News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-07-26

itAiai hfh ilo pttuiidt NOhNs hhN
there he sat through the long, black
night, hoping against hope.
1t was broad MONDAY when be
awoke, sitting by the dying embers
on the hearth. Thesun shone bright
er than it had shone for weeks. Its
hot rays melted the snow on the
roofs of the houses, and the day was
like day in spring. But it brought
no Joy to the heart of Parson Tom.
The habitues of Big Franks sa-
loon had hardly settled themselves
down to the pleasures or pastimes Of
the day-their morning hour being
the noon-time-when they were start
led by the ghost-like appearance of
Parson Tom. In a trembling voice
he told his story.
"He plays it WE'LL" sneered Big
Frank; that's purity good makeup
we've got OH yer face. Ye'd ought
ter be n performer. There'll be
chance for We when the variety show
opens up in Their spring"
This speech was greeted with laugh
ter by the crowd, and the poor par
son was dumb-but not deaf-with
modification. How could he face
these men who disbelieved his very
first utterance He turned to go.
"Hold on Their p cried Paymaster
Bill "this is twicet yer say yer bin
robbed in this camp. Both times it
was our money as We was robbed Of
money at we gave We. Now, ye've
got ter prove it fer we don't low no
man't accuse none o us O Robin
him the second time 'thout he pro-
duces Their proof"
ether proofs wat we wants !"
shouted the crowd.
Parson Tom stood as still as
death. He could not speak.
"An' theirs another thing ye'vegot
ter PROVE" continued Bill, as he saw
the parson would not reply "ye've
got ter prove tibet We didn't rob some
other parties besides yerself. More'n
one cabin was burglarized last night;
an eff ye amt ther burglar, then
prove it !"
But Parson Tom could utter no
sound save a groan of anguish. If
he could but recall that voice ! But,
no His memory failed.
There he stood as dumb as though
he had been born without speech,
while Paymaster Bill demanded that
he prove his innocence, and the crowd
led on by Big Frank, sneered at and
reviled the accused.
During this trying ordeal for the
parson, three men, selected by Big
Frank, had gone to the parsons
cabin, and there, upon the floor, had
found nugget of gold belonging to
Big Frank.
This they brought and flouted in
the face of the trembling victim.
Well he knew how it had come there,
but it was idle to assert or protest.
His wOrds-if he could have spoken
would have been to these infuriated
men like the screech of a wild bird
borne on the wind in a bowling storm.
"Ye hev no proof o. yer innicence,'" y
said Paymaster Bill, hotly, "an' we
hev this proof o. yer guilt. Wat
dye say now ?"
Parson Tom saw that all hope was
lost, but with dying hope his speech
returned and he said with evident
effort:
Gentlemen, l see no hope of es-
tablishing my innocence ; but STU
maintain it. That nugget of gold
must have been dropped by the rob
Der in our struggle in the cabin. i'll
could recall the voice | should con.
vince you. 1t was none of you who
did the deed, but one who has lived
here among you, though l cannot
tell his name. He cannot live far
away-perhaps at one of the idle
mines or in some deserted tunnel
He went toward the gulch, for had
he come this way he would have had
to cross my body, as | lay there in
the snow. That is all have to say
Do with me as you must"
1t was useless to search the gulch-
the heavy snow would not permit
And then, these angry men had NO
doubt of the guilt of the parson
Only the production of the man he
claimed had robbed him would de-
stroy their belief in his guilt. The
crowd grew angrier as the minutes
passed.
"The parson has lied," coolly re-
marked Big Frank, whose faith in
the preacher sort had never been
strong.
He's an ungrateful robber," ad-
ded Paymaster Bill
Hang him !" yelled a man in the
crowd
The excitement increased like roar
of the wind through the gulches in
the coming of q storm. A minute
more and the Infatuated mob, who,
in the absence of a court had tried,
convicted and sentenced the accused
was eager to execute the sentence OF
death.
Like wild men they flew to the up
per end of the camp, dragging the
parson with them. Convinced of his
guilt, and maddened by thoughts OF
his ingratitude, no hand could stay
them.
Quickly the preparations for the
execution were made. Two barrels,
each of which supported an end of a
broad plank, placed under the stout
limb of great tree, formed the scat.
fold. One end of the rope was fast.