Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-23
DAILY SHORT STORY
An Ancient Edict.
IOrlgInal.I

~~N-~~N
use. In those days punishment was
very disproportionate to the crime.
During the>reign of King Edward ".
of England young girl of Yorkshire
was wooed by two lovers, the one
q young farmer of her own rank, the
other the protiigate son of wealthy
merchant. Robert Dangertield, the
farmer, held the principal place in
Marjory's affections, but Tom Ricketts,,
the merchants son, being heir to great
prospective wealth, was Il rival to be
dreaded. Ricketts, was Il great rascal
and at first never intended to marry
the girl, but MIarjory was we'll able
to take care of herself, and the young
scapegrace soon discovered that he
could only have her, If at all, after
legitimate wedding ceremony. AS soon
as he came unto this condition Mar
jory, possibly in order to tantalize
him, declared that she intended, after
all, to wed Robert Dangerfield.
Ricketts, by this time was madly in
love and ready to commit any crime
to gain the girl. One dark night he
stole Il sheep from one of his fathers
tenants, carried 1t TO the cottage of his
rival and tethered it to the doorpost
Robert awoke in the morning and was
astonishcd to find the sheep, which.
with the simple faith of that day, he
considered gift sent him from
heaven. Tom Ricketts, told the owner
that he had seen his animal i'll posses
sion of Dangerfield. The young farmer
was arrested and thrown into prison
on a charge of sheep stealing. Then
Ricketts, rode to the home of Marjory
to tell her the news:
"Dangeriield has been sheep stealing.
He is in prison and Will be tried and
hanged. Do not waste more time, Mar
gerry, in listening to men of how de-
gree. Set the day for our wedding.
We will travel and see foreign lands,
and when we return l will build cas-
tie for you to live in"
Now, Marjory was no fool. She
knew that Ricketts, was in earnest,
but she distrusted him. Furthermore,
she had n will of her own and usually
took the opposite side from sheer OBJ
stinacy.
Il won't marry you, Tom Ricketts,"
she said, IF you build twenty castles.
l am going to marry Robert Danger
field"
\
81 will marry him whether he is
hanged or not"
Marjory- visited Dangerfield in prison
and asked him what she could do to
save him. Her lover babe her go to
Bleckstun, famous lawyer of that
name, and ask him If he could suggest
any way out of the difficulty. Block
stun familiarized himself with the case,
then questioned Marjory.
You say that you love the accused"
he said.
81 do"
"And will marry him if he is ac-
quitted?"
'Yes, and if he is hanged"
WHAT Marry him in prison on the
eve of execution
IT will marry him at the foot of the
gallows."
The lawyer babe her go and tell the
prisoner that there was hope for him,
but that his escape from death, If at
all, would be by hairs breadth.
Dangerfield was tried, but the law
yer did not appear to defend him. The
evidence against him was so strong,
the sheep having been found tethered
to his door, that he was pronounced
guilty and sentenced to be hanged
He offered to decide the matter by
combat with Ricketts,, whom he suS-
pected of having brought the misfor-
tune upon him, but Ricketts, declined
on the ground that he was not the
owner of the sheep.
The day of the execution was holi-
day, as all such days were at that time,
though Dangerfelds neighbors were
plunged in grief, for he was much re-
spected among them, and they did not
see why he should have stolen one
sheep when he was the possessor of
several hundred. Marjory went with
linn to the gallows, and, seeing Tom
Ricketts, by the way among the lockers
on, she gave him q scowl of defiance
and hatred. On arriving at the place
of execution she cast glance over the
assembled multitude and was aston
ished to see among them the lawyer
Bleckstun.
When all was ready and the hang
man was about to adjust the moose,
Marjory cried out:
81 claim this man in marriage"
There was the silence of surprise
among the spectators, then further as
constituent when Bleckstun arose from
his seat and said in loud voice:
"And claim him as free man."
"Who are you" asked the sheriff.
81 am Edmond Bleckstun."
There was a hum in the assembly,
Cor all knew of the wonderful Legal
wisdom of the renowned Bleckstun-
"On what ground do you claim the
prisoner
Under an edict of his most gracious
majesty King Edward ". which COM
mands that when a man is to be exc
cuted for crime if any woman shall de-
mand him in marriage he shall be
spared and given to the woman"
The sheriff had too great respect for
the learned councillors knowledge of