The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1868-11-01

ton, did You kill this unfortunate man
Is No; declare I found him as told you,
the knife beside him, them seven wounds
in his breast and stomach he says, clear
and round. who do you think did the
deed r then, says I. have no more to
say he answers, growing sullen."
This was early in the night" said Mar
here fn
=" : In the station house, close guarded.
Lord, child, the town was wild with it the
meetin' was broke up. The Fullmers have
more influence than any family. It'll go
hard with SAM" He was silent for while,
then, clearing his throat, he began to stam-
mer. After breakfast time Sam'll be
took before magistrate for examination.
Now there's one point, Matty, as haven't
told You on. 1t were just uine O'clock
when Sam Carton met Stiles coming out of
FOrd's Lane. DR.. MfCoy says as Fullmer
had at that time been dead nigh unto an
hour; he was on the spot near as soon us
Stiles, aud examining the body. Now,
what time did Sam Carton leave this house
If but a bit before nine, only enough to
give him time to go through Fcrd's Lane,
then his story is true, an he found Fullmer
dead already there. But if he left you an
hour before going into Ford's Lane--7do
you see, where was he all that time until
he goes out and finds Stiles, an what was
he about?"
Martha Tolivar sprung to her feet and
walked to the window. She did see. o,
Heaven, where had he beenf
I,Giiton, the 'torney, was there last
,keenly askance, "an' he says to Sam, Car
tom says he, doubtless you can prove an
aiibi. If you can account for Yourself up
to fifteen minutes of nine. it's all right, for
Fallmer had evidently been dead some
time,' he says Sam said nothin'. Now,
itna in
an hour or two" He affected not to see
her shiver, but went on hurriedly. If
you can prove that Sam Carton left this
house nigh unto nine o'clock, his business
is all right. There's none knows but you
an him. Mother-she was asleep down in
the kitchen; 1 was at the meetin'. 1t rests
with you, MARTHA"
DWELL, WE'LL" opening the door, " don't
say nothin' to me. Wait tilI you--you
think bit. This matter Of time is such
an uncertain thing; it'll take you to con-
slider n spell. 1t might ~ seemed eight to
you when he left, when it was raaly nine.
Don't be in a hurry; it's Sam's life as is
dependin' on it."
He shut the door and then went down
the hall, rappiBg at the prisoners doors
who were noisy, and swearing at them.
She dressed herself mechanically, and
sat down/on q wooden stool by the Are
burning Goals, hiding her head. in her lap.
Her mother came in, bringing hot tea, pre-
sently, and one of the women to make the
fire followed, watching Martha curionsly.
You can go, Sukey," saidsMrs. Tolivar,
her voice more gentle than Martha had
ever heard it. sFPIl build the fire." And
when she was gone: go, Matty, kin you
save him What do you mind of the
time ~
r"None o. that ere," said the iailer, who
was watching at the door; "you quit
worritin' that child, wife. You build that
fire an then come out o. here. Did ask
her questions 2"
Mrs. Tolivar took Matty's fingers in her
fat hands and squeezed them, then obeyed
and left her alone.
AT ten o'clock she was to go to the magis- |
trate's office, they told her.
Yesterday, when Matty had planned a
strong heroic life for herself, she had fan
cied how self-poised, serene she would be
when Heavens great judgments met her
face to face. New Year had come. Was
this the supreme new life, the grapple with |
destiny she had hoped, for She never |
thought to ask. 1t was the old moiI of
thoughts and people-Sam, the Jail, crime
but soul and body were wrenched alike |
with the fierceness of the struggle. 1t was
only the old lover, Sam, with his stubby, |
sandy hair, red hands, and truth telling |
eyes; but she loved him so madly that |
day, that she could have been glad to let
out drop by drop from her veins to save |
him from pain--to save him from death.