Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-12-04

n=-(A1- 1.-THE mountain Town. Inc
Ws$&Af Iprisoner watched the dawn
n come, his face pressed
, - ! against the from grating. A
~. ! Ighost of moon, rim of
81 4 fire, hung in the east; above
J. it the morning star glowed.
lTEA1EJThe moon rim faded in
the dawn's cool grasp; the stars grew
wan and went out. The fierce band
of orange that widened and heightened
along the mountain tops seemed to the
prisoners distorted imagination a
serpent Of living fire-the rustic of
corn beneath his iron barred window
a hiss.
The day broadened The prisoner
fell on the floor of his cell and lay
there, white, despairing heap.
The pioneer spirit had urged him
west He had crossed the Blue Ridge
and had tramped along day after day
with his shoes flung over one shoulder,
the satchel that held all his worldly
possessions over the other. Day by
day he walked briskly along the noun
tain road, the breath of the forest on
his face, the gurgle OF limpid mountain
streams slipping over pebbly beds, the
gush of bird voices in rapturous song
in his ears. 1t was good to be young
and strong and full of hope.
In the doorway of a springhouse that
was shaded by a venerable oak tree
slip of girl moved a churn dasher
briskly up and down. She sang at
her task, in loud but sweetvoice. The
boy stopped and asked for drink of
water He fingered under the tree
with the brown eyed girl
In the kindly inquisitive way of
mountaineers she asked whence he
came Thus encouraged the simple
story was told. From over in Kahn
tuck his mothers people had sent back
glowing accounts of the country and
he was making his way to them There
was but one tie that bound him to the
old life He was his mothers only
child-she had wept and blessed him
when he left-but, o golden youth, to
whom so much is possible, he would
return for her.
The lad took up his little black
leather satchel and said good-by but
he did not go. The girl lifted shy,
sweet eyes and babe him stay. The
harvest season was at hand, and the
laborers few. 1t was the old story
the old new story. He staid. Through
the long golden harvest days she came
as Ruth came of old into the fields.
The harvest days passed. In her
attic room the girl stirred in her
dreams and nestled her brown cheek
in her brown hand. Beyond the attic
window a cloud as white as the dream
that rippled through her soul in the
still night floated. and in the stable loft
the lad walked and gaZed at the stars.
In the early morning light, under the
Daling stars, he kissed the tears from
the brown eyes and made a solemn
promise to return. He swung down
the road at pace that comes from
strength. He was eager to be at hi
Journeys end. There were two t.
work for now One so old in tn,
Georgia hills, and one so young in thu
valley of the Blue Ridge.
A well mounted traveller overtool
the lad. entered into conversation wit
49,
and let him stretch his legs. TIL
bow complied The man waved hi
hand and disappeared down bypatf
At the thud of galloping hoofs tn
mare broke into run and the la
turned to fling a jest at the men VIII
rode so boldly. Laughing, he turne
and felt heavy hand on his shoulder
and heard the words, "Y're my priso1
err" shouted in his ears.
'Tis easy to OverpOwer a defenseles
and bewildered lad. They turned hi
about and rode in the direction Of til
county seat. They laughed at his e
forts to explain. AS they neared tt
old tree the frightened eyes in Il
springhouSe door reused the boy fro
his apathy. He cried out to the 81
that she knew the truth, knew that
was no horsethief, and must save hil
When the girl spoke, even when 81
described the man who had ridden
on the stolen horse, the office
laughed. A likely tale, they sneere
and swept their prisoner on iowa
the county seat-towards the Jail.
On the day of the trial the cou
house was crowded. AS the dea
sentence was read, for it was in t
DAYS when horsethieves met the dea
penalty in North Carolina, a brea
less silence held the house. You
and defenseless, guarded by arm
men, the boy was marched to his CO
there to await his death.
The sun mounted towards
zenith. The execution was to be
noon Back of the jail small sp;
was inclosed by a high fence, g
there the scaffold had been erect
The mountain town overlooked W
people They come from every dill
tion-on horseback, in wagons, in
carts, on foot. Women carrying til
babies hurried along the highways
breathless fear of being too |;
Small boys weighed down the branc
of the trees, men climbed on the re