The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1903-01-02
A Child.
Witness
Bv FLORENCE LILLY.

I'm chll0nOOQ nome Was III
IW quiet little country town where
HE short - years of my life had been
Spent in peaceful happiness. The days
glipped away and the world, to me,
WAS only great big playhouse, until
Something happened which brought
inc to realization that it was indeed
j playhouse but on its stage tragedy
and crime played a conspicuous part.
/ My childhood dreams had a rude
awakening. One morning, as l was
busy at work in my little garden, was
Startled by the sharp clatter OF horses
Feet, coming down the street. The
sasy, graceful rider was Harry Derbin'
] young man of our town.
He was, indeed, man to be envled,
Seing endowed with everything to
make his life a success. He was hand
ONE, popular and wealthy, and re-
sort said, soon to be married to a love-
\ girl in a neighboring town.
! I saw from his flashing eyes that
omething was terribly wrong. In
In instant he had dashed up to the
lacks NTH door across the street, and
18th q few words I could not hear,
eveled his pistol at the blacksmith's
cad. The poor fellow begged piteous-
for mercy, but without tremor
one relenting glance, young Der
lin fred. and the unfortunate man fell
B the ground with groan.
II was rooted to the spot in horror
nd amazement, but my eyes refused
) leave the man. who could by one
It of ungovernable passion, cast aside
il thought of his future and wreck
life so full of promise as his.
with glance at his PROSTATE vic
m, he coolly placed his revolver back
his pocket. and rode off down the
rect. As he passed me by, he glanced
pwn at my trembling little figure as
to say: well, did you see it, little
Fe?" and my throbbing heart an
Eered: 'Ies, I, and only I. and your
aker- saw the deed" Then, as
ovid came rushing up the street,
zed and trembling, I turned and
mt into the house-not the happy,
ireless child that came out, but one
indy confused at this first glimpse
tragedy in the worlds playhouse.
Upon Investigation it proved that
E motive for the deed, while ex-
hmely aggravating. did not justify
- taking of a mans life. The black
18th had struck Henry Derbin's
lie brother for some mischievous
Ink in his shop, but this was too
CHI for the proud, fiery spirit of the
Ter brother, and nothing but the
ms life would pay the penalty.
He was promptly arrested, and for
lime there was great excitement,
after awhile the tumult subsidized
], owing to his popularity and the
It that he was the moving spirit
he towns enterprises, public opin-
soon began to lean very much in
favor.
tearing the matter discussed so
I soon began to consider him
my prosecuted hero, but consoled
self that 1 was the only one who
: the shot fired. But I was Devil
ed when father brought home one
my summons as the principal wit
in the case. l did not then realize
It it meant, although father very
mnly' told me as we went to the
rthouse that ''a mans life was in
hands," and that I must "tell the
h and nothing but the truth"
ut what 1 saw on that terrible
He led me into the crowded
rtroom, and I searched in vain
ng the sea of faces for that of my
l tremblingly obeyed the call
he witness stand, and at last saw
pale, handsome face of the man
IN my simple words would con-
n. There he sat with his mother,
.theart, money and friends on one
of bis scale of destiny, but alas!
to be overbalenced by the law,
and justice. His gilt
}g eyes were fixed upon me as II
ay: "Be merciful. little girl; you
not what you do" The tears
-s ,med down my face, and between
obs 1 told my simple story, which
have carried conviction with it.,
he Jury had been out of the room
few moments when they re-
ed with the verdict of ''guilty,"
then, as the judge Numbered out
sentence that Henry Derbin was
,e hung by the neck until he was
dead, Dead" realized that this
life had indeed been placed in
'ands.
Lille the words of the judge rang in
ars the condemned man gave me
:eproachful look, then bowed his
and wept as had never seen a
weep before.
bile sympathy by this time was so
in his favor that the most prom
citizens, by a widely circulated
ion, got his sentence committed
imprisonment.