Year: 1869




Already wounded, seeing that he was
being surrounded, and soon would be
piniOned from behind, he gave up his
mad purpose, and with a howl of baffied
revenge, broke through the ranks and
dashed across the broad hall into an Op-
pOsite room, with the hope of leaping
from the window and making his escape.
And so he might have done had not
his deyilish love of blood stayed him.
He saw almost directly in his path the
| beautiful daughter of the planter shrink
ing upon the bed. Here at least was a
chance for vengeance; and forgetting
his own danger spTang toward her, twist
ing his CORY fingers in her long Silken
hair, drew her toward him, raised his
knife, and was about to bury it in the
soft bosom, when another form, with
face as white as wintry snow, sprang up
from behind and cIung to him so as to
effectually rob him of all power to do
harm.


He turned and saw her who had been
to him as wife!


BY this time the room was beginning
to be crowded.


A pistol ball, fired by the Colonel
whistled through his crisp black hair 4;
a blow from the nearest negro made him
stagger for a moment but all was too
late to save the wretched woman. He
flung himself down upon her, piniOned
her beneath his knees, and before the
brain had time to think, his weapon was
driven hiIt deep into her heart


1t was his last murder. Like wolves
upon a fallen deer the slaves threw
themselves upon him, and would have
torn him limb from limb, cut him into
a thousand pieces, had the voice of their
master not sternly forbade.


Harm him not, but bind him, be-
yOnd the possibility of escape,,' he said,
and was Obeyed.


With the morning light he dispatched
messengers to several of the neighbOr-
ing planters and soon they were assem-
bled. The story was told, the cOrpses
shown, and a short consultation held
Then a procession, in the midst of which
was the fettered prisoner, departed from
the house. The march continued in 81
Ience until they reached the late rem
devious of the outlaws. Not a single
word was spoken, and the first that was
uttered was by the lips of the prisoner.


'NOt there! For Gods sake not thereD
he said, with a shUdder that could not
be suppressed.


Why ?' was asked.


No answer was returned. Gafney re-
mained sullenly dumb.


"There must be a cause" said one of
the planters.


And q hasty investigation revealed the
fact that the sod at the foot Of the tree
had recently been disturbed. In an in
slant the ground was torn up, and the
half decayed body of a man, evidently
murdered by knife, was brought to
light.


q Here is sufficient reason" said Col
Onel Jardin, even if there was no other
to justify our acts. What say you gen.
| tIemen"


"Let the hollow oak bear fruit for the
last timer


At q signal a slave stepped forward
and placed a rope around the neck of
the prisoner. Then he threw the other
over a branch. It was grasped by half
a hundred willing hands, who only wait
ed for orders to hoist away But the
just men were even then unwilling to
send the blOOd-stained soul into the pres
ence OF its maker without a moment for
preparation, and one of them told him
five minutes would be given him for
prayer.


"Prayer be cursed!" was the prOfane
answer. 81 never prayed in all my life,
and I am not going to begin now. Swing
me up and be done with it! I thought
I shuffled the cards well, but luck was
against me. You have the deal now,
and you"


His impulse words were suddenly cut
short. There could be no pity for such
a wretch, and in an instant he was dang
ling from the tOpmOst branches of the
tree-theTe to remain until the birds had
torn his flesh piecemeal, and the bleach
ed bones fell one by one, to the earth.
The rest is soon told. The bodies of
the residue of robbers were buried with
out ceremOny-they deserved none
Those of the fallen slaves received fit
ting intement from their friends, and
the poor woman who had passed through
storm and darkness to inform them of
their danger, and who had given her
own life to save that of the daughter,
was followed to the grave by the entire
household, and tearfUlly consigned to
the earth. A marble slab rests over the
remains, upon which is carved: ''The
unknown; Let him who is without sin
cast the first stOne.'


The Hollow Oak is gone now. All
traces Of it are gone, and bright, sweet
flowers spring from the messy mold
But it stood long a speechless witness of
justice of the Frontier, and men grew
silent and women shuddeTed when they
thought of its latest fruit.