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

What time was it when your Husband
left the house?"
" Twelve O'clock came in frighten-
ed gasp from behind the black veil.
How do you know it was twelve
o'clockP"
Because dinner had just been placed
upon the table"
Do you always have dinner at exact
ly noonP"
'' No, but rs he left the door heard the
whistle ut Gatlng's sawmiIl..
" Why did he leave the house Just us
dinner was ready"
" lie was angry because the boys were
not ut home, and said he would 90 down
to the bridge and call them"
g That is sufficient" said the attorney,
next calling " Master Gus Antoine" Gus
came forward reluctantly, with an appeal.
ing glance toward Hope, as though he
We're asking her forgiveness beforehand
for what he was about to say; then he
looked in the same way toward Squire
MAY, who answered his glance by an en-.
couraging nod of the head.
Did you attend the picnic at the house
of the prisoner?"
Gus swallowed hard, pulled his jacket
down strongly, and replied, "Yes, SIR
Was the prisoner with you throughout
the whole day."
No. sir"
At what time did he leave you?"
AT twelve o'clock p"
How do you know it was twelve
o'clockP''
| heard the whistle at Sam Gatling's.'
Did you hear anything else remarkl-
hle soon after this and before the return of
the prisonerY
The boys face famed scarlet and white
in streaks and patches, us though he had
been struck with whip of thongs, but he
answered bravely, Yes, sir, | heard Il
pistol shot"
" How did you know that ii was not
shot from this carbne?7
Because know the noise that old
shooter makes. Squire May has lent it to
me often TO hunt partridges." p"
You may sit down,
Gus paid no attention to the lawyers
order, but leaning forward. eagerly adj
dressed the judge and the jury: " May it
please your Honor, and You gentlemen of
the jury" he said-Squire May smiled.
He gets that from me-" he said to him
self for they had talked often OF law and
and legal terms on their geological trip.
What fine lawyer he will make" he
thought" and you gentlemen of the
jury" Gus went on 1" would like to
make few further remarks
If they have anything to do with facts
bearing upon this case" said the judge,
witha smile at the boys attempt ut loren.
sic eloquence, you may proceed"
My mother and |, sir, do not believe
the Squire shot my father. We think that
The murderer WAS II stranger from whom
father had won considerable sum of
moroy the night before"
The court has nothing to do" said
the udge, "with what you or your moth
er may think or believe. The question is,
can you prove anything?
No, sir" replied Gus. "I went
down to the Union saloon and found that
father had won the money from peddler;
that the man who lost it was desperate.
but ne had left the town. and no one knew
where he had gone, or what was his name"
May it please your Honor" said the
prosecuting attorney, call this seems to
me atterly irrelevant and a useless con-
sumption Of precious time
g; Have you anything further to state?"
askcS! u Judge kindly.
" No, sill" aaid Gus, bursting into tears,
'but if this trial could be put off, though
I've never seen the man, I'd track him
like II bloodhound, if | had to follow him
TO California. And the poor boy sat
down. covering his face in an agony of
grief.
The discovery was nearer than he
thought for II messenger pressed through
the crowded room, touched Gus upon the
shoulder, and whispered that he was
wanted. Utterly bewildered, he rose and
followed him to a low boarding house in
|disreputabe part Of the town. There
upon wrctched bed, man lay dying.
In drunken condition, he had fallen from
Il high bridge, and his skull was broken in
several places. Father Murphy, the Cath
Ollie priest, had heard his confession, and
was now committing it 10 wri ing. lie
did not look up nor speak rs Gus entered,
hut went steadily on with his work. A
peddlcr's pack lay upon chair, and Gus
Antone's sharp eyes detected an object
which made him start forward and sieze
it. 1t was the strip Of embroidery which
Hope had mrde. He had found the man
he sought.
Father Murphy, who had signed and
certified the paper, handed it at this in
slant to Gus. Its purport was that having
been ruined in play by Colonel Antoine,
hn bnl ,u.it,1 G,, nnl al,,,t -,
Cat Hollow. Ills money, which he had
taken from the murdered man, he now
left to the church, and he prayed for the
forgiveness Of those whom he had injured.
Gus lurn"d to grant it, but the hand that
had committed the crime had sltfened
upon crucitiX, and with the word Peccarj
upon his lips the soul had gone.
Then Gus turned to Father Murphy.
Come quick to the court house." he sud
1--WE may be too late now And with
the confession in one hand and the lace
work in the other, he dashed ont of the
house.
Meanwhile, ut the courtroom, the law
yer for the prosecution had summed up his
case; and now the counsel for the defend
ant, after making few remarks, in which
he drew attention to Gus AntonG's state
ment us not so foreign to the case after all,
added that he thought it sufficiently strong
without it. They would soon see that
Squire May could not have committed the
murder, for he was about to prove in ali
hi, and would base il entirely upon the
testimony Of one witness, and SO SAYING
he led Hope to the stand. She had known
that she woald be called upon to testify,
but now her courage failed her, and she
felt as if she must fly through an open
side door and escape from them all. But
II glance from her father, and the thought
chat she might save him, restrained her
The little figure looked very piteous with
its white face, black dress, and flowing
haxen hair Already there was heard Il
murmur Of sympathy in the room, begin
ming with the women But the prosecut-
ing attorney was equal to the occasion.
Il protest, your Honor" he said,
'against the testimony of such mere
child being admitted to court. am will
ting to assert that she does not know the
nature of nm oath, and it is IL we'll known
fact that she has visited her father in pris-
on. and been instructed by him what to
say"
The court grants you permission to
ask her any questions you choose said
the judge.
Hope held the back of the chrir tightly
us The lawyer turned to her
"Do you know the nature of an onthp"
! hn ,t.En1 tiarnolv