Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-06-10
Amy returned from the examination

love in the shadow of the hangman's
moose.
For in the moment of his peril her
whole soul went out to him, and she be-
lieved that his hand had not stricken
her father.
Such was Amy Trentham's love.
"If he did not kill father, who did ?"
she asked herself again and again but
no satisfactory reply rewarded her, and
the mystery grew deeper than the sea.
The sun was setting when Amy en-
tered the little room from whence the
old mans spirit had taken fight.
She had not visited it since the hour
of her horrible discovery of the night
before, and it had remained in apparent
ly the same condition.
There were dark stains on the floor,
the sight of which chilled her blood,
and she turned to other and more invit-
ing objects.
All at once she noticed that the icy
wind penetrated the room through
broken pane. 1t seemed to shiver her
very heart.
A piece of paper which she picked
from the floor and laid upon the desk
was instantly blown to one corner of the
room.
1t was too chilly for her, frail girl as
she was. and she was about to quit the
uninviting spot when her eye CHANGED
to light upon some lines of her fathers
bold chirography on the paper afore-
mentioned.
The next moment she held it in her
hand and read:
God forgive me for the deed l am
about to do Tired of life, and with
+, troubles which [ dare not confde to any
one environing me, 1 die by my own
hand. Certain papers in the bank-safe
will tell the story; but not until the
chronometer is willing can the doors be
opened. Heaven pity and bless my
child, Amy! JASPER TRENTHAM.
The girl read the sentences with feel
ings that cannot be described.
Her father suicide? The thought
was repulsive, but the truth seemed
burned upon the paper before her, and
she resolved to turn it to account.
1t would save the life of Orrin Wal
ters. the accused teller, and place him
spotless before society again.
She lost no time in exhibiting to a
few the paper which the wind had blown
from the desk; but they shook their
heads, and at last pronounced it for
gerry.
1t but seemed to intensity the popu.
lace against the teller.
Led by Major Mcdonald, who fed the
passions of needless lnen by WELCOMED
words and covertly-directed speeches
the paper was called ''damning evidence
agninst the prisoner, and the night
promised to witness the vengeance o1
mob-rule.
At her earnest solicitation the cashier
accompanied Amy Trentham to the banl
and tried the doors of the safe.
They were as immovable as mountains
of adamant, and he told the girl tina
many hours might elapse before they
would yield.
"Did father close them 2" she asked
"Yes."
"When, please ?"
Yesterday at o'clock, but, as they
are not open yet. there is, indeed, n,
telling when the mechanism will rul
down."
Amy's gaze fell.
"Are you going now ?"
"Yes, miss
"Please Let me remain" she said, be
seechingly. 1.-The doors are liable t
open at any moment, and every minut
, is precious to the life one man has il
jeopardy"
: John Meredith looked at her aston
; ished.
, "You believe, then, that he is limo
1 cent p he said.
= 81 do"
. ''And that the papers spoken of i
l the document which some declare a fol
8 gerry are in the safe ?"
.Yes."
"And so do p
Amy Trentham started forward a
] the sound of the permanent cashier
G words.
s "God will bless you for those words |!
t she cried, grasping his hands. "The
= bring balm to my crushed and bleedin
: heart. You will let me remain ?''
"Yes, and may the doors yield
: your hands before the passions of ba
men do that deed which l believe Go
e never pardons.
: Amy's face grew pale.
: "Will they attempt to take him frol
J. the Jail ?" she asked, almost breathles
: 81 feel that such an event is coming,
e was the reply. Nothing save the p;
], pers, if they exist. can prevent it.
d never will believe him guilty of th
le heinous crime. He cannot commit mu
der. The jealousy of one man is at tt
7, bottom of this mob frenzy"