Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-11-14

mo; because be thought death would
spare him the task" cried the other
6ercely; s'but knew otherwiser Not one
day In all these long years that has not
brought forecast OF tomorrow knew
he could not die-I knew must live; live
to zee them drag him, screaming with the
reality of his late years nightmare, to the
punishment . guilty judge would have
spared him! Far removed from these
mountains, have seen them by day and
by night, have watched him In his pride,
the rich young squire, living down the
memory Of his crime. Once In q dream,
many years ago, saw him at a feast,
amid the roars of his drunken friends
take from his neck the silken cord and tie
it upon his hound! Then, again; l saw
him, the aged head Of an upright family,
living a life of peace, unruffied by the
past. heard his thoughts: 'One decade
more at most, and shall rest as honored
as they!' Then stood before him aud
laughed, and pointed to forgotten grave
behind which stood the hangman and the
gallows! Again Ipictured him, living on,
on, on, far beyond his hoped for limit, q
frightful fear in his heart; the hideous past
arisen from its grave and stalking ever by
his side. All, that was the dream Of
dreams!"
AS the star grass on the hills quivers be-
fore storm so the old man shook with
the intensity Of his hatred.
sour neighbor and the Reuben Elliston
OF your dreams wonld never be mistaken
for one another" exclaimed the widow.
At this moment the judge, tall, kindly
man, who did not look his great age by
many years, entered the room, accompan-
led by timid, sweetfaced girl of twenty.
take of your wet cloak, my dear"
said the judge; daughter, Mercy Ellis
ton will stay here to-night.r
"Mercy Elliston," gasped the stranger.
81 sent Amos, the mail rider, to Pough-
keepsie yesterday" continued the judge;
"has he returned ?"
Mrs. Doris threw her arms around her
fathers neck. "Oh, then it is true ?" she
whispered; "You have sent to Governor
Clinton for a pardon for Reuben Ellis
TONI"
The judges eyes inquiringly sought
those Of the strange guest
81 have told her what you, Hiram
Cook, have SO long concealed" said the
latter.
"You here, Giles Raven!"
''Do you remember my words of sixty
years back-that should live to see it?"
"Hush!" whispered Hiram, ''in pity
keep it from herr"
"His kim"
Eyes; for she has known no other. He
took her from the breast of poor woman
who had persisted in the snow score of
years ago. They have been all the world
to each other. He named her Mercy
after the one who lies over there"
A foreboding of evil seemed to be lodged
in the girls breast, which was certainly
not dissipated by the kindly little widows
tears and caresses. Why had she been
brought from the stone house! Why had
Reuben begged of the judge that he might
be alone for this night?
Giles Raven was not the man to spare
anyone who loved the object of his life ha-
tired. Shutting across the room he Kissed
in Mercys ear:
Tomorrow Reuben Ellston will die
on the gallows in spite of this mans eff
forts to defeat the law"
'The gallows!" cried the poor girl.
ooh. what fearful secret do you keep
from Z"
"Come, dear" whispered Mrs. Doris,
who gained strength at the sight of anoth-
er's weakness, and Mercy's cheek lay upon
the widows shoulder as they passed from
the room.
For full minute the two men, thus
tragcally brought together again after
the lapse of lifetime, looked at each
other in silence.
"Giles Raven" said the Judge at length,
"there is no boot but is too clean to tread
on such worm as thou! Year after year
our neighbor has come to me and barred
his neck that l might see the accursed
cord upon il, and have pitied him, for
never before in the world-mark me,
Giles, never before in the world-has mis-
chance borne so great penalty"
"You have light words for gallows
deeds, master !" sneered Raven.
Tear from your eyes the film of ha-
tired, Giles, and acknowledge what well
you know, that Reuben Elliston never had
murder in his heart"
"Mercy Douglass was mine-she left
him to become my bride-he had spoken
of love to her-the law said that for
term her labor was his-he retook her by
force-he slew her. Call you that mis-
chance Hiram Cook 2"
ale was young and had youths naughty
ways; he erred, but when that poor girl
was dragged to her death it was because
no human arm could have checked his
course"
Eyes jury called it murder" grinned
the vengeful man, land murders due,
though long delayed by knavery, is near
at lasti"
''God touch the governors heart and
bring Amos safely through the storm !"
exclaimed the Judge. IL have written
Clinton that the conviction was under the
English rule and might we'll be avoided"
"And If the roads should delay your
mercy pleader ?"
Hiram replied with a sigh, which was
full of significance.
Giles rose and opened the door. Hiram
Cook" he said, 1--WE three old men have
not so far exceeded the limit of human
years-for nothing"
Father" cried Mrs. Doris from the
tap-room, ''some one is coming up the
road; perhaps it is Amos"
Poor Mercy, who had exacted the terri
bic story from the widow, already stood
in the dark road, listening for the slightest
sound which would hearald the bearer OF
the governors clemency. The storm was
abating.
''Loo-ee-oooo !" came family through
the blackness.
at is Amos" exclaimed the girl, who
kpev the voice of sthe brave yo,,ng fellow