The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-09-08

4 tne trutn WDon 10 was 30 evident
Hsdnt Tommy explained that he wa
removing the obstruction from th
track when the wildcat" so nnexpoct
edly came around the curve and strucl
IL, and was derailedt
Couldn't they understand why b.
had remnined silent when asked hoy
he happened to be there? Surely, an,
one could see that he had discovered
his brothers plot and had striven n
thwart it. but was now ton i~s.l a A. "a. "a.
plicate them. The ides that Tommy
her gentle, true-hearted Tommy, woult
connive to slay the only brother OF tn.
| girl he lovedl And vet, when he haS
refused to answer, the Judge, who
surely should be impartial in action AZ
we'll as word, had swung around I'M.
patiently in his chair, and tho District
Attorney had smiled, oh, so ironically,
and shrugged his shoulders and said |:
"You see, gentlemen. See?"
The case which had occupied the
Aberdeen Oyer and Terminer for the
past week, was, as the District Attorney
bad said in his opening, lawful in the
simplicity and dircctness Of its proof. 4"
At the further end OF the county, amid
the arid sand plains, the Barlings and
the Knowleses had occupied adjacent
farms for many years. The railway
ran in front OF their dwellings,, and tho
young men had grown up half farmers,
half linemen, cleaning from the two
occupations livelihood and recreation.
There had been n constant feud be.
tween the two families, sprung from
some forgotten trivial cause. but On.
HANGED into bitterness through paucity
of daily interest.
There were three Barling boys, of
whom Thomas, tho defendant, was the,
youngest, and one Knowles, the brother
Of Patty. This lattor had encountered
ono evening the two elder Barlings Mt
the village tavern, and n quarrel and
scuffie had ensued. IT was the follow
ing day that n wildcat" train, Of
which young Knowles was engineer,
was derailod and he thrown from the
cab and killed Thomas Barling was
seen running away from the place
where this accident occurred His
brothers disappeared, but the dctcc-
tives, melted by liberal rewards, caused
tho arrest of the lad, claiming that it
was he who had set the obstruction on
tho track
His presence, his flight, his terror,
certain incohcrcnt words which ho had
uttered on his apprehension, consti.
tuted the main points of the case against
him. His defense had bcon necessarily
brief, consisting of his youth, good
character, and his own story slightly
corroborntcd-that he had been on
gagged IN removing the distractions,
when thu wildcat" of whose existence
no had not been aware, camc around
tho curve and struck. But on the
question of how no happened to be
there ut just this time he had remained
silent.
Solcmnly the great clock IN tho
courtroom bent out the dragging mo.
mcnts. The bniliifs droned stories and
ynwncd. The clerk scribbled on tho
bnck of papers. The cricr slept the
sleep of childhood and smiled over its
r"viving scenes. Tho old woman snt
erect, motionlcss, intent like another
Sphynx, awaiting the elimination of
burning desires. Perhaps sho alone
could explain thnt nu"i"nt e"..I, -,
i,ups when that bosom had been ten
der and that arm softly responsive to
cnrosses, mn injury to her beauty had
been the GrnSon's tooth of this futuro.
Perhaps the past now returned to her
for expectancy hath it's panorama Of
spent, but not dead, emotions. Ger
tniuly little Patty, ns she saw the grim
face growing grinmcr, grew inint with
dread, for in it's lines sho read ven
gcnncc upon Tommy and woe for her
self.
There was n sharp, demanding rap
on the door of tho jury room. Its
druwsy guardian sprnng to his feet and
unlocked it. There were whispers, and
then once more the door closed, tho
bolt wns shot, the sentinel snt ut his
post. Once more, but with differ
cncc. The man no longer lollcd. Ho
was big with the consciousness that
every eye was upon him, big i'll the
possession of II secret which he had no
right to know.
The great clock tickcd warningly,
for the hours of excitement are mo-
ments. 1t was nearing the time for
the Judges return. Tho clerk set
nOcketS anu pen ana phpcr III orucr.
The bailiffs shut windows and opened
doors, and turned up lights and took
their stations There was one whose
post was by the door at the end Of tho
gallery leading to the jury room,
which opened upon the main stairway
Of the building. Tho guardian Of the
Jury room wns his friend, and, &c he
passed, whispered single word. The
bailiff stepped to his place and beyond
He leaned over the rail and gazed
down into the gloomy corridor. The
front door swung open, digniiied
form entered. Ho recognized it, and
in an instant was loaping down the
stairs. Aud in another instant Judge
Grcengoods knew at what verdict the
jury had arrived, know that the solemn
words which he had mentally arranged
during his walk thither had not been
marshaled in vain.
Many sharp eyes had noticed the
passing of that single word from officer
to officer, and ere the crier had begun
his sonorous proclamation, bailiffs and
attorneysl and Sheriff and prisoner
knew that the verdict was "guilty