The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-07-31

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haycpity and give me help or conceal
ment.n
aWho are you?y she inquired. and
with q dreadful sinking at his heart
he gave his name, colbert Halle
ton"
She uttered q sharp cry, and looked
away where the distant lanterns were
cleaning through the cornfield-the
pursuers on his track.
Il must ask mother" she said, and
snatohipg up her pitcher, swept past
him into the house.
He Beard her quick voice, and Mrs.
Westfd,d's startled cutlery, and in very
desperation followed her in.
The old mother met him, white
haired and venerable. $50 thee can
seek slblter here, OF David Westford's
bereayFed mother 2" she said, bitter
ly, woHeringly.
him. be urged desperately. "As
true al there is q heaven above us, i
am inIbcent of what is laid to my
charged 1t will be proven when my
friendslcome. But that will be too
late unlss you help me-"
"ButI do not know it now," Mrs.
Westfot. wayered. "Thee speaks
fair, butlo not all criminals the same ?
A trialwas given thee, and thy in
nocenceyas not proved. Why should
/ save tie murderer Of my boy
Gilbdt fell into u chair, too ex-
haustedto stand. "You will know
when itRas too late if you refuse me
aid. Milan, will you risk it ?-rislk
feeling bat you might have saved an
innocenfnan, but instead let him go
TO his dSth"
"ErBtine,' cried the old mother
piteousD what ought we to do !?
How ca we risk u lifelong remorse,
or hOwtan we risk letting David's
murderf go free to break other hearts
as ours re- broken? What. does thee
say"
The al stood in the open door, her
misunderstanding between the plead
ing fac of the fugitive and the Ian
terms ching along tlfe roadside.
"Wpust decide quickly, mother"
and hetlcar voice quivered with feel
ing. 'te may be innocent. Ithardly
seems though aoguilty man would
come Iere-to David's home-for
shelter Aud if We are accessory 10
| his ddh-mother, it is murder for
them take the law into their own
' unautfized hands. Our choice lies
, betweI one man, who may or may not
be q lrderer, and a score who will
surelye if we do not hinder"
+. "Th thee says save him ?" Mrs.
. Westfd asked doubtfully.
I 81 Arc not refuse it mother. Do
7Thi old lady hesitated, then open
u wig a%tOrner cupboard, took out a pair
II pr hAdcuffs-relics Of the days when
q DaviI had been deputy sheriff, and
y earnq the encmity Of tramps and evil
ioer+and held them toward Gilbert.
Il thee will put these on, that we
<7may have no fear from thy violence
n~hedthc mob are gone, we will con-
iteal lhee safely, and when the seach
is Ovtr send thee back to thy lawful
That is all. | cannot place
a'nysqf and my daughter at the mercy
pr ons who may have none. Will thee
?"
SIZE was only prudent. Gilbert
bowed silently and extended his hands.
ut was his only chance for life: and it
1would be the height of folly to object.
Yet a faint color came into his face as
1the cold steel snapped on his wrists,
rendering him helpless-yet scarcely
more SO than fatigue had already made
him.
The hesitation of both was over now
babe him remove his
muddy shoes, while she swiftly closed
the door and drew down the blinds,
and the mother hurried into another
Thither Ernostine beckoned
him to follow, pausing only to thrust
the shoes out of sight.
at the door she turned. at is
'David's room," looking kcenly into his
face. "Come in 7"
Did she think he would draw back ?
Guilt itself would hardly have done
that now, with the pursuors so near.
IF David can see, / know he is
willing" Gilbert answered quietly.
1t was a small, plainly furnished
Mrs. Westford had drawn the
bed from the wall and thrown back
the last breadth of carpet, revealing
IA tiny trap-door. AT his entrance she
it, and mot'oned him down.
1t is only four feet. You can drop
that far" said Ernestine, e~ncourag-
ingly. "There is no outer door. You
will be quite safe"
Her mother smiled sadly. "How
many frightened fugitives have slept
there in safety! But that was years
|ago-beiore the war. Thee need
mot fear. Now-but stay, thee must
tbe faint. | will bring thee food and
drink"
She hurried away, and he swung
himself down. 1t was not very easy,
time helped him. His heart thrilled
at touch of her cold, trembling fingers.
Z "She shrinks from my touch. She
&hinlos my hands stained with her
brothers BLOOD" he Thought, bitterly.
But another glance at the pure, pale
face relieves him. She was listening
hnxiously, and said with hurried kind
mess, There is an old bed down there.
Look, while 1 hold the light down.
There. Even half an hours rest will
help you. But you must eat and rest
I'm the dark, for this cellar extends
Under the kitchen, which is carpetless.
lind has cracks in the floor. Here
homes mother"
Very hurriedly Mrs. Westford
passed the well-flled dish and pitcher
TO him, reporting the mob almost be-
lore the house.
! Cover up, quickly, Ernestine. I
am going to wake Harry"
That was her youngest son, still
sleeping soundly upstairs.
! She hurried away, and Erncstine
quickly lowered the trap-door and
pushed back the bed.
Shut down in the darkness, Gilbert
CROPPED his way to the old bed, and
kank down on it in. utter cxhauetion.
He could do no more be it life or
He heard the girls quick
stops, the closing door, the louder
stops directly overhead, and @ slen.
Her spur of lamplight came down
through a crack. She was back in the
k~itchen-and there were stern voices
to be heard without.
Ernestine heard them more plainly,
and stood with clasped hands and pale