Year: 1873

And yet lynch law often originates in


o burst Of generous indignation which


il not willing to suffer bold oppres-


sor to escape by means Of corrupt and


cowardly courts. 1t is oftener born OF


fear. Both motives powerfully agita-


ted the people OF the region round


about Clifty as night drew on after


Ralph's acqsittal. They were justly


indignant that Ralph had been made


the victim Of such a conspiracy, and


they were frightened at the unseen


danger to the community from such a


baud rs that of Small's. 1t was cer-


tain that they did not know the full
extent of the danger as yet. And what
Small might do with jury, or what
Pete Jones might do with q sheriff.


was question. | must not detain the
reader to tell how the mob rose. No
body knows bow such things come
about. Their origin is as inexplicable
as that of an earthquake. But, at any
rate, rope was twice put around
Small's neck during that night, and
both times Small was saved only by
the nerve and address of Ralph, who
had learned how unjust mob law may
be. As for Small, he neither trembled
when they were ready to hang him,
nor looked relieve when he was
saved. nor Shove he slightest flush
of penitence or gratitude. He bore
himself in quiet, gentlemanly way
throughout, like the admirable villain
tn At he was.


He waived a preliminary exan.ina-
ton the next day; his father went his
bail, aud he forfeited his bail and dis
appeared from the county and from
the horizon Of my story. Two reports
concerning Small have been in circu-
lation-one that he was running "a
70. bank in San Eranciseo. tho :. o.h.4r
that he was curing consumption by
inhalation and electricity in New
York. If this latter were true, it would
leave 1t an open question whether
Ralph did well to save him from the
gallows. Pete Jones aud Bill, as usu-
ally happens to the rougher villains,
went to prison. and when their terms
expired moved to Pike county, Ms
souri,.


But it is about Hannah you want to
hear, and that | want to tell. She
went straight from the ceurt room to
Flat Creek, climed to her chamber.
packed all her earthly goods, consist
ing chiefly Of few family relics, 10
handkerchief, aud turned her back on
Means forever. At the gate she me;
the old woman, who shook her fist in
the girls face and gave her parting
benediction in the words: You mis'a-
bic, ongrateful crittef you, go long,
Pm glad to be shet of you" At the
barn she met Bud, and he told her
goodbye with little huskiness in his
voice, while tear glisteneI in her eye
Bud had been friend in need, and
such friend ono does not leave with
out pang.


"Where are you going' Can l."


mo. no!' And with that she has
tened on, afraid that Bud would offer
to hitch up the roam colt. And she
did not want to add to his domestic
unhappiness by compromising tim in
that way.


1t was dusk and raining when she
left. The hours were long, the road
was lonely, and after the revelations
OF that day it did not seem wholly safe.
But from the moment that she found
herself free, her heart had been ready
to break with an impatient home sick
ness. What though there might be
robbers in the woods" What though
there were ten rough miles to travel?
What though the rain was in her face?
What though she had not tasted food
since the morning of that exciting day?
Flat Creek and bondage were behind;
freedom, mother, Shocky, aud home
were before her, and her feet grew
lighter with the thought. Aud if she
needed any other joy, it was to know
that the master was clear. And he
would come! And 80 she traversed the
weary distance, and SO she inquired
and found the house, the beautiful,
homely old house of beautiful, homely
old Nancy Sawyer, aud knocked, aud
was admitted, aud fell down, faint and
weary, at her blind mothers feet, and
laid her tired head in her mothers
lap and wept like child and
aaid, 20 mother! Pm free, I'm free!"
while the mothers tears baptized her
face, and the mothers trembling fin-
gers coined out her tresses. And
Shocky stood by her and cried ~
knowed God wouldn't forget you, Han
ner?"


Hannah was ready now to do any
thing by which she could support her
mother and Shocky. She was strong
and injured to toll. She was willing
and cheerful, and she would gladly
have gone to service ii by that means
she could have supported the family.
And, for that matter, her mother was
already nearly able to support herself
by her knitting. But Hannah had
been carefully educated when young,
aud at that moment the Old public
schools were being organized into
graded school, aud the good minister,
who shall be na,neless, because he is,
perhaps, still living in Indiana, and
who In Methodist parlance was called
"the preachcr-in-charge of Lewisburg
Station"-this good preach sr and Miss
Nancy Sawyer got Hannah place as
teacher Of q primary department. And
then little house with four rooms
was rented, and y little, very little
furniture was put into it, and the old