Year: 1859

more frAsile, before erionging sysspskeald
fall upon him fagsin, For, one month from
that night, lsnd it wns short enough,) the
tnunderboit fell from q oloaldless sky, and the
mass OF dust that rose from the road going out
from the village, shrouded in its maze ali that
was mortal Of him who had galloped along il 20
proudly, rushing in the fulness OF his pride, to
the death, that awaited him


But must eentinue. 1t is growing late. and
the morning will soon-be here, and my attend
ance will be required. Iwent to the door and
coldiy bidding her good night, walked out /
looked at her as went out Oh, what change
had come over her. She sat in her chair rigid,
ly; the flush had left her cheeks, and an ashy
paleness had taken its place. As the door shut
saw her rise from the chair and before had
walked many steps heardit open, and a light
hand was laid upon my arm" She spoke hur-
sriediyi she entreated me not to Judge her false
lyi and above all, she implored that I woald
do nothing rash. / had told her of my pre-
sentiment in regard to the man, and ber fears
already pictured to her mind, the catastrophe
that was approaching. told her to 20 to him
who was waiting for her. and tell him, as he
valued his life, to take horse and go away-go
anywhere, so that we two could not come face
to face again. then left her abruptly. e"


walking through the darkness and lookin 2
back, could see her white dress futtsring in





pillar of the porch, her head buried in her
hands, motionless as though she had been
turned to stone. 1 do not know whether she
ever told him what had spoken. I suppose
not, for thst night she was taken with fever
on the brain. I have never seen her since


whether she, told him 30 or not, he grew
more and more insolenf Some one told me it
was his intention to .prolong his stay in The
village indefinitely. I smiled within myself,
tor had almost made up my mind; and /
knew II did make up my mind his stay in the
village would not be long. His sayings were
reported to me--one especially, how he had
frightened me away from pretty Mabel Sum
mers; and then laugh and an inuendo, and
an aspersion as false and black as the heart
that coined it; and the base-hearted villain
sealed his fate. The struggle was over and
went about 1T calmly. Nothing could save
him now but a sudden fight; but he continued
as defiant and as ribald as ever L determined
to clay him in the open day, before witnesses
sufhclent to hang twenty men. knew per
iectly well what the result would be. I knew
II as well then as L know what il has been. i
searcned 2 Tor him two days in vain. 1t is true
L saw MIN once IN the outskirts of the village
but that was too retired for my purpose AT
last the hour came. On the third day found
him In the centre Of the village in converse
ton. Something had occurred--what il was
do not know-that had attracted a crowd
around the court house. / went up to him
calmly, and told him that L wished to speak to
him took him little apart; and, denoun-
cling him for villain, demanded in loud
tone that he should recant the base calumny
that he had uttered. Every eye was upon us
L was so calm, outwardly, that no one could
guess my intention. It was fortunate that it
was so; for otherwise might have been cheat
ed OF my revenge. For moment he appeared
irresolutes He looked eagerly around at the
"a hat ~.
them to stand back and not to interfere. They
were only too anxious not to interfere. They
expected amusement. But there were pale
lips and wan faces there, before whom the
crowd separated;y for, On the sinstant that his
irresolution disappeared, and he answered, No,
ia defiant voice, the avenging bullet lodged in
his brain, and he fell heavily at my feet. At
the discharge, as though the earth had opened
at their feet the crowd fell back, stunned and
| took no more notice of them, but
walked to the magistrates Office and surren-
dered myself. But once as / entered the door
l looked back, and saw they had raised him
from the ground and were bearing him away,
his arms hanging listless by bis side, and his
head fallen back upon his shoulders I knew
then that had not failed in my purpose


There Is little more toftell. If had time or
L might tell Of the solemn farce
that foilowed-hox the learned Judge compli-
mented the learned counsel for the prosecution
and how the learned counsel for the prosecu-
tion complimented the learned Judge; how the
lssrnsd counsel on both sides eomplime tied he
intelligent jury; and how the counsel for the
defence, being on the losing side, and having
no one to compliment him. complimented him
self. might also 90 on to say how grave every
body looked in the court room, as If each one
aud separately was on triad for an
individual and separate charge; and how final
ly, when the jury, without leaving their box,
gave n verdict OF Murder in the frst degree, .
how every one felt that the Law had not been
choked To- death-each one giving proof of his
sagacity by demanding Of his neighbor what he
had told him when the trial commenced; the
answers to which, being generally Of concili-
atory character, were received with q degree
Of good fellowship pleasing to behold. ALI this
may seem trivial and perhaps it is but il
struck me at the time Of the trial, and that is
the only reason why mention il. dn't


And now that am nearly through, can see
through the bars Of my window the first faint
streak Of the coming day; L can hear the last
strokes Of the hammer falling heavily and sui
lenly upon the scaffold without; can hear afar
Oft the uaurmur Of the multitude who are
assembling TO see me die; L can hear one
from the other; calling for his com
panion, and rising from the densei massI IL
though cpnnot see them can hear voice
shouting In reply But above all, drowning
the roar Of the populace, growing louder and
louder each moment, I hear the measured fall
OF the hammers; and driving all else from my
sight, whether the coming day or the retreat
ing shades Of darkness, is the shadow of the
dead man. standing like grim messenger
from the Unknown, waiting for me to depart.
Horror horror .s7p.. D..r .,t fsas. rss'e g