those last, solemn moments, he
left them full of intense pity.
eff | could only help them. he muir.
INJURED to himself, but there is nothing
that | can do-Ahw A sudden thought
darted through his mind. Why not
give himself in this mans place? lie
stopped short. Could he? Life was Sc
sweet, so full of promise To merely
exist was pleasure. And yet the wife
and those little ones How friendless,
how unprotected they would be- But
why should he? There was no call for
him to do it. Turning, he hastily made
his way to a clump of trees where he
could be unobserved. and threw him
self on the ground. Should he? The
thought presented itself again and
again. There was no one to miss him.
No mother or sisters TO grieve if he
were to die-none but himself in ali
the wide woodland yet-and yet Life
was so fair. Visions Of the future rose
before him. Vistas of glory and fame
Could he voluntarily lay this down?
The air came fresh and csoLsppon his
brow. He arose and locked around
him. Was ever the sky so blue before?
How the sun shone, and how clear the
Mississippi looked as it lay between the
high bluffs of Missouri and the lowlands
of Illinois! The trees hung over the
banks of the river, throwing long, deep,
dark shadows like the shadows OF death
-death-what was it? Should he solve
the mystery in a few short hours, or
still be living on the beautiful earth?
Torn with indecision he threw himself
upon bis knees, and cried for help.
With the prayer came faith and trust
and strength, and he arose pale and de-
termined.
Walking rapidly, he made bis way to
the leader Of the gang. and made known
his request. The man gazed a. him
with astonishment
Do you know what you are d0ing?'
he asked
i Do, replied Graves firmly.
The leader hesitated. II don't ike
TO. he said at last.