Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-10-31

her SOP" and the like. But Hope replied
firmly, " He told me, whatever they asked
me, to tell the truth"
. Yes, understand he told you say that
he had told you that. What else?"
Nothing-oh yes he told me not to be
afraid if the lawyers were very impudent
and tried 10 put me out. but just to tell the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, and God would help me-"
" ! think, your Honor" said the lawyer
for the defence triumphantly, "that there
is no longer any question rs TO the eligibil
lty OF the witness, and that she may be now
permitted to give her testimony"
The judge bowed gravely, and the pros
ecuting attorney took his seat
And now, my little girl said the
other lawyer kindly, will yon state brief
y, but us clearly as you can, the events of
the day, from the time the twelve o'clocR
whistle sounded until Gus Antoine left
your
"We were eating when the twelve
o'clock whistle sounded" said Hope timid-
ly. Father bechoned to me, and we left
he Others there and went around to the
old cotton tree on the other side of The
house. He had meant to fix a swing for
the children, but he had been so busy
about lection that he could not do it be
fore, and he wanted me to help him. W.
finished it while they were eating, and
then called them out and surprised them
all. L heard the noise the pistol made.
Father was up in the tree. He said:
There, some of those boys are firing at Il
mark. must put stop to that. It's
dangerous
This was all of Hopes testimony, but the
most rigid cross examination did not i'm
peach it. No other witness was called.
The Judges address to the jury was brief.
AS they retired for consultation. Gus An
tome elbowed his way through the surging
crowd, brandshing the confession in his
hand. He made his way to the Judge and
handed it to him, lie glanced it over,
then rose and read it aloud. A cheer rang
through the room, but the Judge, with lift
ed hand, commanded silence. This
paper" sale he, "comes too late to be
used. The jury have retired and we must
await their verdict. If not in accordance
with the present disclosure, the prisoner
can petition for II new trial.
Their absence was brief, and upon their
return breathess silence reigned in the
room; and the words, Not guilty" were
heard in the remotest part of the house.
The cheering was now overwhelming and
not to be repressed. Nobody heard the
judges adj 'urnment, though all acted up
on it.
Squire May had been acquitted simply
upon the evidence of his little daughter
but Gus Anroine's confirmation of the
verdict had IL tremendous effect And
while one enthusiastic youth was passing
around his hat, to buy that leetle gal u
present-an Injnn ony or somethin'," all
the women and girls in the room formed
in file, and marching around Gus, kissed
him heartily, much 10 his disgnst. Mrs.
Antoine remained only to kiss Hope un-
der the folds of her Grape veil.
A few weeks later the widow Antoine
and her family left for the South. Before
they went Gus found opportunity to see
Hope alone.
&" | shall come back again for YOU when
am a man." he said. :" | have brought
you that piece of embroidery, but | want
you to give me little piece of it; will
keep It alWays.n