Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-10-06
The Judges Charge.

1t was late at night, between elev-
en- and twelve, when the circuit Judge
stepped from the hackney coach which
had conveyed him from the City Hall
and mounted the steps of his dwell
ing. Though mufied in fur and en-
cased in thickly quilted wrapper,
he shuddered with the cold while
striving to fit his key in the night.
latch for the sidewalks were white
with snow and hail, which the sharp
winds whirled into the air again, and
left in piles and ridges around the
door steps and area ratings.
With sigh of relief, the judge threw
his wrapper into corner, pulled off
his boots and drawing forth well.
worn dressing gown and a pair of fa
ded slippers from a closet behind the
door, prepared to make himself warm
and comfortable, after a day of unu-
sual anxiety and fatigue.
"Well," he muttered, rubbing his
hands softly together, as he sank into
the crimson easy chair, whose cush-
ions closed around him with a soft
moss-like clasp, "thank Heaven, | am
home at last Poor fellow! poor fel-
low | am afraid it will 90 hard with
him p
! Here the judge paused and sank in,
20 train OF thoughts, which seemed
both deep and painful. +.
At length he started upright in his
chair, thrust his foot into the well.
trodden slipper, which, in his solilo-
guy, had fallen to the hearth rug, and
heaving another deep sigh, seemed
to cast off the painful thoughts that
had oppressed him.
He had just succeeded in crushing
his tormentor, when the door bell
rang with a violence that made him
start half up from his chair.
"Nonsense it was an accident
Something has touched the bell. Nc
one can be coming here at this time
of night ?" he muttered, sinking back
in his cushions; but another peal from
the bell, haSty and sharp as if some
agitated hand had pulled it with un
conscious violence, deprived aim of al
doubt on the subject. He pushed back
his chair, folded his dressing gown ar
ound him, and taking light from the
mantel piece, went out; but though
he walked fast, another loud peal from
the bell hastened his footsteps. A
gust Of wind blew out his light as he
opened the door; but there was en-.
ough light to reveal the form of fe
male, who stood on the door steps
muffled in a cloak, and with crimson
lined hood drawn over her face. In
the misty darkness beyond he could
One of the lamps was out, but there
was faint light in the other; and
the Judge afterward remembered that
it was OF cut glass-toO rich for q
hackney coach. and without the mum
Der which should mark those vehicles
Without speaking a word, the wo
man entered the hall, and walked for
ward; for the study door was open
and she had nearly reached it before
the judge could close the street door
against the storm which was beating
full in his face.
"Are you alone-quite alone ?" Sai(
the strange visitor, as he overlooked
her. The voice sounded unnaturally
calm, but it was clear and sweet.
The Judge was overwhelmed will
astonishment, but he answered that b,
was quite alone, and entered the stud,
followed by his singular guest. If hi
surprise was great when she was half
concealed in darkness, it was tentolC
when she stood within the glowing
light which filed the room. She wa
young-perhaps three or four AM
twenty; and but for the marble-lik
palenesS of her features and the gilt
ter Of her large blue eyes, would hav
been transcendently beautiful. Sh
lifted her large eyes towards tn
judge, who had not yet shook off hi
astonishment and gazed fxedly in hi
, face till his eyes sunk under her viii,
and intense look.
"You seem calm," she said at last
"Can you sit on the bench all day
watching the law hounds hunting
human being to the gallows, and a
, night sink into that chair quite CON
Portable and at ease, as if nothing ha'
happened?"
"a tinge of red shot over the judg
e's temples; but he saw that th
young creature before him was no ot
ject of resentment, and answered he
mildly:
al am not without feeling" he said
at would be better for me if | were
The Judge who condemns is sometime
almost as much to be pitied as tn
victim. After day like this he shoul
| not be reproached for seeking a me
, ment's relief from the pain of his dl
ties"
"'You did feel for him, then ~
exclaimed the girl, while a CLEAN o
light shot to her eye. "Cold and calf
/ as you seemed, there was yet thro
of human pity under it ALL"
: "Heaven only knows how deeply
4 have felt for that unhappy man. Ill
e crime is terrible. but he does not seel
: born for evilr
"Born for evilr' exclaimed the cir
eargerly, "he-oh, no, he is nobl
5 good, generous!
&: She broke off suddenly, droppin
;, her clasped hands, and drawing clos
J, to the judge, said to him in change