Year: 1873

Nat started.


"You here, Rose p


"Yes, old playmate, even though you
thrust me from you on that fatal day, you
see me here to help you in any way | can.
Oh, Nat! how could you rob me of that
dearer to me than life, the love Of Harry
Ashton ?"


"You believe me guilty, Rose, and yet
offer me ssistance.


eyes; you are in greater trouble than
am. Nat; for they say YOU must die.


''Die, Rose Die p


eyes; they say that you will be convicted
beyond a doubt; and I, knowing that wo--
mans hand is tenderer than mans in mat
ters like this, came to offer my services. NV
heart is dead. have not a friend in the
world All have cast me off with sconI.
Even my mother refuses to see me; so have
come to you. You need not be afraid Of
me, Nat; am not what they think me-.


"God bless you! believe you, from my
soul believe you.


Their hands were clasped together and
both wept in silence for Il few moments, when
Nat spoke:


Crosse, am innocent of the murder Of
Mr. Ashton As | hope for mercy from
Him, cali upon God to- witness that | did
not hear of it until was arrested


"Thank Heavenr said Rose, fervently.
"Mv only friend was not the cause of my
greatest grief. Bat how to prove it," She
unused.


"We must trust to Heaven.


"Did you ever pray, Nat p


"No, never heard a prayer.


"Kneel then, here, Nat, and follow me-"


They knelt together upon the hard prison
Aoor and raised their hearts to "Him from
whom all blessings how," asking that the in
nocent should not be punished for the gully,
and that His blessings might yet be theirs.
When they had finished, Nat took Rose by
the hand and said


"Ah, Rose. my heart is suff1'sed with new
courage, and feel that shall be acquitted.
Why did he come to cause the only trouble
that either you or ever had. We might
have been happy together; but now


"Even now, we may be happy. When
the trial is over we shall know.


"Rose! May then hope?''


81 promise nothing; but viii not tell you
not to hope 1t is time now for the trial, and
| must leave you Farewell, old friend,
may God be with you


Leaving the prison, we will, with the
reader, enter the Court House, which was
thronged from pit to dome with men, women
and children, all eager to get glimpse of
the redoubtable murderer of Harry Ashton.


Nat stood in the dock, and those who saw
him would have sworn that no blood of a
fellow being had ever stained his hand; he
was 80 calm, and his brow wore an express
sion of confidence which bespoke innocence.
But appearances are not evidence, and it was
proved in this case.


We will not carry the render through tho
monotonous details of a long trial, the exam
nation of Witnesses, and the reading Of afii
davits. Suffice it to say that the evidence
against the prisoner was strong; the remains
of bones found in the ashes, although so
burned as to be hardly recognizable, were
pre- nounced those Of man, and that man,
Harry Ashton.


Rose sat near the prisoner during the whole
trial, and when the evidence came stronger
and stronger against him, she became pale as
death, although her face bore shade of
hope.


A hum and murmur Of amazement went
through the crowd as they saw this very evi-
dent shock to her feelings. They wondered
hat she, the betrothed of Harry Ashton,
should take such an interest in his murderer.


AT last, both sides of the case having been
argued, the case was closed, and the judge
made his charge to the jury.


Before they went out, a messenger hurried
up to the judges desk and presented letter
directed to


"2he Jury in Ne case Of The


People u.s. Harland."


81 have letter to the jury" said the
Judge, "but as no testimony can be received
out of the courtroom, shall read it here


1t read as follows:


"To THE jury Tearing but yesterday
of the murder case now pending in your
court, deem it my duty to transmit this to
you. was not killed, as you may now
+urmise, but so badly wounded that could
neither move nor call for help. The place to
which my would-be assassin had carried me
was at the bottom Of deep canyon seldom
visited by man. | was not rescued until
yesterday, when heard of my reputod muir
der, and the trial of Harland. hereby
state that said Harand is innocent Of any in
tention to harm me. My assailant was a
man known as Scoty. How | subsisted
during six days | will hereafter relate.


HARRY G.. ASHTON"


All through the reading of this letter the
silence of the tomb reigned in the court
room. AS soon as the signature was read,
shout rose from the spectators such as was
never heard before in Placer county 1t
spread to the street; from the street through
he town. and in less than half an hour the
whole district was jubiant over the glorious
news.


OF course there was no need of proceeding
further in the trial; so noiie prosequi was
entered, and the prisoner discharged.


Nat was for u moment completely over
come; but Roses voice striking his ear re-
sto.oI lin,