Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-12-01

.: ter Of the one long street Of
e.. !: the mountain town. The
"a + prisoner watched the dawn
9%%n come, his face pressed
X Iagainst the iron grating. A
IghOst of a moon, a rim of
i fire, hung in the east; above
= :; ii the morning star glowed.
Z:~ The moon rim faded in
awn's cool grasp; the stars grew
and went out. The fierce band
ange that widened and heightened
: the mountain tops seemed to the
ner's distorted imagination a
9nt of living fire-the rustic Of
beneath his iron barred window
IS.
te day broadened. The prisoner
On the floor of his cell and lay
:, a white, despairing heap.
e pioneer spirit had urged him
He had crossed the Blue Ridge
had tramped along day after day
his shoes flung over one shoulder,
satchel that held all his worldly
essiOns over the other. Day by
he walked briskly along the noun
road, the breath of the forest on
ace, the gurgle Of Iimpid mountain
ans slipping over pebbly beds, the
Of bird voices in rapturous song
IS ears. 1t was good to be young
strong and full Of hope.
the doorway of a spTinghOuse that
shaded by a venerable oak tree a
of a girl moved a churn dasher
,ly up and down. She sang at
ask, in loud but sweetvoice. The
stopped and asked for a drink of
II. He fingered under the tree
the brown eyed girl.
the kindly inquisitive way of
ntaineers she asked whence he
?. Thus encouraged the simple
was told. From over in Kahn
his mothers people had sent back
ing accounts of the country and
as making his way to them. There
but one tie that bound him to the
fe. He was his mothers only
she had wept and blessed him
he Ieft-but, o golden youth, to
I so much is possible, he would
q for her.
lad took up his little black
9r satchel and said good-by, but
not go. The girl lifted shy,
eyes and babe him stay. The
st season was at hand, and the
RS few. 1t was the old story
d new story: He staid. Through
az golden harvest days she came
th came of old into the fields.
harvest days passed. In her
'OOm the girl stirred in her
S and nestled her brown cheek
brown hand Beyond the attic
W a cloud as white as the dream
.ppled through her soul in the
ght flOated, and in the stable loft
l walked and gazed at the stars.
@ early morning light, under the
stars, he kissed the tears from
own eyes and made a solemn
to return. He swung down
Id at a pace that comes from
tn. He was eager to be at his
US end. There were two to
or now. One so old in the
a hills, and one so young in the
Of the Blue Ridge.
ell mounted traveller overlook
/, entered into conversation with
nd asked him to ride his horse
him stretch his legs. The
implied. The man waved his
and disappeared down a bypath.
thud of galloping hoofs the
broke into q run and the lad
{ to fling a jest at the men who
boldly. Laughing, he turned
1T a heavy hand on his shoulders
card the words, eyre my prison
lOuted in his ears.
easy to OverpOWer a defenseless
9wiIdered lad. They turned him
and rode in the direction of the
seat. They laughed at his eff
o explain. AS they neared the
9e the frightened eyes in the
house door reused the boy from
athy. He cried out to the girl
le knew the truth, knew that he
, horsethief, and must save him.
n the girl spoke, even when she
)ed the man who had ridden by
stolen horse, the officers
/. A likely tale, they sneered,
ept their prisoner on toward
mty seat-towards the Jail.
lie day of the trial the court
vas crowded. AS the death
was read, for it was in the |
len horsethieves met the death
in NTS,Ttb Carolina q broo+b