Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-01-03

iiiVAO w him thau W Tue Ha8lsuhtei anu
pointing out with all the temper could COM
mand that there had been nothing in Mrs.
Halsey's manner to show criminal intention
that she was above want, that she had more
trinkets at home than she ever cared to wear,
aud that her having unconsciously put the
rings into her pocket was the only conclu-
sion in accordance with charity and sense.
EYES," assented the magistrate lit does
not seem to me; Mr.. Mowlesou, that there
was any thing intentional here. II strikes
me this is case Of absence of mind"
Mowleson's pavipg-stone head appeared to
have come round, by degrees, and from pub
lie influence, to the same notion. He confer
red with his attorney and, though the lat
ter held good from professional instinct, the
jeweler was evidently not being swayed by
him. In another minute the charge was
about to be withdrawn and [ already
heayed a sigh of gratitude and relief, rising,
and preparing to escort Mara out of court.
Feeling she was about to be freed, she turn.
ed and beamed a look of thankfulness upon
me.
Then this is what happened.
To TIE left OF me, and within the bar. be-
hind which stood the public, there had been
sitting woman, dressed plainly, but with
great neatness She had cold features and
keen eyes, and she appeared to hold some of.
fetal position, for her place was one where
solicitors usually sat. 1t seemed to me that
had seen her before in other courts and /
had notion she was prison matron. Once
or twice during the case had noticed her
lean forward and try to get view of Mara's
features but Mara being on line with her
aud in some degree screened by me, she had
not succeeded Just as l had risen how.
ever, persuaded that every thing was at an
end, this woman stood up again, aud leaned
right forward; had just turned to Mara
and was smiling back the thankful look she
had east me, when in one second her feat
ures grew fixed into appalling rigidity, as il
petriGed. She half rose, as if going to fly
then sank back overwhelmed, and trembling
from head to foot as though in an ague
faced round, and saw smile fit over the
cold woman's thin lips. She whispered to q
policeman.
The policeman, with au amazed expires
sion, said, "Your worship, the head matror
of the -Penitentiary, is in court, anC
says she can indemnity the lady"
A thunderbolt falling through the roo
couldn't have occasioned more general start
but in an instant there was lull. All eve,
turned towards the matron and one coulC
have heard a raindrop fall.
al request that the matron may be sworn,
demanded, scarcely knowing what said
The matron was sworn, and advanced to
wards Mara, into whose death-like face sh'
gazed an instant without emotion.
This is Mara Hort, she said. "She wal
committed for trial about ten years ago, OF
the charge Of numbering policeman, and be
ing concerned in Il great jewel robbery. Tn,
grand jury returned a true bill on botl
counts but she was only convicted of man
slaughter, and was sentenced to seven years
penal servitude. She underwent five year
Of her penalty and was liberated about ivt
years ago on ticket.ofleayc."
Feeling as though l werc half-paralyzed
l turned to support Mara but had to Civ
my assistance to her husband. Halscy haC
staggered bolt upright, had battled away tn
air moment, with his hands, and had ther
fallen heavily forward seuseless.
Arthur" cried Mara, hingng herself OIL
his PROSTATE body, and wailing with an &C
cent which froze one to the marrow from it
superhuman anguish, Arthur, | swear b,
our child that | was innocent They sen
fenced me to prison, but had done nothing
There's secret ! can't disclose. Arthur
speak to me-
V.
There were two people who continued t
believe in Mara's innocence--her HUSBAND
and l. The rest of the world felt al mos
; pity and there was probably JOY in Sand
beach that the suspicious Of all the respect
; able folks concerning Mara should at lengt
; have been verified As for Justice she tool
= her usual enlightened view of the whole al
fair The ring.robbery assumed new com
= pexion the moment Mara had undergone
previous conviction for felony. She was com
mtted for trial, and found guilty. Tn
judge, an equitable man, learned and phleg
matte, pointed out to her how grevious wa
; her crime in forcing access to an honest gen
tleman's affections and home under an assum
ed name, and by stories which he presume
had been false. lie was very much afrai
that she had abused her iraudulenty.obtain
ed position, to carry on an organized syster
81 robbar;ae in nortnarshin with har forma