The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-08-15

They stopped beneath Il big oak wno~,
arms sccmcd spreading over them il
bencdic;ion, while the murmurin
leaves whispered u sanctissma: but IL
little heed did these rough woOdsmct
pay to the beauty Of the spot It's tho an
Client hcathcn to the Sacredncss of tho
cathcdrals whence they butchcrct
their captivcs.
Men were there who had Invited tho
prisoner to his first drink: who haC
laughed at his foolishness when tipsy
who had scornrd his disgrace whcl
drunk: and now in his crime they wcr,
crying: Shoot himm
LOvcll's hands were quickly bound. q
| rope placed around his neck: every
man shouldered his rifle and stepped
back Il few PAGES.
"Tom Lowell" "spoko Abe Toby, "wc
give you five minutes TO pray OF TO say
why you shouldn't hcv' Justice fol
burnin' jim Siblcy's barn ana his crit
tcrs."
Yes, | done it boys. aint dcnyin
that, an mchbc deserve what you az,
goln' ter give mo. know I'm oncry
but declare fore God didn't do it in.
tcntiOnai. | went there to go to sleep
lit my pipe an mus Il drappcd some
fire, but tain't that I'm worryin' over
boys, for Gods sake don't let ncr know
what happened to me. I'll git on my
knees to beg You that don't ask for
my life. it amt wuth it. but | do ask
SoL, don't let Maggie know"
How kin she keep from il - sail Il
rough voice. I'VE amt goin' ter pre-
sent her with yer carcass, but she'll be
sho' to hear bout yer misforchin."
Tom Lowell had apparently thought
/ ant I,,f .1.i,,l
meats hesitation. he begged:
"Jcs' let one nf yer DO the shootin'
an carry me to the big road. She'll
think somebody followed mo from the
tavern" He wuS still on his knees.
pleading SO earnestly as TO awaken
some latent pity in these rough natures.
"lt m0ught cz wcll be thct way a5
any, said Abe Toby. Zone shot'li do
the work cz well cZ twrnly--if it's !,
shO shot. Jim Sibicy. yours the short
est, an 'twuz yo' barn en- critters"
The men promptly agreed, while Jim
Siblcy mildly protested al the doubtful
honor thrust upon him. Nevertheless,
he got his @n. in position and sighted
at the pitiful object before him.
How kin git a drop on Sim when
KANT tell him from some OF the shad-
dcr- ,"
y '
over his heart fer Il mark
We ain / no dudes, an this a;u't nc
mcctin-house fer to be liuurishin
white observation-disclosures said an
other.
"Mcbbc Toms got one hissclf." ven.
turcd another, as be SAW Toms efforts
to get to his pocket.
i'll you'll unite NY hands II minut,
III fix it," said rom.
| Wall, | never saw Il man 50 wiliin
| to hep at his '4wn funrral.'
They united his hands, and. fuinb!in.
nerruusly at his pocket, Tom hrough
out IL crushed white rose and pinned i
over his heart. Was il the iaInt. swcc
smell Of the rose, or the glimpse OF
tear as it flashed upon it in the moon
| light, that made the Objects before Jlu
Siblcy grow misty?
The leaders voice rang Out, " Ready
aim, fire" but still Sibtcy stood will
his gun in position. y long time h,
stood SO. The men held their breatl
in suspense. Again the leader callr,
out the words Of command. At tn,
word fire " Il snot rang ont. \ smal
bough from the top Of the oak dropped
at Tom LOvcll's feet. Jim Siblcy drop
ped his gun and turned to the crowd
Maggie Barton kin hcv Tom l.ovcl
pS III tE WI ~ III COtlSilflltu. SutSs
KILN him ain't goin' to bring back my
barn an critters, and eli twas my prop
erty it's nobody's business if | let hin
go. This mcctin's 'ad diourncd, an i
anybody objects, he can settle it will
me-" So saying, he walked up 10 the
prisoner and cut the ropes that bound
him.
There was some dissatisfaction
among the men. for an angry mob il
not easily pacilied : but either Tom
Lovcli's humility or Jim Sibleys rcpu
thtion as 4 man who booked no contra
diction or perhaps both, had taken The
spirit out Of the party, SO they grum.
bingly dispersed.
Maggie was walking the child in he,
arms again when Tom stood in the
doorway. His face was so white il
alarmed her.
"Gimmc the the baby, honey; you
lie down an rcst,' he said as he took
the child out Of her arms.
His wife looked IL him in astOnish.
mcnt. Drinking had never affected
him like this: besides, he, had bccu
sleeping on the piazza as she had left
him some time ago. Still Il vague
doubt crossed her mind.
"Tom, you haven't been to the tav.
crn, have you ,"
NO, honey; an with Gods help
never will go again.' And he never
did.