Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-12-20
MARY E..
WILKINS

| drink which put new life into me,
| though it was still out of the question
for me to rice that fiery horse which
stood paving outside the prison. And
Just here | would like to say that ]
never forgot, nor ceased to be grateful
| for. the kindly interest in me and the
risk which the parson was disposed
to ta,:e for MY sake that day. A great
risk indeed it would have been, and
would doubtless have cost him his liv-
| ing. had | ridden across country on
| that famous horse Of his. But he seem.
ed not to think Of that, but shook his
head sadly after had swallowed the
brancy, and then my brother John
came in and lie turned to him.
a fine plan for escape had, with
the jailer drunk and the sentries blind.
ed by my last winnings at cards, but
Harry is too weak to ride" he said.
Then l, being somewhat restored by
the brandy, mustered up strength
enough to have q mind and speak it,
and declared that l would not in any
case avail myself Of his aid to escape,
since | should only bring trouble upon
him who aided me, and should in the
end be caught And just as spoke
came a company Of soldiers to escort
me to the stocks, and the chance, for
what 1t was worth, was over.
This much, however, had my brother
gained for me, since I was manifestly
unable to walk or ride: One Of the
Cavendsh chairs which they had
brought from England was at the pris.
on door, and some Of our black men
for bearers. half blubbering at the er-
rand upon which they were bound.
Somebody had rigged a curtain of
thin silk for the chair, so that 1, when
l was set therein, had great privacy,
though l knew by the sounds that |
was attended by the motley crowd
which usually is in following at such
affairs. besides the little troop Of horse
which was my escort, and my brother
and Parson Downs riding on either
side. Parson Downs, though some
might reckon him as being somewhat
contumelious in his manner Of leaving
the tobacco cutting, yet was not so
when there was anything to be gained
by his service. He was moreover quit
of any blame by his Office of spiritual
adviser, though 1t was not customary
for n criminal to be attended to the
stocks by a clergyman, but only to the
ScaffOld.
But, as | began to gather some
strength through that fiery draught
which had swallowed and the fresh
air, it verify seemed to me. though l
had done with any vain complaints and
was of mind to bear my ignominy
with as much bravery as though 1t
were death, that 1t was as much Of an
occasion for spiritual consolation. II
could not believe-when we were ar
rived ut the New field and | was as
sisted from my chair in the midst of
that hOoting and jeering throng, which
even the soldiers and the threatening
gestures of the parson and my brother
served but little to restrain-that WAS
myself. and still more so when | was
Mt last seated in that shameful instru-
ment, the stocks.
Ever since that time have Won
dered whether mankind hath any
bodily ills which are not dependent up
on the mind for their existence and are
so durable by some sore stress of it.
For verify. though my wounds were
not healed. and the sun was blisterin:
with that damp blister which frets
the soul as well as the flesh, l seemed
10 sense nothing except the shame and
lisgrace of my estate.
AS for my bodily ailments, they
might have been cured, for aught
know of them. To this time, when | lay
me down to sleep after harder days
work than ordinary, can see and
hear the jeers Of that rude crowd
around the stocks. Truly, after all, n
mans vanity is his point Of vantage,
and | wonder greatly If that be not
the true meaning of the vulnerable spot
in Achilles heel. Some slight dignity,
though | had not so understood 1t.
had maintained In the midst OF my
......,.,.i.cS. 10 s'c Il CONVICT OIL one
irct VA. 10 protect the maid or ones
love f:u:I sr:ci. vas one thing, but
TO sil in lhe stocks, exposed 10 tile
jibcs of Il common crowd. was another.
And more than aught else, | felt the
sting of the comedy in 1t.
TO sit there with MY two feet straight
out. so.es to the people. through those
rude holes in the boards. and all at
liberty to gaze and laugh dt ne, was
infinitely worse than to welter III my
blood upon the scaffold. How many
times, as | sat there, it came to me
that if it had been the scufTold. Mary
Cavendisn could ut least have held my
memory in some respect; as 1t was'
she could but laugh. Full easy II may
be for any man with the courage OF a
man to figure in tragedy, but try him
in comedy if you would prove his met
tie.
Shortly after l arrived there in the
New field, which was q wide, open
space, the sports began, and | saw
them all as in dream, or worse than
a dream, nightmare. First came Par
son Downs, whispering to me that rs
LONG as he could do me no good, and
was in sore need Of money, and, more
over since he would by so doing divert
somewhat the public attention from
me. he would enter the race which
was shortly to come of for prize
Of f5.
Then came q great challenge OF
drums. and the parson was in his sad
die and the horses OF on the three
mile course, my eyes following them
into the dust clouded distance and see-
ing the parson come riding in ahead to
the winning post, with that curious un-
certainty as to the reality which had
been upon me all the morning-that
is. of the uncertainty Of aught save my
shameful abiding in the stocks.
AS said before, 1t was a hot day,
and all around the field waved fruit
boughs nearly past their bloom, with
the green of new leaves overcoming the
white and red, and the air was heavy
with honey-sweet, and. as steady as
clock tick, through all the roaring OF
the merrymakers came the hum OF the
bees and the calls Of the birds. A great
flag was streaming thirty feet high. and
II VIr..h hnd