Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-04-22
.FlrnII fa anIIlIriT OFT

text for carrying out his murderom lur.
| pose. Contrivance like that is itself con.
elusive evidence OF malice, and am glad
the jury were too Intelligent TO be deceived
by trick 30 Transparent. ~ lii sls lrG
"Charlcs Belville l''--and tho speaker's
eyes flashed with singular light--.'had Il
been measured to you with the same mea,
sure whcrewith you have n1etod to others
where would you be this day Poi ~
A shadow passed over the impcrturbable
feature of the Judge. It was but for a
moment, however, and Il was In his usual
impassive tone that he answered
II am alta loss to comprehend yOa, ma.
dam.,'r 5at i1 vealuo 7rG8 . sj'aI \ j.
,T.'Look at me, Charles Belvillei Have
you forgotten Barbarn St. ClairY 1T h
long years since wc met, but think / cah
refresh your memory; once had a son
"a fair and gentle youth, 1t was his dead
fhther's temper, not mine, that he inhcri
you, admired yo0.- You sought to come
between him aud The woman he loved, and
were foiled. For that you hated him. You
provoked and insulted him beyond even
his endurance. He fell into the snare you
had spread so artfully, and challenged you.
You chose weapons which gave you a sure
advantage, and slew him, as yoa had de.
sighed from the beginning. by Gods law,
and mans too, as expounded by yourself,
you are murderer, baser aud blackcr.
hearted than the man you have presumed
to judgcl" ....g. '....
As the woman spoke there was q fasci-
nation in her eye that held that of her
listener spell-bound. She had made him
feel at last. His breathing was quick and
conclusive, while traces Of deep and irre-
sistible emotion were visible on those fea-
lures which moment before had seemed
inlexible. ...,..
''On my knees cursed you," she con-
tipued. allow terribly that curse has been
d'ocaauphshed, you know in part, but not
altogether. You riarried, and became a
father Your Infant, soA inystcriodsly dis
appeared. What became ofhim was never
known. You gave him up as dead. The
agency that wrung yoae proud, heart the
world never knew; but knew It, and re-
.ioiced at it. now come 10 tell you that
your son is not dead!'' ..... r
Not dead!n fairly shrieked the distract.
ed father, the bitterness of whose suffering
during the long years of his bereavement
the world indeed had never known. ''Not
deadH' he exclaimed, sprinying from the
chair and stretching forth his hands ap-
pealingly. ''Ohltel me--tell me, bcsecch,
where may find him!
A mocking laugh was the only response.
"WOmanf' he cried, in q tone that
would have meyed the most obdurate
hfcaet, 81 hafo, deeply, cruelty wronged
you. Your forgiveness l will not now
venture 10 ask; but in return for the fearful
curse you once invoked upon my head,
will call down heavens choicest blessings
on yours, if you will only tell me where to
find my sont' +,
$50 to yonder prison cell. >" She answer
cd. There he lies, awaiting n feIon's
death tomorrow by your award" l-7
The strong man staggered back ts,d
sapk into seat, burying his face in his
hands. .+,
ut was that stole your son." the wo-
man resumed. 81 could not have done it
had his mother still lived, for she had
never wronged me. But, when you alone
wore TO suffer l, felt no compunction. In
far-distant place reared him carefully
and tenderly, for my hatred was not to-
ward him. AS he increased in wears he
grew strangely like his father No Won
der that the fierce and evil passions he in
herited have led him, step by step, to. a
doom that makes you shudder now,
though you did not when you pronounced
it.n ..
"Fiend devil - cried Charles BelyiRe
''this is some horrible invention to tor
ment me. III not believe it without
proof! !"
"You act wsely, Most sagacious Judge (.
1t is your function to demand proof. Per
haps this win convince you. This lockct
was suspended from your sons neck when
he disappeared. 1t contains his mothers
miniature. Mayhap you will remember
it,"
''In heavens name ~ he cried, starting
up, why have you kept this frightful dis
closure from me till it is nearly, if not
quite too late to act upon itY" ..
vi had intended TO keep it till quite too
late," she replied: "but at the iast InonieIit,
something would not let me stand calmly
by and see the child had nurtured, and
that once had clung To and trusted me,
perish so drcadfully."
The judge did not stay TO hear her out.
Ii was many miles TO the seat Of govern
nent, and the electric telegraph was not yet
In use. ISut II not moment were lost,
there might still be time. In few minutes
he was ON his way. At the swiitest speed
of his swiftest horses, he dew on his errand
Of mercy.
II was lste in the night when he reached
the Governors mansion. That official did
not hesitate TO grant the judges request
for respite, and that without asking the
reason, for Judge Belyille was a power in
the land. but the observance OF the nece s.
sary forms consumed an hour Of priceless
time.
At last the precious document is signed
and on It's way. fresh horses are put 10
their utmost. Daylight comes. Higher and
higher the sun Rises. Faster for Gods
sake faster II you would not be too late.
As the natal hour approaches, the judge no
longer dares to look at his watch. Al last
tho prison. within whose gloomy walls the
dresI tragedy 10 TO be enacted l-is In sight.
A dense crowd Surrounds IL Faster oh,
iaster for every instant now Is ffaught
with life or death. But SEQ What means
that eommotionf The crowd separates,
parting right aud ieit. A lane Is foru.ed
through II, -Four men appear carrying
something. II 10 rude colin, aud, kors
the noyements Of lie bearers, not llght
enough 10 be empty
The Judge iell back IN swoon. lie was
eonseyed " hls h0use aud laid apuA kls
bed, foT few daya he llnaeTod la A Iar-