Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1898-10-06
LEAKEsvILLE, GREENE COUNTY, MISS. THURSDAY ocToBE

in her observation-disclosures to the end.
And SOL could never speak Only
now, only now, when it can do no
harm-and because 1t feels easier to
pass out without the stain than with
it. 1t is only that you may remember
that convict sixty-nine was innocent.
I won't say anything about what I've
endured. I'd do it again, gladly. I
hope he made her happy. And now
you must promise-you must promise
me "a dying man, that you will say
nothing of what have told you; that
you will regard it as sacred, and that
there will ;be no raking among the
ashes of fifteen years ago. Promise
me that, gentlemen, promise me, or
-I-cannot-d t-die-in-peace."
His dim eyes wandered from face to
face, imploringly, and yet with some
thing of command in them.
The sergeant looked at the doctor,
and both their eyes shone.
'It's against the law" said the SER
geant putting out his hand and laying
it on the doctors shoulder, "but for a
lldu llhc ontst, L -NiOOtOl, IL
this from the records"
"I'll do the same," said the doctor
swiftly The he spurted at the guard,
"And if you say word"
"I'll be hanged first" was the fierce
reply. Then there-was silence, un-
til the dying man spoke again, very
slowly and with an effort
IT suppose you wonder why 7
tried to escape. Well, it was mad
ness, I think. I can't explain it my
self. But / was out there with the
blasting outfit to-day, when suddenly
1 looked up and saw the figure of q
woman against the skyline, on the
slope of the granite mountain. She
had on a big sunbonnet, and to me,
in my sudden madness, she was the
image of Mary Horton as 1 used to
watch her coming from the district
schoolhouse in the long ago. I reckon
it was really one of the guards wives;
but I didn't think of that then. I
saw that figure, and-all of sudden
everything gave way in me-all but
the longing for her. I forgot the
years-the place, everything. There
was Mary-out there on the noun
tain; if I could reach her and tell
her how miserable I was; If could
but kiss her once; but once speak to
her And then, I started forward
madly, running at full speed, in a
kind of frenzy-and-now-I-am-
here"
He noticed the anguish on the
guards face, and went on, looking
up smilingly at him
'Oh, you did your duty, you know.
How were you to know the madness
that was in me? For it must have
been a-madness. Yes, surely, 1t
must have been. And SO, you have
all promised me that you-will say
nothing? All, thank you, thank you.
1t makes it so much easier for me, il
1 can think that she will never know.
It-might t-worry--her-"
His breath went from him in gen.
tie sigh, and the eyes closed. The
doctor stepped forward, and put his
head down towards the mans heart.
1t had ceased to beat.
"Dead!" he said briefly.
A tear glistened on the guards
leathery cheek.
"He was white" he said thickly,
"clear through" Then he put his hand
to his cheek and wiped away tear.
''When an army soldier dies"
he went on, looking at the sergeant.
"Yes,n said the sergeant, "go on;
he deserves ii.
Over in the gnard-statlon they list
ened to the shots and looked up,
whats that?" asked lately ar
rived guard.
ga convict has escaped" was the
answer.