Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1897-09-20
GRAVE.

N. ana tEey nau named I9e IIac0 JOo
Mites Dream.
singular name, but they were singu-
men, brawny, rough, GriZzled and
"A be of them wicked. They were men
IN the east, digging, delving, in a
.nt OF frenzy, for the wealth of Cali
mia.
bn this day all work had ceased. The
d formed in a circle Oh the grass, and
/. the center was Jack Bullet. His
.sbds We're tied behind him, there was
NJ old bloodstain on his face, and from
iB wolfsh eyes he sent murderous
M nee from one face to another and at
ID called out, st wish l had knitted
"a ne of ye."
None of the men replied. Some were
NE, others nervous, and none seemed
Relish the business on hand, which
rs the hanging of Jack Bullet. By
Ia by meek and humble looking
an, named Elder Graves by the boys,
ntered the circle, and, standing with
ue hand on the prisoners shoulder, he
gan:
Jack Bullet, this is a solemn morn
IL for us all Here is the rope, there
the limb, and we are all gathered to
ahg you. You came to Joe Whites
,feam weeks ago, poor, hungry and
II We fed and nursed you, and when
Ia were we'll enough to work a full
lin was staked out for you. How
I've you repaid us, Jack Bullet? You
I'VE stolen dust from the men, brought
scords among US, excited rows and
Dts, and last night you were detected
hen about to murder your partner and
Nal his few hundred dollars. We try
4be white in this camp and use all
I'm right, but we cannot turn you loose
prey upon some other party The
EN- are going to hang you.
A''Let 'em hang! l can't die bat once, "
llkily replied the prisoner.
Jack Bullet said the elder, 81
d a praying man, and l want to pray
ith you before you swing. I am sorry
il you You are strong man, and you
rb to die like a dog. Maybe you have
mother in the east, or you may have
wife and children. God help them!'
The elder sank down on his Knees be-
ne the prisoner and prayed such a
rhyer as the rocks have never echoed
lain. Before he had finished there
ERE tears in the eyes of half the men,
Id Big Sam bent over to Curly Jim
ID whispered:
CHOW, that's what I call religium-
ie real old bang up religium as we
led to git way back in New Hamp-
ire"
When the prayer had ended, new
brit came to the men. They scanned
ok Bullets face and saw that it had
ftened, and as Elder Graves stepped
fde the president of the camp cut
! ck's bonds and said:
1--WE don't want your blood, though
q sought ours. You are free to go,
ack Bullet, but don't you ever enter
3e Whites Dream again. -
iThe reprieved man moved away with
it a word, nor did he look back as
Eng as he was in view. When he had
lsappeared from sight, the miners re-
rned to their work, each one SO busy
18th his thoughts that but few words
Ere spoken. That day two weeks a
an came up from Cardboard City and
ported that Jack Bullet had been eat
up by a grizzly. Every man in the
Imp felt glad then that his town had
capped the disgrace of a hanging, and
the afternoon we saw Elder Graves
builder a spade and turn down into a
title valley. Tt was beautiful spot,
ways full of the melloWest sunshine
hd the prettiest flowers.
When the boys had knocked off work
II the day, they all descended into the
ace, for what reason no one knew,
tt by q common consent. In the center
the valley the earth had been heaped
b like 4 grave. At its head was a
bard, at its foot a wild rose. On the
bard Elder Graves had cut with his
life: "Jack Bullet, aged 40. Men may
DIT have given him chance, but God
ILL.,
You wouldn't think that these rough
en- had sentiment in their hearts, but
ey saw through the elders motives in
/ instant, and the toughest man in the
{ stopped down and carefully rear
nged one of the sods.
Three weeks more went by, and one
ening Jack Bullet came into Joe
hite's Dream, alive. and well. He
God on the little square in the center
the town, and he said not word till
e wondering men gathered about him.
hen he pointed to the grave in the val
Y, his eyes filed with tears and he
Iokingly said:
"Boys, l sneaked back here this
prning to kill some one in revenge,
it cum across that-that grave down
thar, and-and"-
He held out his hands to the men,
id the tears blinded him SO that he
|uld lot see a face. Elder Graves went
,wn ON his knees again, every man
ith him, and there were tears and
Dyer so beautiful and tender and true
ht Jack Bullet sobbed like a child
is heart was broken, and all the satan
his nature was driven out in a mo-