The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-10-20

It's every feature was indelibly upon
her memory. The sight of that face
again stilled her beating heart and
Gained every nerve. Her level gaze
sought his eyes, but they would not
meet 1t. Once, once only, they rested
on her face. No pity, no mercy, was
there. 1t was the face of a Judge and
an eXecutioner. She had not spoken
when shrieks broke the stiffness and
negro woman, who had come across
the cotton field, plunged into the light
and, falling, clasped the girls knees.
Inc woman was almost GREATNESS
with excitement and exhaustion. She
had run from the distant cabin where
the negro had been seized. He was
her boy, and came but seldom to this
plantation, and then only to escape the
consequences of crime elsewhere.
Don't do 1t, missy-fol Gods sake!
1t warn't him! No, 70 God, it warnt
him. he been dere all night! Say it
warn't him, honey-yo mammy's boy,
honey! An she nussed you an yourn!
Yo' sisters died in my arfnsi Speak,
missy! Tell EN- quick, honey, it
warn't mammy's-mammy's boyi". =,
The girl reached down and rested
her hand on the head of the old wo.
man. Her face was white and her
voice barely audible. ..s--.
flush, mammy!" She looked intent
ly on the brutal face of the prisoner,
who had been brought closer. A shud-
der shook her form, but she. did not
turn away her eyes. The words she
spoke then were inaudibre to any of
the group except her father. He start
ed violently.
Child! Child" he cried, a look of
fear on his face. Remember what you
are doing!"
What does your daughter say, col.
| onel?" asked the leader.
The planter paused and looked on
the girl, whose struggle to be calm was
apparent to all. He waited in vain.
That this is not the mani he said
at length
The amazement of the crowd was
evident, though there was no immedi
ate response. The members drew
slowly into little groups. The leader
sat his horse, thoughtfully regarding
the girl.
If she's sartin, thar amt nothin
for us to do but turn him loose and try
ag'in. My young frien'-are you sartin
that this amt Their man who went into
yo' room tonight" The girl looked
appealingly towards him, the negro
woman patting her hand and moaning
Il am certain" she said, and her
white face was not turned away. The
old man gazed steadily into it and
lifted his hat.
Every man in the party read the
meaning of his action and every hat
was lifted as the woman and girl with.
drew.
Colonel" he said, when they were
gone, under this statement of tn case,
we can't do nothin' but turn tn man
loose. In a courthouse, if she went
thar, as you wouldn't have her, yo'
daughter would acquit tn prisoner.
Public opinion wouldn't indorse any
Whence on our part. Boys, unite himi"
The negro was being united, his
hands extended for the purpose, when
the man who was working at the knot
paused, looking intently at the pris.
oner's wrist. He called the leader and
whispered to him; and as he whispered
the negro sought to draw the wrist
back under the rough shirt sleeve.
I'm tn struggle, colonel" said the
leader, coming now to where the ia.
Their stood thoughtful and depressed, his
eyes bent on the Pickering fire, did
yo' daughter say anything erbout er
wound she made? Try an remember,
please, sah-it may save her comm
back"
None whatever. The pistol she
held was seized and would have been
wrenched from her but that in her
desperation she succeeded in Wait!
Watt" he cried, rushing forward.
There must have been wound! Look
for a wound on his wrist"
The negro's arm was seized and, in
spite of frantic struggle on his part
to conceal it, the print of the girls
teeth, where they had sunk into the
flesh, became visible. He would have
cried out but hand was laid over
his mouth until gag had been found.
Stay here, colonel" said the leader
as the party mounted and rode away
with their prisoner. I'VE won't need
no help!"
The planter remained. He waited |
sadly by the fire until Peter extir. |
guished it and then passed slowly to |
the house
Through the still open window he |
saw his daughter on her knees. con.
vulsed with the agony of remorse for
her first lie. Her Nanny" bending |
over her, was powerless to comfort |
The girl was crying.
"Thou knowest my heart! Thou |
knowest if have sinned against Thee! I
Thou-Thou hast said, Vengeance is
mine-I will repay!'"
The father bowed his head and |
passed on in silence. AS he stood al |
the end of the porch, mute and op
pressed. there came across the fields
the faint echo of volley
Hay fever differs from a question