Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-07-22

uaIlOn Whatever. lie mad believed
that he would lose his right arm rather
than tell a lie. And now here before
him, directly in his path, was a fiery
temptation. He felt its lurid breath
upon his cheek; it poisoned all the
sweet clear atmosphere Of his life. If
he won Gwen by means of such dis
honor would life ever be sweet and
pure and of good report again. And
yet when he thought of her he under
stood how men rush madly into sim
He knew, for the first time, the deadly
power of temptation. He felt that he
was mortal like other men-that it was
possible for him to fall like other men,
or, rather, like Lucifer, son of the
morning, from those mountain heights
Of truth sublime in which he had
dwelt
And the evil one, who is so near us
every moment, whispered.
You need not speak; you will not
tell a lie. You need only keep
silence"
But the Judge said, angrily:
But | shall live lie; and my broth
er's blood will cry out against me from
the ground, as did the blood of mar
tyred Abel"
All that night the contest went on,
and Herman Warburton fathomed
depths of being in the darkness at
which he had never guessed before.
He fought the battle against self and
sin, and the pure gold of his nature
came out brighter from the furnace fire
of that secret struggle.
Rob Sterling looked ten years older
when he appeared in court to answer
to the terrible charge made against him
There was an earnest manliness in the
face that had only expressed boyish
frivolity before. He made his state
ment in clear, manly way, that gained
him friends at once. He never hest
tated till questioned concerning his
Whereabouts at the time of the murder
"You say you were absent at the time
the deed was done?" asked the lawyer,
cross examining the prisoner; 'you will
then be able to prove an 0hGi5 .
mo, | cannot" answered Rob, hast
lily.
"You were then alone all that timer"
II decline to answer"
L OU IIIllSU pc dNtIC Ill6It lIllo IOIISt
eliminates you?"
$50 be it." answered Rob, energeti-
cally. Gwen started and quivered from
head to foot. She longed to rush for
ward and tell the whole story.
Miss Tabitha gave sniff of disap-
proval. HE was after no good, you
see. [ always told you, Gwen, he was
a ne'er-do-well. A young man who
cannot account properly fer every min
ute of his time isn't fit for Christian so
ciety."
| The Judge glanced Involuntary at
Gwen during this examination, and saw
the pallOr settling upon her face. When
the witnesses for the defense were call
ed, she frightened again visibly. The
Judge wrote few lines on a paper and
handed it to the counsel for the prison
CT.
That gentleman arose with a trium-
plant face. Il will open the defense, J"
he said, by reading the following COM
munication that has Just been handed
me:
| II wish to state now and have only waited to
this time to give proper effect to my words. that
| on the evening of The murder, | met Mr., Robert
Sterllng about nNe minutes AFTER eleven ClOck IN
| the vicinity Of Miss Tabithas peach-Orchard.
The gentleman was absorbed in his thoughts and
| | was somewhat hidden from him i'll the shadow,
| but L trust this will prove complete dtidi, by
| showing that at the time the deed was committed
| he was five miles away from tho spot. HERMAN
WARRINGTON"
A loud cheer greeted the news.
Every one had been sure, of course,
that Rob was innocent all the time.
The most venOmOus turned to their
neighbors and said, II told you So"
Friends crowded around the prisoner
to congratulate him.
Coming out the judge felt his hand
seized in a very SOFT warm little clasp.
you knew all the time" whispered
Gwen
Eyes; may you both be happy an
swered the judge, with weary smile.
''You will never know what those few
lines cost me-"
Gwen flushed
IL think YOU are making mis-
take" she said. II suppose you must
have seen us that night and thought
we were lovers ?"
''Well, that would be natural, . said
the Judge, with forced smile. "You
are both in life's golden prime p
'Oh, he is only a boy" said Gwen,
grandly. Il used to like him. We
played at being sweethearts when We
were babies, and he had a lot of foolish
wanted to get back. Miss Tab watches
me like a hawk, and I could never get
q chance for q word So | wrote him
| q limo t1viYcr that tim q for him To briOo
all my belongings to me. He Is a little
sentimental vet, but he will get over
! it."
'Do you think it so easy for a man
to get over loving your" asked the
Judge, with an eloquent glance.
Then Gwen blushed again and her
eyes dropped
But he is BOY" she murmurred.
and she turned and disappeared.
'He is a boy, and it takes a man to
win her" murmurred the judge, his
heart throbbing with a delicious hope
once more. The burden was lifted, the
trial was over and the way lay open
before him to love and happiness.
Years after he had won his bride, a
tramp died of stab received in
drunken brawl. At the last moment
he confessed having entered Miss Ster-
lng's house for purposes of plumber.
The old lady discovered him, gave one
scream, and he sprang at her throat
with no idea of numbering her. The
fright had killed her, however, for she
dropped dead, he said, as if struck by
lightning. And so ended what Judge
Warb1lrtOD % He'd his most diffIcI11t case