The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-04-16

tuc tTIal III Wnlch many OF the lnllaDI-
tants took a deep interest; Farmer Flow
er was much respected, and more than one
person considered the burning of the ricks
an act of merited retribution. Mr. Jepson
drove ME over, and obtained for me seat
/ the court; there he left me, for he was
one Of the witnesses The room filled rap
IDLY; on every side were familiar faces
by and by the squire entered with party
OF his friends, looking resolut, and indig-
nant. A half-suppressed hiss greeted him
Which he either did not hear or else he
scOrned, for he took the seat allotted to
him with the air Of an injiired but benev-
oient individual At length the judge APP
peared and last of all. my dear father,
with firm step, stood before the bar
The usual forms were gone through
several witnesses We're called to prove the
threat uttered by my father and that he
was seen on the evening of the fire hurry
ing away from the direction of the burning
ricks. The steward and constable related
the facts of his absence from home, and
| OF his return and capture The case was
thus strong against the prisoner, when the
judge called upon him for his defence
At this moment barrister whose pre-
sence had not before observed rose and
intimated that he appeared for the pris-
Oner at the bar. Every eve was turned
upon him, for it was well known that no
advocate had been employed OH my faith
ers behalf: Youthful, slight, and pale, at
a first glance he seemed but feeble cham
pion, but when his face was turned toward
me. and ! marked the eyes so quick and
piercing. the firm, indomitable energy of
that noble countenance, JOY, hope and
wonder took possession of me. Was it,
. could il be?--sO changed. and vet SO like
| The first syllable OF his voice assured me
it wGs Frank Stopford-my Frank-who
pleaded for my father; and such pleading
/ At the glorio,ts. oloqtent words that flow
cd 50 easily from his lips the very breath
, of his hearers seemed suspended All my
years OF patient wait;ng-of earnest. faith
ful love, were richly repaid me in the hap
p;ness of tha, hour The words he utter
ed have passed from my memory. absorbed
in the feelings they called into fresh life,
all but his last words whicl, were these:
. Gentlemen | was the horscman whom
Farmer Flower guided on his road, an act
/ of kindness which had nearly cost him
dear. My servant, who WAS with me. VIII
corroboratc my testimony; and | trust
you viii need no further evidence TO salts
fy you Of the prisoner complete innocence
OF the charge lad against him
Without leaving the court. the twelve
jurymen, amid the tears of some and the
Oi olHtIe. utNlA.tt
( Flower Not Guilty
Five minutes afterwards. in small back
room, | was waiting for my father with
; heart ovcr.iowinc with JOY and gratitude.
. when the door opened, and Frank Stop
ford entered Forgetting the years we had
been parted forgetting all but that he was
the dcliverer OF my father, the one idolized
thought of my liic flew 10 him. ! cover
ed his hands with kisses and with tears
Frank. beloved, restored to me At last,
| said %, never let Us part again
Madam, he replied. in an agitated
voice, Il was not prepared for such scene
this. did not look for this excess of
gratitude,
80, Frank ! cried. with bitter tears.
you no longer love me-yOu are cold and
changed
Jessy he answered, trembling from
head TO foot, "wha: means this? Had you
loved me, YOU would have answered the
letter sent YOU the day after our part
ing
The letter you sent mc-what letter?
l received none
And you have for these seven years
kept the promise you made 10 me under
the elns at Stratford--to love, and hope
and waltz
Yes Frank. have never forgotten H.
or ceased to love YOU
With a look of unutterable anguish he
exclaimed, Alas, alas to think that it
is now too late, Mypoor, ,Jessy, this heart
which should have been all yours, is now
another :: and past recall lam married
When recovered from the long death
like swoon into which l sunk, the first
words heard were those of Mr. Jepson
Yes, Mr. Flower, the gentleman who
defended you was the celebrated Nr. Stop
ford, the son of our old gamekeeper Its
wonderful how he has risen: they say his
marriage helped him on through. His
wife was daughter of General N kcnzie:
very fine woman: rather older than him;
large fortune He has bought beautiful
place three miles from here; he was Ola his
way there when YOU met him thai night
All Jessy,' said my father. Il judged
wrong once it was bad day for thee my
poor child when refused Frank Stop
ford
1t was the last time the name ever pass
ed his lips: and l grew in the course of
wears. to think without pain OF the man to
whom the best and brightest years Of my
| life had been devoted
We were escorted home by a band OF
rejoicing friend in the evening the squire
, rode down To the cottage and holding out
his hand, said, Come, Mr. Flower, let by
cones be bygones we have been mistaken
in each other. but we shall understand
one another better in future, and so they
: were reconciled, and my father lived hap
py and respected for many years; and
when we buried him in the old church
, yard the squire stood at the head of the
grave. and said: Here lies a good father,
a good friend, and an honest man
t Once-a long while after-in the news
, paper ! saw the death of the beloved
| daughter of Frank Stop!ord, Esq Poor
, little thing her name was Jessy
A Cure FOR NosE Raced AND GolTRE--1t