Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-19


Cd witch STOPPING by the child, and In her han1
a bottle. The truth flashed On Inc, and /
rushed inside and Knocked her over The bit
tie was my Own-the laud inum one-and the
cork was out. / was just in time. fr the ca
tents, instead Of going down the chlld's throat
when it would have died instantly-Een over
me, scattered as sent her dying"
"a most prOyidoatial Circumstance" said his
lordship 1.-The wickedness Of some people Is
perfectly frlghtfulr
'It is, my lord Well' continued the DOE
the corner where had sent her, told her mr.
mind as to her vllany, pretty plainly; and she
whined out something about going to wet the
poor things mouth to comfort it. But knew
better: it was too palpable. Besides, she kae
it WAS laudanum and must have known 1t
would kill 1t was decided case Of attempted
murder. and so | told her. With that the wo.
man came, and she was as good a soul as need
be; but she said that as she had to go to work
at seven o'clock, and her neighbors, too, and
her husband went at six, she should have to
him up. SO, as there was no chance in that d.
rectlOn, / decided until we could see what
could be done. and lest the ch:lds life should be
sacrificed, that would have 1t wei wrapped u
In f'annel-its mothers petticolt-an1 take il
my self to the work-houSe. But, after we hal
got it syaddied up comfortably, remembered
no sucking mother. A friend Of mine, Mr..
Grant, has the care of it. my lord. that and
some parishes; and he hal that day mentioned
the fact to me as an unusual occurrence. Ii
would. therefore, be better, thought, for tn,
time being, were to take it to the one wac hal
just lost her Own-the one had co ne from. al
old servant OF our family when we lived else
where. Added to which 1t was five miles to the
work house, and less than three to her; and
even in Chat short distance 1t was a risky b'lSi-
ness, as the cold might kill the child. Still it
was a chance for it, and, slight as that chance
was 1t seemed to me, my lord, that it was bet
ter to take it than to ltsk the child being again
left with that horrible old woman"
Decidedly" said the Judge. '.You acted
have left It,"
''Then they would not have done their duty"
said the Doctor. "Leaving the woman there t,
told the old one that would, in the morning.
make the necessary arrangements with the
parish authorities for the removal Of the body;
and then" continued the Doctor. 81 started,
with the Child under my cloak, wrapped up, and
warm: my one arm around it, and my other
free. and. with shake Of the rein, away /
went, full gallop, back up the hill again for the
house in the forest, the one l had come from,
my lord. where the child lay dead.
The total silence that had prevailed in the
court while the Doctor made his state nent was
here again broken by his .lordship. 81 see,"
said he; ''and did you notice anything on the
hill as you went up ft?''
mo, my Lord" was the reply, nothing"
''NOr heard anything?"
"a shot, my Lord; certainly heard shot
Some fellow out there poaching; but l took no
heed of IT.
as it such a common thing, then. in yo1r
neighborhood for shots to be heard at night?'
every common, my lord; so much so that
always ride with tight rein when | am out
after dark: and then had the cob well in
hand"
"For fear he might shy-for safety's sake!"
eS, my lord; and he SHE'D then. l was
nearly half way up the hill when heard it, AMI
l was going at good bat too: and he turned
loud.'
sWhat did you do them"
"Put the spurs into him, my Lord, and went
on at a hand galiOp."
''Did you say anything? Did you make any
remark or exclamation? Can YOU remember?''
stupid fOOl!'' for the Child woke up and cried"
AS there was buzz In court for a moment,
as the people made half-audibie comments and
looked at each other, "Was that" inquired his
lvrdship, "all you Said?"
81 believe so, my lord
"You have no recollection OF anything be-
yond that?"
Nothing about t'poor little wretch? ~
so, yes my lord, / did; for, as the child
cried, thought of how had saved it; and that
II could but get 1T housed quickly, 1T might
'Just think, Doctor" said his lordsh,p, "and
see II you can give us the exact words. 1t is
After considering for minute or two, during
which time one might have heard a pin drop,
81 think" said the Doctor, at was this, though
it's chance II we can do it, meaning, my
lord, If we could reach the forest without the
cold air striking to the child"
The Judge laid down his pen and sat back in
his chair. 1t was as good as over.
There was decided stir In court and shut.
ling OF feet; great feeling OF relief in the
position; but it was but momentary, as the
counsel for the prisoner at once rose. and said:
q! have no question to ask, my lord"
But have,"' observed the counsel for the
prosecution, as he gave his gown tug, and got
up hastily. "Now, Sir" he began, as he looked
nerceiy at the witness, Il wish to ask you one
question: We have all heard this extraordt.
nary statement Of yours, and, OF course we be-
lIeve 1t: but will you tell me, please, why-yes,
why, Sir, you have thus delayed coming for
ward until the eleventh hour, when the man IS
all but convicted? 1t seems strange TO me,
must confess. Perhaps you will explain it?"
Certainly, Sir, Will l was not aware"
sa aa the poctor that the events OF that night
"You had moi? Indeed! And yet, as 1t ap
pears that the prisoner is man from your own
ne1ghborhood, you must have known all about
the case-all about it, Sir!"
81 did; In common with all those who keep
their ears open, or who read the papers"
uIhen why, Sir, may ask, did you not speak
"Because, until I came into court to kill time,
had not the least idea that l could be OF any
use In It, l knew no more than that the 0e-
Tense was an abb. But when heard what his
so at spoRe
~ need scarcely remind you," said the Judge
TO the counsel, that 1t was not until you had
maze your speech, ana was proceeding 10
sum up, that the facts came out"
THAT Is 80, my lord" replied the counsel as
he felt he was sat upon. But, returning to the
attack, he resumed, "Then your coming here
into court at the last moment was purely acct
dental? Do you really wish us to believe THAR
81 have no wish In the matter" was the re-
Spouse, zone way or other; simply state q
fact. VIII you be good enough" said the Doc.
tor, taking a paper from his pocket, "to hand
that to his lordship2" and giving a telegram to
the usher 1t was handed to the Judge.
"AS this telegram, gentlemen, has been given
to me will read 1T to you, though do not" his
lOrdsh1p remarked, consider 1t necessary. Il
is dated to-day, March 5, and 1t is from Miss
Minnie Brown, Paddington Station. She say3
so sorry, Papa. Missed my train. Shall take
the 2:15, and car on. SO don't wait. Vita
love ,"
''That is the through-train for our line, my
lord-the Severn Valley-I came on here to at
tend meeting. Had she come as arranged,
by the ten train, should have met her at the
station; and we should have been at home by
now. The delay seems provtdential."
"Just So" said the Judge. And the telegram
was handed to the jury, and passed on to the
Doctor.
But the counsel, determined to make last
struggle for it, returned TO the charge.
"The prisoner was in your employ, l pre-
sumo? He shod your horseS?''
NO. he did not" was the reply. 81 wish he
had: but he lived too far Off unfortunately"