The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-06-07
VOLUME VII.

satisfied Of my husbands guilt, in defi-
ance Of his assurance Of his innocence
and my own erewhile faith in his
protestation Of it, crept shivering into
my bed, and pronounced him murderer.
Sleep did not visit my eyes again that
night. was far too deeply perturbed
for further state Of semi-unconscious-
ness, and when at length the tedious
night hours wore away, aud brought the
fervid sunshine Of the morning, | was as
white as a ghost, and as nervous as
though striker with palsy.
Judge Downy was very eonsiderate
and afable at breakfast. He kindly in-
quired as to how myself aud children
had spent the night, and profiered his
personal assistance in conveying my
little ones to the Court-hOuse, where the
trial was TO begin at nine o'clock, sharp.
"Have you been to see your husband
yet ?" he asked, sympathetieally.
"No, sir"
My voice was so constrained and hard
that il startled him.
"Are you not well to-day, madam pr
"Yes."
"Be composed, pray. You will un-
derstand that everything depends upon
your own good sense in this trial. II
we are to save your husband from the
gallows, you must be on the alert about
selecting the jury. Your husband will
have the benefit Of counsel for defense
as you understand, and you can confer
with his attorney all the while during
the trial"
did not reply.
"Your womanly confidence in his in
nOcence will go far toward establishing
the same in the minds Of a jury,
madam"
Again I did not reply.
perhaps you can give me some clue
which l do not yet comprehend as to
your reasons for believing in your hus-
bands innocence"
He leaned forward over bis teaspoon
as he spoke, and gazed searchingly into
my eyes.
81 have no clue" I answered, feeling
as though I were signing Gerald's death
warrant
"Ihen, madam, am wholly at sea. 4"
81 cannot help it,"
"What, may ask, has changed your
mind 50 radically?"
81 do not choose to tell"
The Judge was baffied. For my sake he
had been particularly interested in the
case, he said, but if had given it up for
lost there was little use in submitting the
accused TO his trial. He would be sure
to be convicted, and I might just as well
return to Nevada City aud my res
taurant.
81 am resolved to know the worst" !
answered, bitterly.
Every well, madam; but only
wished to do you a kindness"
81 trust you will not find me migrate
ful, sir. Where is my husband ?''
'In the city Jail, in custody Of th,
sheriff He was brought over from tn,
Bay last night and placed in secur,
quarters. You shall see him as soon a
the court is called"
After a while, when we had finished
breakfast and 1 bad made my children
toilet for the day, Judge Downy tool
Gerald, poor little crooked, cripple,
waif, in bis strong arms, and I, follow
ing with baby Ethel, wended my silen
way to the halls Of justice, meeting
scores Of curious, eager loiterers aroun,
the corners, who gazed at me as thougl
had beeu a stampeding menagerie, o
train Of refractory mules.
The hall devoted to the department
Of justice was a very primitive affair in
deed, but it answered the purpose 70
which it had been set apart quite a
well as though lis adobe walls had beei
frescoed, and its seats finished with up
holstery. a thick coating Of saw-dus
lay upon the floor, which so vividly re
minded me of the awful den in which
had watched the game go on that ba'
robbed me Of my earnings and my hus
band Of honor, that for moment m,
head swan, and I well nigh lost con
Isciousness.
But / had sufficient presence OF min
to rally, and pretty soon looked frou
the seat where they had placed me, an
beheld Gerald coming up the aisle T.
charge Of an officer, his way defined b
J the ominous elanking Of heavy chains
He was pale and haggard, but his chez
and eye were clear and his step steady
Without looking up be advanced to tn
prisoners box, and seating himself
the clanking Of bis manacles, be breathe
hard for an instant, and then, placin
his hand on his heart as If to steady II
pulsings, he ventured to raise bis eye
ia my direction with a quivering, IN
certain glance.
forgot, the instant my eyes met hi
that he had been called a murderer.
forgot my dreadful dream, the fearfI
wrongs he had visited upon me an
mine, and everything else except th
Tact that he was my husband and /
trouble and that he needed me.
And then the walls Of the court-roo,
{ faded away, and in their stead I -sa
e my fathers straw-thatched cabin, M
mothers pale wan face, the moat an
d wood and turrets of Bothwick, the It'd
S river, and the tiny boat in which 1 hs
? been spirited away from the land Of n