Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-04-11

she trdtkcd Ssrdt1ht y0rtrdrd tctth M
dainty hand extended.
tache, and I identified him among the
crowd last evening that swarmed into
the dining room Of the inn"
"And yet you say no one else suspect
ed it,"
$50 far as was able to judge, no one
did. When / accused him, he met the
accusation jauntily and was cunning
enough TO speak in disguised voice.
He had also changed his dress and thus
diverted suspicion from himself"
1T was most extraordinary. and yet
perhaps it was not, when your wonder
full rescmhlanos to each other is noted.
Your appeal to them for time ought to
have been heeded."
"Notbing is so unreasoning a.
mob"
"Nor 10 cruel. Even now you are in
danger. They expect you to come here,
and will follow you. I hops father will
soon return.
For the first time she showed nervous.
pess, and. rising from her chair. walked
10 the window and looked down the
highway. Nothing was observed, and
she returned to her seat.
"He heard OF it last evening, and
could scarcely believeit. There has new.
er been lynching in this part Of the
state, and il would have been horrible
Ia 80, ,,ro<a,t ,,a,, baa,, tba victim
Colonel Mansley's first belief was that II
was Mr.. Boyer who had taken his horse
and been caught ut II, and be was angry
enough to express the wish to take part
In his punishment He, however,
changed nis mind"
Twas hopeful that there would be
some explanation Of her visit to the inn.
My curiosity was to know whether that
remarkable call was made under the be-
lief that the real Hank Boyer was in
peril or whether from the first il bad
been her wish 10 save guiltless man
from punishment. dared not ask the
question, and she did not choose TO en-.
tighten me.
81 have been wondering" said
after moments silence, whether Mr..
Boyer was not conscience smitten when
he saw my peril and whether he would
not take some steps to save me.
"Not hep she exclaimed, with an.
other flash Of her black eyes. "Did he
not have the opportunity and yet fail
TO use it?'
because it would have involved him
In danger. But he could place himself
beyond reach Of the mob and then send
word to them Of the truth"
She shook her head decisively.
"a man who commits such wrong
as he did is not the one TO correct II" "
"And yet the truth would be certain
to come to light ere long. His and my
identity would be established.
"Still he could have escaped by plac-
ing himself at his own leisure beyond
reach Of the law. Do you not see also
that IL your mutual identity was made
clear it would not have removed the
taint from your name-that is, ON the
part of the unreasoning ones who accuse
your"
"Why not?"
"The missing horse was in your pos
session. That is enough to condemn you
with unthinking people. Mr.. Boyer had
only to deny the purchase as you ex-
planned II, and he would have been gen.
orally believed. It was q grave error on
your part to humor the fancy that you
were another person"
81 saw it when too late. I believe
but for that I should have been able TO
clear myself II was the testimony OF
the landlord and the squire that clinch-
ed matters against me. My explanation
was too absurd to satisfy Them"
"Yet you were not blamable- 1t Ia
they who rushed headlong to violence.
Why should they forget that Mississippi
Ii state where law and right prevails?
Our conversation ran on delightfully."-
for more than AN hour, when it was
broken by a gentle tap on the door, and,
in response to Miss Mansley's call, II
was opened, and the colored girl stood
before us. She looked at me queerly, as
II she did not quite understand things.
and said:
"Mr. Boyer IL ct the door and would
like to see yo' IL it's 'greeable."
"Ask him to wait few minutes. "
wa the instant response Of tbs young
woman.