The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-09-28
SENTIMENT AND ACTION
: -(coNT1NUED FROM LAST WEEK.

:(coNT1NuED FROM LAST WEEK.
The assize time was fast approaching,
and the trial of Miss Trevelyan for the
forgery was, Of course, the talk Of the
neighborhood., 1t can be imagined what
was the excitement in country place,
where the family was so we'll known,
and where everyone took that peculiar
kind Of interest in each other-half
fault-fnding and half responsible
which gives a domestic character,
though not always a domestic charm,
to small society. Of course Andrew
Trevelyan found some partisans. There
are always advocates for every side and
every person. Even about Oak6eld q
few-not many were found Who
thought, indeed, that that codlcil was
very strange, when everyone knew how
fond old Mr.. Trevelyaa was Of his son,
ard how little he bad ever cared for
his daughter; and who said also that
it was unjust; for though Andrew had
been wild young fellow enough, yet
he was married and steadied cow, and
all that ought to be forgotten. Mr..
Tire vcIaya ian had forgiven him many times
before. If he hsd forgiven his mar
riage, he need not have been so very
harsh for anything else. And after all
what had he done to justify his disiu-
beritance ? Magdalen was a good girl
enough, they dared say; but she Was
one Of those plaguey clever women one
never can trust. The neighbors talked
and wrangled in this way among them
selves; there being Guelfs and Ghibel-
lindes about Oakfield-strong Andrew
ties and MagdaIenians. Horace work.
ed in his own way, lotting 20 one into
his plans while Paul suffered such az.
oules of mind from the coming shame
and publicity, as might almost earn for
giveness for his cowardioe.
The day came, and Magdalen's trial
came too. The court was crowded.
Every person Of any note whatsoever
in the county Was there. Wagers had
been made about it; irrconcilable
quarrels and one marriage had alike
sprung out Of 1t; it had lighted up
civil war all about OAk6eld, aod every
one was anxious to see how the battle
would terminate. The Andrewitcs
we're the weakest in numbers, bu: the
most powerful in lungs; while the
Magdalenians contented themselves
with the frigid sympathy of all wcll-
bred people, and "hoyed poor Miss
Trevelyan would succeed" Tho case
was called and, in the midst OF the
most profound silence, Magdalen took
her place in the telop's dock.
She was ordered to remove her bon
net; which demand, after much appa-
rent1y angry discussion, was at last
merged into the compromise of throx.
ing up her veil. Then the whole court
was astir,-silks rustliDg, boots crack
ing some standing up and craning over
their neigbbors' heads some leaning
forward j; others backward-all to OBJ
tain a good Look at that noble face,
calm and dlgni6ed in the criminals
place. Horace stood near her. His
interest in the cause had become too
strong to admit Of his trusting himself
with the defence of Magdalen profess
sionally. But strong, clear, and prompt,
be watched every countenance every
turn Of the case, and made frequent
and valuable suggestions to the prison.
er's counsel. Paul sat near to Mag
dalep slso; but in state of great phys
ical weakness and mental agitation.
He had just 50 much life left in him as
to be able to lean forward against a
table without fainting; although, if he
had not been seated, be must have
fallen Occasionally Horace was agita-
ted. too but his agitation took the shape
Of excitation, and gave him greater
quickness even than usual. He had
more vividness of thought, more keen
ness Of perception like a man whose
senses are heightened and stimulated
in power by opium. He seemed to
possess almost an added sense, and to
be able to divine what he did not see.
One thing troubled him-the post hour.
The London post did not arrive at that
town till the late afternoon, and he was
expecting letter to-day from the MISS
ing friend. Mr.. Slade, whose address,
amongst the mountains Of Cordova, be
had at last discovered. He had been
in constant correspondence with old
Miss slade, and had calculated to an
hour that he might receive letter to-
day from her brother, supposing his
had been answered so soon as was posi-
BILE. He felt sure be would find some
important news therein when it did
come but this wretchod post would
not be in till nearly four o'clock, and
how drag on SO long as +, that, cause
that might only employ an hour o'
two !? So Horace was on the rack, bht
he bore his torture bzsvely, and mad.