The Lake County star., 1877-11-08

willing to assert that she does not
know the nature Of an oath, and II is .
well-known fact that she has visited
her fstherin prison, and been INSTRUCT
ed by him a. to what to say"
"The court grants you permission TO
ask her any questions you choose, |"
said the judge.
Hope held the back of chair tight
ly a. the lawyer turned upon her.
do you know the nature of an
oath ?"
he asked fiercely.
"Oh, yes, sir" replied Hope. "It's
swearing, and I've heard Col. Antoine
swear lots oftimes."
A subdued litter, which Hope did
not hear, greeted the words, while the
prosecuting attorney turned with a
gesture OF assumed despair. "Youi
honor sees" he began, then sud-
denly turning to Hope. "One ques-
tion more: what did your father teach
you to say here?"
There was murmur Of indignation
in the house Of: "Why do they let
him sass her SOP" and the like. But
Hope replied firmIy:" He told me
whatever they asked me, to tell the
truth"
."Yes, / understand, he told you tn
say that he had told you that. What
else?n
"Nothing-oh, yes! he told ME not
to be afraid IL the lawyers were very
impudent and tried TO put me out, but
just to tell the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, and God
would help me-"
II think, your HonOr,'' said the
lawyer for the defense triumphantly,
there is no longer any question as to
the eligibility OF the witness, and that
she may be now permitted to give her
testimony" ftst
The Judge bowed gravely, and the
prosecuting attorney took his seat.
"And now, my little girl" said the
other Law yer kindly" will you state
briefly, but as clearly as you can, the
events of the day, from the time the
IL o. clock whistle sounded until Gus
Antoine left your"
1--WE were all eating when the II
o. CLOCK whistle sounded" said Hope
timidly. "Father beckOned to me,
and we left the others there and went
around to the old cottonwood 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 il before, and he
wanted ME to help him. We fin
ished 1t while they were eating, and
then called them out and surprised
them all. l heard the noise the pistol
made. Father was uD in the tree.
He said, There, some Of those boys are
firing at mark. must put stop to
that. It's dangerous
This was all of Hopes testimony,
but the most rigid cross examination
did not impeach it. No other witness
was called. The judges address to
the jury was brief AS they retired
for consultation, Gus Antoine elbOwed
his way through the surging crowd,
brandishing the confession i'm his
hand. He made his way to the judge
and handed 1t to him. He glanced 1t
over, then rose and read it aloud. A
cheer rang through the room, but the
silence. "This paper" said 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 new trial."
Their absence was brief, and upon
their return breathless silence reign
| ed i'm the room; and the words, "Not
| guilty." were heard in the remotest
part OF the house. The cheering was
now something overwhelming and not
to be repressed. Nobody heard the
judges adjournment, though all acted
upon it.
Squire May had been acquitted
simply upon the evidence of his little
daughter; but Gus Antoine's confir.
nation of the verdict had tremen-
dious effect. And while one enthusi-
astic youth was passing around.his
hat, ITO buy that leetle girl a present
AN Injun pony or somethin'," all the
women and girls in the room formed
in file, and, marching around Gus,
kissed him heartily, much to his dis.
gust. Mrs. Antoine remained only to
kiss Hope under the folds of her Grape
veil.
A few weeks later the widow An.
toine and her family left for the South.
Before they went Gus found opportu.
nifty to see Hope alone.
II shall come back again for you
when am man." he said. II have
brought you that piece % embroidery,
but 1 want you to give me little
piece of 1t; will keep 1t always"
"And did you never lear of him
| again ?u 7 asked of Mrs. Rutherford.