Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1895-11-15

ness the filthy degeneration Of what In life
had seemed to mp Of paramount impOr-
tanCe. Vanity and carnality had been my
ruling passions and all the higher attri-
butes of man, in which tho soul took prec-
edence Of body, aroused within my carnal
mind only feeling of sarcastic pity.
1t was for this destroying of mental
self that wns finally hunted down and
brought to sudden Justice.
For many years my wild debnuches had
been carried on with fallen mortals and
men who scOrned and loathcd me-even
they woro satisfied to let 1t go as thing
beyond their interference.
1t was only when | won poor Nellies
love that they began shaking their angry
heads and pointing their warning fingers
at me
But l had wisdom in my evil way.
feigned a reformation that did not feel
and for time behaved with rigid cirGum-
spection
There were days even when the child 5
sweet nature almost shamud me in my
wicked purpose, but to heart grown old
in sin wumnn's virtue only adds per-
sistence, and after each brief moment ct
rcmorse the old desire crept swiftly back
with tenfold worse intentions added
And day by day the 1oweret drunped
with tho sun of passion heating ON it. Day
by day truth took II weaker hold upon the
soul that wavCred III my puwer.
Warnings | had in plenty from the
friends that loved the girl, and although
there was no violence from me nt any
time they called my decd deed Of crime
and lynched me like common felon.
Whether it was just some did not know,
but TO me, lying cramped and huddlod in
this muldy box, there comes at times II
realization Of my sin that makes the judy
mcnt seem most fair and even tempered
with that plea for mercy which doubtful
Jurors often add
Day by day, hour by hour and minute
by minute tine scenes and sins of my life
are creeping slowly through my soul, and
now, viewed by the light of n disembodiod
spirit l find how greatly the sins Of the
flesh are at variance with the spiritual be-
ing.
Hope and desire, so all important to tho
carnal frame, shrink TO the mcanest form
of guilt when viewed through nobler,
purcr lenses. Like II wornuut husk bat
tered and travel stained, my flesh lies rot
ting in this grave, while |, soul, exist,
here there and all about, able to penetrate
the very earth, able to sec the heavens
above, but totally unable to escape from
the dread proximity Of my moldcring clay
Of this constant vision Of decay in what
was once my fondcst pride
And now another silent form is being
lowered to my side ! hear tho sound ni
falling suds, the Creak of ropes, the tread
of feet, and wish-uh, coward that l am
that it might be another soul so doomed
that 1t would bear me company.
They are going now, the mourners NJ
the grave above my head, and almost
| touching my crumbliug feet see the out.
line of II polished casket.
No one in all those silent tombs seems
wakcned or disturbed but me. The advent
/ of another form into the gloom and horror
| of this place brings not u tremor to the
dust of those who sleep 50 peacefully.
But now my soul seems pierced again
/ by one more venumcd, ranking DART and
/ through the power Of spirit sight l see the
/ limit of my doom.
There is no soul within this new made
| tomb, no clay freed spirit TO condole witt
mine, but low beneath tho polished boards
n sweet, young face lies still and calm and
seems to mock my misery.
Once moro trace my evil life in all it,
willful, sinful ways, and, turning, try tC
avert my gaze from that which almost
maddenS me.
This, then, is justice for the damlS'i
To watch, pcrforce, while all you love de-
Gays, while flesh, once fair, creeps vilely
back TO dust, and the immortal soul, de
MED and scornod, rises from the very
grave to torture that which scorned iti
Yes, this is justice, but the after plea
the plea for mercy, is denied me, for here
before my shrinking gaze, my victim lie
in peaceful slumber.
Powerless was | to harm her soul
though friend and foe alike condemned
her, aud now, in throos of bitter rage,
recognize righteous vengeance, --Ex
change