New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-08

Ir'Ci- gold offered Tor lie. fDT NNr 30 Tie might
be happy with her; he might enrich his little garden
of love with the carrion the hangman made OF me! All
these accur7ed thoughts came driving and swimming
into my brain ike q clutter OF tangled splitting ylperS
fangng me into fever ashng me INTO madness again
like the heat the camp But one by one through the
night crushed the evil things-as I'd crushed Jalers
the foreman kept my eye, on the stars. kept her
face before me. And when the day came like drench
of molten lead had beaten down all the grdng hends
| felt weak as little Hop o. My Thumb the frog Id
made mate Of but knew that would do what |
would do.
WHEN she came to the well in the wheness of the
w morning and drew the buckets up, broke. a
piece of paper over the Cured iron OF the bucket handle
This is what I'd written on It:
/ Owen Griffths who killed WYATT Jallers at Ormuz
am now in the well below YOU hole made by cave-in
You give me up with profit to them that hunt me-
but by the of your By the goodness Of your
heart and It's tenderness and by all heard YOU say last
night. have fear. am as YOU think me- and bless
YOU for thinking it. And YOU have fear Of
the well tonight and aone-so may tell you what must
Il saw her shake and whiten. Her brown does eyes
looked down the well in sore fright An hour after q Is
the empty bucket came dangling past; but | saw only
her hand on the rope In the bucket there two tat
slices of sweet fresh baked bread lined with meat all
wrapped in paper. Oh, the melting, heavenly good
ness Of that food Timothy, cut and gwen me by hcr
own dear hands When I'd eaten II, there were
few words on the inside Of the paper: This Is for the
flower YOU sent II was her mother that drew water
for the rest the dav No law officers came 70 drag me
Judgment ana q broken neck Hat llSllt N4'lI
the sky was like coal-i might have been ten o'clock
heard whisper her lark tones fiuttering down 10 me:
Man she called, man in the well, come up.
7 CLIMBED out hand over hand up the gathered dou-
L bic rope \ black demon OF an outlaw must have
looked with nv long hair and beard which hadn known
a comb for a fortnight And my foulcd clothes tapped
upon me like a scarecrows rags There She stood tall
and white and calm, and then ! saw there was more OF
the woman in her than the child. Just pace apart She
stood and held out her hand to me; but have taken
II no more than that OF snow white angel. hung
the swarthy head OF me and folded my evil hands as
though she were my Judge.
THE well is deep and damp said she at last. and
poor place 70 hide What can do to help you
Then | bent nv tongue loose where II Glove 10 the
roof of my mouth. Bring me 20 your sweetheart HOW
ard, said want to give myself up-l want HIM TO
have the reward
"'No, no, said She in an open burst Of fear. Why
should YOU give yourself up;
For the law. for righteousness for conscience sake,
said 20 her for the good that shines in golden women
ike yourself for the good deed might do your Howard
and yourself and 50 wipe away my evil one.
The reward, she cries. Never! | tell you never
for either Ot us,
For your sakes that need it, spoke l. rather than
see IL 90 into the black hands OF wolf or dog OF
hunter Of men. Lead me on to your Howard or ieteh
him and | II wait.
'No. no., she cries again peering about her. Hurry
Then lead me yourself | said to the magistrate
before 60 of my accord, mschancing, perhaps TO
tall into the lVnChcrs hands.
Merciiul Cod she bursts out. / cant do it
cant take your life upon mel
THE two thousand dollars, then, said l. that
might have bought you a homestead with nm, win
your Young man will be wasted in dicing and drinking
and done for none the less. The two thousand
dollars will keep him at your side.
You heard all this She says opening her Soit eyes
and YOU would do all ths-for u.s.
YES, said |, daring to step an inch nearer to her
and much more than ths-for you.'
Then it is only for us strangers to you, that you
would give yourself up, asks she.
No told her; il is for myself too for my peace
Of mind and soul, for penance and my sleep o nights