The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-04-22

BY MRS. JANE G. sWIssHELM.
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE INVESTIGATION.
The evening Of the day on which
Margarct's letter appeared was the
time set for the meeting Of the Inves-
tigation Committee in Mrs. Changers
parlor. The parties came together,
and the Committee retired to arrange
preliminaries. Mr.. Granger came in
several times 10 ask those in waiting to
be patient. The rules which should
govern the Committee were of very
grave importance, or at least so thought
the Rev. DR.. Dreaming j.; and the en-
tire evening was consumed without
these rules having been agreed upon.
At ten o'clock the meeting adjourned
for three days, and left the committee
in secret session. All the difficulties
had been raised by DR.. Dreaming and
MIR. Blain, and the anti-lronton party
were impressed with the belief that
Miss Ironton's friends wished to avoid
the investigation, while using every
effort to reinstate her, and she haught-
lily refused to leave the Home.
Margaret wrote a second letter for
the Sentinel ond carried it to the edi-
tor, but he informed her that lie could
not publish anything more on the SUBJ
ject, as he had been threatened with a
libel suit for her other letter. She
went to the Office of every paper in the
city, but found that all had been fore.
warned of a strict legal account for any
thing they might publish regarding the
Home. Mr.. Granger informed her
that the Committee had finally agreed
that the accused and accuscr should
meet before the Committee without
counsel; and that no one should b.
permitted to question witnesses except
they two, aud the members Of the Com
mittee; that reporters should be ex-
cluded, and no person admitted save
the parties and their witnesses.
The next evening of meeting came,
and the great parlor was full. Miss
lronton was attended BY a concourse
Of friends, including the Denton party
and gentleman who had only that
day arrived. He was short aud conse-
quential, with charming black NOUS
tache, very shiny black broadcloth suit,
patent leather boots, buff vest and
straw. colorcd kids. He took his seat
by Miss Ironton, and entered into con-
versation il an undertone as she point
ed out to him the different persons in
the room. DR.. Dreaming was a full
half hour whispering with his fellow
committee men, aud this gave time for
asides. Mrs. Granger came to Marga-
ret, and said:
"We shall all have to be careful, fol
that gentleman with Miss Ironton is
Lawyer Brownlow, Of Denton, said to
be relative Of the great Tennessee
Brownlow. Perhaps We shall oil be
done brown, if not laid low"
After Lawyer Brownlow appeared
| to bs familiar with the present compa
ny in general, lie drew out his eye
glasses, leveled them at Margaret, ane
alternated his inspections with remarks
to those around HIM. The Committe'
at length seated themselves, and an
nounced their readiness to hear the &C
cusation, when Mr.. Brown)ow steppe'
forward, saying:
II appear here as the friend and at
toruey Of Miss lronton and before thi
unwarrantable business goes farther,
distinctly give notice that no statemcu
will be permitted unless presented i
writing or reduced to writing her
The object OF this il, that not only tn
accuser, but also every witness may b
held to strict legal account for ever
word derogatory to the character Of m
friend and client, Miss Ironton."
Having thus defined his position, b
returned to bis seat with the air Of .
artillery man who knows that that la
round has dismounted his euemy's gun
A murmur of surprise and dispIeasul
ran around the room. Hero wan 4 vi
. lation of the rule established by Mi
Ironton's friends. She had hor Ia,
yer on the ground, and Margaret Vi
taken by surprise; but those eye-glass
wero better than two lawyers. Wit
out hesitation she walked to the tab
and laid paper on it, saying:
"Therc is my accusation iu writin
!. l will read it if the Committee pleas
and if it is not sufficiently definite,
: viii give particulars verbally, and
the Committee appoint q Secretary
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