The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-10-05


ring EiErz had ialil tl.l laaplr -te- castle.
That 40 one but the loose garies GID can
have thc ring, TOR when she was coming l0wu
'i9ir noticed ring 10 her hmid with stonc
iu ifi aud what looked worry suspicious, shp
concealed it the inomout shn saw me- looking
did not wish o. ho hasty, i0r I thought she
mlellt have got ID a. present Ike many a
thing elaoi but that ifii were stolcn, thorc
woiild som le an aut,r- for Il, and then Il
would he ime enough 90 speak Of u. ! am
very glad HAT was not in her ladyshp's
rooW, tnr creatures like fbis wicked hypo-
critical Maria may easily bring pcntccl aud
honest people into suspicion
/ Nancy words we're taken nulirc of aud
shr was now brought 10 give her evidence
before The judge, When she entered the
court, and the Judge had warned her 10 spcal,
thc truth ~ 10 in the presence at her Maker,
her heart beat violently aud her kuycs trcm-
blcd beneath her But the wicked Girl paid
little attention 'oiibor 10 the word. Of the
Judge or the voice Of conscience. ~ ! should
now confess my lic,' thought she, j shall eli
thcr lose my place or perhaps hc imprisoned.
shahcrctorc persisted IN her ftl-rhoe.l, aud
logking Maria haldly IN the face, said, You
have the ring, and no one else for | saw YOU
hayciL
Maria wa' shocked At her gross C,lschood,
hut NO word Of rcproarh or anger escaped her
lip, She merely wcpt aud though her tears
almost chakrd her uttcmucc, said, IL l. not
true thai you saw me have ,hc ring; how can
yott utter such trrrihir taiEcho5t, ani mai q
me miserable, who never did you the least
wrunpT
But Nancy, who only saw her present ad-
vantage, and f'lt tcr heart full ofhatrcd and
envy, against Maria,poid no attention to her
but having once repeated her evidence, was
told by The judge to retire.
You are fully convicted said the Judge to
Maria; all the circumstances are against YOU.
The msid has even seen it in your hnnd:now,
tlcrcior,,. say what you have done with itT
Maria remained firm in the assertion Other
innoccsoc ...... ,.
-e-'4'-.l .sI-t rolaaild.d
I'LL next dnN, when she was brought before
him a second time As force and threats a
G,-.s by mild treatment aud friendly promis-
cs.
You have forfeited your life sdid he, and
deserve to bc bchcadcd bat Il you will con-
icss whore you have put the ring, you shall
bee set at liberty; the imprisonment you have
received shall be all your punishment, aud
YOU shall return home with your father. Com
slider well, aud make your choice between
lif. and death. You see mean kindly to-
wapl- you
Marin stood firm by her first declaration.
The Judge, whq hal noliccd t,r grv5t NJ
icction for her hthcr continued, II YOU re-
mnin stubborn and win not respect thy own
Young life, at lcast think on the grcy hairs
of your aged fthcr Would YOU wish 10 see
he Laaa tall bleeding from the sword of The
cNccutioncr2 No one but he can have per
suadcd you to deny the crime 50 obstinatcly;
do YOU wish that it should cost him hi- life
alsof'
Maria was so horrorstruck that she almost
tainted away.
Confess Nid the judge, tbat you have
taken the ring The simple word yes can
save both your own and your fathers life
This was a severe temptation to Marin she
remained silent for some timo; only for mo-
mcnt did the thought enter her mind that she
might say she had taken the ring hut had lost
1t on her way home; but again, she thought
tits much better TO hold fast by the trnth; tc
tell lie were a great sin; and for no price
will | commit such crime, even though
lile and Inylalhrrs Al
40 Were to say took the ring, said shC
to the Judge, i should tell lie; and though
1 could escape death by it, yet will not tel
a lie. But, continued she, II btuud rr1,t-t l.,
spilled oh, spare the grey hairs of my agi'
kind father gladly will yield up my life Il
save his
All in the courthouse were deeply affect
cd at these words;cvcrr the heart of the judge
a strict and severe man, began 10 rcicnr he
was silent, however, and made a sign to tn,
attendants TO take Maria back to her cell.
CHAPTER II.
The Judge now found himself in considcra
. Bile perplcxity. This is now the third day,
, we are Just as Tar forward as al first. If
could only see how any one else could posi-
r bly, have got the ring, would certainly be
licyc the girl 10 be innocent Such deter
, minatun in one So Young is most unexamplcd
but the circumstances are 50 clear against he
that il cannot bc othcrwise-she must hay,
4, taken the ring 'IIc waited on the countess
made particular inquiry into the most minute
circumstances; he examined Nancy again, an,
spent nearly the whole day in rejecting OF
+ all the orcurrunccs ol'the trial st lasl lat
n, the evening", H. S4FSiCFGd old iaruh to h
. brought before him. Jacob said he TO tn
old man, j am given ont to be a very sever
mAn.yct no one can say that | ever acted un
| Justly to any one. believe you think tha
| shall not condemn your daughter to death
but from every circumstance, il appears 1hn
= She has committed the theft, aud accorlip!
ltu1nw sh; must tNc.r The evidence OF th