Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-08-18
a reception was open to misoonception,

and the subject dropped.
The empty saloon, which had been
taken as a temporary church, was as
clean as whitewash and soap could
make it and only wanted the presence
of the parson to make it complete.
The excitement grew intense as the
hour drew near when the coach was
due, eliminating in a mighty cheer
when the driver finally pulled up oppo-
site the saloon. Several passengers got
down, but no Il answering to the de-
scriptiun of o strong man left the coach.
Finally Texas Joe said to the driver,
"Say, where's your new p~arson?"
"There, sitting on his trunk, y re-
piled the man, with a grin on his face.
All eyes turned toward a young, slen-
der looking man, vino, with eyes twin
king with amusement, was watching
his new congregation. Seeing that some
thing was expected of him, he came for
ward and held out his hand.
"Men of South City," he began, in a
clear, musical voice, 81 have been sent
up here to act, if you will have me, as
your new parson. Something tells me
we are going to be good friends, and it
won't be my fault if we aren't. There's
lots for me to learn from you and per-
haps l can do a little for you too"
His face was SO boyish, his hair so
curly and such an air of sincerity and
truth seemed to surround him hat the
miners, although deeply disappointed,
felt their hearts go out to him.
One sultry afternoon the parson of
South City was sitting in his room, a
prey to the deepest depression. With all
the eagerness that youth and zeal could
supply he had done his best to raise his
people, and he had failed and he knew
it. He saw his miners, at first shame
lessly and then openly, stay away from
his little church, and his heart was sick
within him. He was wondering if it
were worth while staying on when his
door was suddenly opened and a woman,
disheveled and wild eyed, rushed in.
"Oh, parson, save my boy - she
gasped, and sank on to d chair, breath
less with her haste.
"Why, Mrs. Mace, what on earth is
the matter? Is your son ill?" he asked
eagerly.
"No, sir, he amt ill, but he's worse
nor that-the men are going to hang
him."
"What for? Surely he hasn't been
tried. What has he done?"
"Well, SIR" walled the woman,
''he's got into bad company lately and
a mar accused him of horse stealing,
a~nd-and'- looking fearfulIy around,
''it's true, SIR"
Young and inexperienced as he was
in the ways of a frontier camp the par
son knew that horse stealing was one of
the deadly sins, and his face grew pale
as death.
"I'm afraid, Mrs. Mace, that if the
men have decided to hang your son no
word Of mine would stay them"
"And you, a minister, to say that to
me, a mother! Why, it's none the less
murder. and you know it! Oh, SIR"
she pleaded, there's yet time to catch
them up! For Gods sake, whose word
you preach, try and save my boyl Will
no n help a poor motherr' She wept
bitterly, while the parson in magma
tion felt himself defying the mob, and
also in imagination saw the CHASTITY
tragedy that would ensue on his inter
ference.
"Come, Mrs. Mace, let us go and
hurry, and perhaps we may do some
good" Selling his hat, he ran from
the room and followed the crowd of
miners whom he saw were making for
some trees about half a mile out Of
town. When he finally caught up to
them, all the grim preparations were
made for the execution. The rope was
around the shivering youths neck. Six
stalwart men held the loose end, ready
at a signal to launch the criminal into
eternity. With his boyish face flushed
with excitement, the parson pressed to
the front and stood side by side with
the man about to die. A silence fell on
the throng, broken by Texas Joe, who
said: "Now, parson, this amt no place
for you. Judge Lynch has had his say,
and Jim Mace is going to be hanged, (
and that's So"
"And who are you to take upon your
self to judge and to execute? Don't |
scowl at me and finger your gun, for
I'm an unarmed man, and you know it.
Have not you enough blood on your
hands already without killing this boy
who has broken your laws? Give him
n more chance, and you may be glad
yourself Of it n day."
The fury that occasionally comes over
men of quite meek dispositions was Oh
the little man who stood defying the
whole mob. His look seemed to daunt
even the men who held the rope, and it
hung loose about Mace's neck.
Joe saw his authority trembling in
the balance, and with pistol raised said,
"Clear him out Of the way, boys. or I'll
shoot him where he stands"
"No, you won't, Joe,' said the par
son u~ndauntedly. "You know that
would be murder, and they don't love
you too much, even here, to stand that"
No one spoke for a moment; then the
Cornishman, Treleavan, shouted out:
life for a life! II the parson wants
Mace to live, let him be hanged in
The mob shrank from this cold blood
ed proposal, and, seizing the psychology
ical moment, the parson slipped the hal.
ter from Mace's neck, placed it round
his own and said: "Go, my lad, turn
over a new leaf and leave this town.
Go, and God bless your
The crowd opened, and Mace stumbled
away, looking neither to the right nor
left, leaving his rescuer standing with
moving lips in his place.
Thou T'oyas loo said xuith on odd