The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-10-15
THE JUDGES CHARGE.


twelve, when the circuit Judge stepped
from the hackney coach which had con-
veyed him from the City Hall, and mount
ed the steps of his dwelling. Though
muffled In fur and encased in a 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
railings.
With sigh of relief the Judge threw
his wrappers into a corner, pulled off his
damp boots, and drawing forth a well-
worn dressing>gown and pair of slippers
from closet behind the door, prepared to
make himself warm and comfortable after
day of unusual anxiety and fatigue.
"Weil," he muttered, rubbing his hands
softly together, as he sat into the easy
crimson chair, whose cushions closed
around him with soft and moss-like
clasp, ''thank Heaven, am home a: last!
Poor fellow poor fellow am afraid it
will 60 hard with himi'
Here the judge paused and sank into
and painful.
AT length he started upright in his chair,
thrust his foot into the well-trodden slip
per, which, in his solloquy, 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. Some
thing has touched the bell No 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 unconscious violence, deprived him
of all doubt on the subject He pushed
back his chair, folded his dressing gown
arosnd 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 enough light to reveal
the form of a female, who stood on the
door-steps, muffied in a cloak, and with
crimson lined hood drawn over her face
In the misty darkness beyond he could
just discern the outline of carriage
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 hackney-coach, and
without the number which should mark
those vehicles
Without speaking word, the woman
entered the hall, and walked forward; 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.
care you alone-quite alone % said
the strange visitor, as he overlooked her.
The voice sounded unnaturally calm, but
1t was clear and sweet.
The judge was overwhelmed with as
tonishment, but he answered that he was
quite alone, and entered the study, fol-
lowed by his singular guest. If his SUR
prise was great when she was half con-
cealed In darkness, it was tenfold when
she stood within the glowing light which
filled the room. She was young, perhaps
three or four and twenty, and but for the
marble~like paleness of her features and
the glitter Of her large blue eyes, would
have been transcendently beautiful. She
lifted her large eyes toward the judge, who
had not yet shook off his astonishment,
and gazed fxedly in his face till his eyes
sunk under her wild and intense look
''You seem calm," said she at last
'Can you sit on the bench all day, watch
ing the law hounds hunt human being to
the gallews, and at night sink into that
easy chair, quite comfortable and at ease,
as if nothing had happened l'
A tinge of red shot over the judges
temples; but he saw that the young crea-
ture before was no object of resentment,
and answering her mildly, said:
t'I am not without feeling" he said.
F'It would be better for me if l were
The judge who condemns is sometimes
almost as much to be pitied as the victim.
After day like this he should be re-
preached for seeking moments relief
from the pain of his duty.
'tYou did feel for him then !" exclaimed
the girl, while gleam of light shot to her
eye. ssCold and calm as you seemed,
there was yet throb of human pity un-
der it alI.''
''Heaven only knows how deeply have
felt for that unhappy man. His crime is
terrible, but he does not seem borI for
evil !"
''Born for evil ~ exclaimed the girl,
eagerly, ''he-oh, no, he is noble, good,
generous--!"
She broke off suddenly, dropping her
clasped hands, and drawing close to the
judge, said to him in changed, low voice:
'"rhey viii not find him guilty. You
do not think they will p
The judge shook his head. srThe evi-
dence is strong terribly strong"
81 know-I know" said the strange
girl, with sort of breathless eagerness.
"But there is nothing positive-you can
save him-you will save him. Did you
not say just now that he was not born for