Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-25

might have frozen him with horror nad ne Dat
caught il. f
He related his story, with enough apparent
reluctance to gye an idea of bis suffering and
some, indeed all, ptied the broken down man
so soon to be chiIdless and desolate. They
did not know the fend.
At length came the cross-examination, which
was to have been conducted by myself. But
the senior laid his hand on my arm, and turn
ing to him, | shrank from his now ghastly
countenance He essayed to speak, but his
lips emitted only husky sound ; and he mo-
toned to me that be would go on if | would
pass the paper held in my hand to the wit
ness. While did so, he drank glass OF wa
ter l
When passed the will of his son to Stephen
Forster, he looked at it, swept his eyes over
it, stared a moment in my face, lifted his eyes.
and thought in silence. Through what tempest
uous years did that fierce soul sweep back to
the spring morning when his boy lay, young
babe in his arms | How did he count them
one by one-those years of bitterness, of hate.
of want-want of love, bitter poverty of affec-
ton. hatred malice, and all manner of house
hold anguish, up to this last and blacklist year
in all the twenty one And when he counted
the last-when the lawyers intellect had done
the child's problem in subtraction, and taken
the year lS-from 49, an d found the differ
ence proved that he had made the most awful
error of his life in his former count-he utter
ed cry, howl of agony. that startled the ST.
lent courtroom more than the thunder crash
which followed it.
"What paper is that ?" demanded the dis
trict-attorney, furiousy.
Merely memorandum we have prepared
to help your case. We have made your wit
ness dsluterested by giving his sons property
to another person."
The effect of this suggestion was instantane-
Gus, and was visible to the jury box as well as
in the audience A hundred curious eyes were
turned toward the witness, whose countenance
was ashy and whose disturbed, bewildered air
was precisely was what we anticipated from the
somewhat extraordinary course we have adopt
ed The whole aim and object of his terrible
occupation being removed instantly and forev-
er, be knew not what course to pursue, and
while he hesitated and perpexed himself with
doubts and uncertainties, the first question of
my associate, asked in low voice, scarcely
audible tone, reached his ear.
Where were you born ?'
A gloom almost like night suddenly came
over the room, and the storm bursts on the
village with furious violence. The witness
sprang from bis seat at the question, and sink
ing back; peered into gloom with curious, anx-
ious eyes, as if striving to connect that voice
with the face of some known persons, but he
made no reply.
You were born in England" continued
the same low voice
The witness trembled from head to foot. /
could see it, and | observed it. overwhelmed
as was with anxiety and establishment at the
course of the leader.
Your fathers name was Gordon he was
lawyer in London"
Still no reply.
Your mother-whO was your mother 7"
For q moment there was profound silence.
Even the sharp district-attorney, in his sur
prise, forgot to object, and the judge leaned
eagerly forward to watch the strange scene
At length Stephen Forster rose from his
chair, and gazed across the bar, and uttered
strange sentence for witness
In Gods name, who are you p
The counselor rose to his feet, and stretch
ed his tall form to its utmost height. The
look of ferceness that | had seen was still
| there, and fash of lightning illuminated the
room, throwing a wild light on his face, at
which the witness in the box uttered q cry of
horror, and sank motionless to the floor, while
| torrents of blood gushed from his nostrils and
| mouth.
The court was instantly adjourned to the
| next morning and the astonshed crowd sepa-
rated, each relating his own fanciful idea of
| the cause of this curious scene.
Ny companion walked out leaning or my
arm, which scarcely supported him, hanging
on it as he did,
That night we stood together by the bed OF
Stephen Farster, now going fast by the dark
road.
George, George Mother of God, is it
you ?"
ut is none other Stephen Gordon Aud
thank that Holy Mothers Son that was
here in time to save you this last and most
awful crime"
George-our mother p
Dead, thirty years ago !"
A deep groau and gush OF blood were the
response from the dying man.
land Lucy ?" muttered he, as soon as he
was able
Her grave is by my mother"
And father did they know"
All-everything-eve to the weapon you
used. He lived long enough to curse you,
and died with cnrse half uttered on his
tongue"
"It is enough If there be no hell for
others there is one for me-" d.
1.-The apostate returns to the faith of his
youth" said my associate, with sneer that
never forgave.
The apostate has no hope on earth, or in
heaven, or hell. ain dying, George For
give me | Forgive me 7,
Stephen, Gordon. my brotbcs; r,ur,Jere.
of my father, my mother, my sister of vorr
own wife aud son. destroyer of my own once
bright home, of my horor, Of my all in life. il
God forgive you in the day of Judgment | will
| not ~ =.