The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-11

hangman by so narrow a chance. She had borne child, but 1t was not to be found. Fife declared that it had been taken from her by the old hag who attended her, but this defense was not likely to help her.
 Under the act of Parliament which had been passed to check the growing crime of child-murder an unmarried woman who concealed her condition and neglected to call in the help which was necessary was held to have med- itated the death of her offspring. and if she could not show that the child had died a natural death or produce It still in life she was held to have mur- dered 1t and must suffer death.
 Fine Deans's father, David Deans was a small farmer. sturdy scotch- man. hating the Southern and the spawn of the Southern. going literally and implicitly by the Bible and refus- ing to bend his neck to the new creeds and conformations. In his strict household, where music and merriment were held as profana tions and every hour had it's stern admonitions, Fine Deans. with her Greeian-shaped head covered with brown TinEiets, her laughing Hebe countenance and her graceful form. seemed strangely out ot place and felt so.
 She could not bend herself to the strict. religious life of prosaic, every day duty that was pursued so cheer fully by her elder sister, Jeanie: and Jeanie ofter sighed in secret over the light-mindedness and worl1liness Of her beloved sister. It had been with many misglvings that Jeanie permitted Fine to go for a time to Edinburgh, and when the news came of Efhe's trouble 1t was to the simple father and sister as blow that smote them nearly to death.
 ha nf P0rteous there was excitement follow ing that affair that kept the public attention from Ef1e. The British court. thoroughly angered at the im- pudence of the people, made every ef- fort to force the offenders to punish mant. The Edinburgh authorities trembling for themselves. tried their best to carry out the sovereign's be- hests, but neither then or ever after ward could the most zealous investi- gators get a particle of evidence against any one, and the story of the Porteous mob lives. In legal history as the most successful conspiracy on record. The attack and hanging were done by torchlight in the presence of half Edinburgh. yet all the efforts of the Grown ended In causing the arrest of only two men, one of whom was half witted Both were discharged on trial, as the evidence was too weak.
 Queen Caroline chose to consider the failure as a direct affront. There was talk In London of taking away the rity's charter. Edinburgh rang with indignation. Then came the news that in the height Of her displeasure the Queen had told John, Duke of Argyle, that sooner than submit to such an inc suit she would make Scotland asfait1ts ing feid. A N.A tV take leave of Your Majesty and go down to my own country to get my hounds ready"
 The meaning of the reply was too obvious to be misunderstood even by so.@ obstinate a house as that which ruled in England. Edinburgh's charter remained unassailed; but poor Efie Deans suffered for it. It was felt that strict justice must be done in her case to prevent any further criticism from London, and 1t became generally un- derstood that unless she could prove that her case did not fall under the fatal act, she would be sentenced to the gallows.
 A few days before the trial, Jeanie was aecosted in a wild, lonely glen by George Robertson, who had ventured there at risk of his own neck to see her. He explained the law to her and besought her to swear that Efae had confessed her condition to her. If you do that" said Robertson, they, cannot try her under the act and they will be glad enough to let her go without asking too many questions of you, for they do not wish to execute her.
 While he was speaking men ap- proach. T dare not stay" whispered he. Your sisters fate Is in your hands" He disappeared In the thick cts, leaving Jeanie's heart shaken by the knowledge that she could save her darling sister from frlghtful doom by committing a perjury for which all the world would forgive her
 Before long, lawyers, prison attend ants and at last Efie herself, desper- ate with fear, begged her to bear testimony that would save her. "oh, if It stude vii me to save her WI risk of my lifen' cried Jeanie. But the word Is grevious sim" The poor lass sank down on her knees in prayer.
 Aud suddenly. as she laid all her pure and simple heart before her Crea- tor there came to her, like a sun- blink on stormy sea, a strong per- suasion that she could work out her sisters delivery without sin. From that moment she was firm in her plan.
 It carried her even through the dreadful ordeal of the trial, when her sisters counsel placed her on the stand and strove to elicit from her testimony to show that Fife had confessed to her.
 When he asked her the question on which her sisters life depended an aw- full and profound hush fell on the crowded court. The prisoners pale face looked at her with supplicatfon and terror. Even the gray-haired fa- ther so stout in his faith that he would rather have faced the rack than a hope to which he was clinging un- consciously and despite himself.
 Jeanie became as pale as her sister. With a faint voice she replied: "Alack! Alack! She never breathed word to me about iti"
 A groan seemed to come from judges and spectators simultaneously. David Deans fells forward senseless. with his white head at his. daughters feet.
 The presiding judge wiped his eyes. and it was not until the stricken man and Jeanie had been led away that he could control himself sufficiently to conduct the rest of the trial. The jury required little time to return the verdict of guilty. and Efiie was sen tenced to death.
 Meantime. even while the doomster was pronouncing the words of sem tence in court, Jeante was making ready to carry out her plan. She pray ed her father for his blessing, and visited her sister In prison. Then she made arrangements for the old mans comfort while she was gone; for Jea- nie intended nothing less than to walk to London to beg the Duke of Argyle