The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-09-25

NO. IL.
what it vas. They stared 1T her With
great intensity.
Her turn came.
Every man parted his lips and lean.
Cd forward. All breathed softly. |
Each heart had steeled itself aesipst
the seduction of meek words and low
voice.
Martha could use no others. The
people exchanged looks of contempt,
and then turned to listen again.
BY series of detached whispers she
told her story. She secreted nothing.
Her tremulous lips formed and reform.
ed the tardy words, and she sighed
them into tho silent air.
1t became necessary for her to find a
support, and suddenly feeling for it
she laid her hand upon her brothers
shoulder. Had it been a shelf, she
would have put it thore all the same.
The prisoners head began visibly to
shake to and fro. Martha was made
to detail the encounter in the forest.
road. She did 81 With look of mex.
pressible anguish, but she did so faith.
fully. Another nail in her cross
She was convictiog her own flesh and
blood. There was a loud murmur from
the audience of critics. The shafling
Of feet and the movement of garments
may be made to mean . hiss.
''Thsn," said the Justice, with =
tone Of involuntary severity, "you iden-
tify your brother as tho man who as.
saulted you and robbed you.
The man stopped shaking his head.
Martha tried three to reply ; each 1t.
tempt was breath of silent cir and no
more; her lips refused their Office.
There was total pause. She exerted
herselfs fourth time, and raised her
head. "Yes:"
lndeseribsble Whisper! It was the
last effort of dying sense Of justice !;
the insl struggle of purity against .
too tender heart; tho last courageous
gasp of conscience ovetaowed by a
tide Of pity.
Who appreciated the agony it cost
to make it? Only one. Who thought
it bid to public favor All but one.
A sueer instantly arose from every part
of the room,
Martha shrank and trembled go vio-
lently that her hand shook.
All at once the huge monster bound.
ed to his feet, and gl.ripg around up
on the frightened people, he bel.
lowed:
"Look at me-! What are ye looking
at her for? Did she do it? No, she
didn't! I done it," with a motion
Of his head he threw his hair back from
his red fa,e.) "What's turned you
agiu her and set 20 barkin' at her
'Twarn't long ago that ye hung round
her like bees to hive, and now you're
treatiu' her vus than you're treatiu'
me! Rave ye disremembercd what
she tried to do fur 70? Didn't she
get out of q sick-bed where she was
nigh to death, and wurk and wurk 70,
the good of the poor and seedy! She
warn't strong; she was little thing
she varn't comfor'b]y dressed, but she
had pluck to her! Rain didn't sto1
her; and weakness didn't stop her
and discouragements didn't stop her
Aud you knowed it And what dc
she do it fur7 Fur money? NJ
Far honor? No! Fur love of med
dim? No! She done it because sh'
loved the poor and needy. The poo
and needy was very poor and needy
Shed heered Of 1t, and che rose up tt
help EN-. She knowed by feeliu' wha
hunger and..cold was.. She knowei
where the pinch come." (Tho maj
locked around, and saw that he hat
done something. He went on rapidly.
els this thanks ? Is this backiA' o
her up7 She hain't earned no sucl
looks as these. She don't desarv
hissin'. It's me. Ye've got t1rne
round. Give her the best Je have
and give me the worst 70 have" ca
suddenly broke out with harsher voic
on another strain. "Look at me.
(He shook his handcufs.) "The po
lice knowsd who tho rascal was. Eve
since l found out thst there was = fai
goin' to come Of kept my eyes open
I knowed there would be money some
where, and opioed that she woul'
have some Of it in charge. l watched
her. I saw her come out Of the build
10, and I crep' along behind her.
| (The mans attitude sent chill
throughout the room.) ut was dark
run past her unbeknown, and the'
come back again: She was frightened
at the storm, and she was glad to Sc
me. She thought 2 would purtect he,
Did I purtect herr No, I didn't.
put out my right hand, this way,
tux her by the throat-I could almos
put my fingers round her neck, it va
so sm.ll-and I tuck the money frou
her, and then I raised her up and shu
mn hand t;ohr Eko fhat and fhrowo.