Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-09-02


nation was long and careful. At length
calling DR.. Bailey to one side, whispered
conversation took place between them.
Gall this time Rose was very nervous and
anxious for the result At last her godfather
turning to her said: MY good friend here
thinks it just possible that your fathers rea
son may be restored. The fact is the blow on
the head has broken the skull, and owing to
not very skillful treatment when the wound
was healing, a small piece of bone is left
pressing on the brain. If this were removed
it is probable reason would be restored. OF
course he continued, your father will have
to undergo an operation but this is not ne
cessarily dangerous. will send you some
medicine, and you must nurse him very care
fully for the next few days; and then, if we
think him strong enough, it shall be DONE
"Rose heard all this, but it can scarcely
be said that she understood it, so far beyond
her fondest hopes did it all appear; so, in a
sort of half dreamy manner, she bade them
"Good morning" When, however, she got
to her own room, and thought it over. and
its full meaning dawned upon her, she fell
on her knees and poured out her heart to
God in thankfulness for such possibility.
Her dear father to be restored to her! What
a joyful thought; and moreover there lurked
behind it another thought, if possible still
more joyous that her father might be able to
say something to save that other dear one
languishing in felon's cell. For the time
she was happy how happy only those can
tell who have been suddenly raised from the
depths of despair to the heights of hope.
"For the next few days she redoubled her
attentions to her father, and surel ly no in
valid was half so we'll cared for as he, for
did not her whole future happiness depend
on his restoration Under such kind care
and good DR.. Bailey's attention, he rapidly
gained strength but the days flew too quick.
ly, and it now wanted only little more than
a week to the trial. This was fixed for a
Monday and on the Monday previous the
doctors thought the attempt might be made.
1T was done; and the patient bore it much
better than was expected but the result
could not be known all at once, as he was, of
course, greatly prostrated. During the whole
of Tuesday and Wednesday he was in very
critical condition; button Thursday the dan
ger was considered past, and on that evening
as Rose was sitting at his bedside, she heard
his voice calling feebly: Rose, Rose !'
"The tone was so natural, that she at once
was convinced that he knew her. Repress.
ing, with great effort the violent, desire she
felt to throw her arms around his neck, she
"'Here am, papa
"How quiet the ship is!' he murmured. l
can not feel her roll at all. l wish the
breeze would come, go that we might get
home"
"Rose hardly knew what to make of this,
or what to answer at first she thought his
mind was still affected, but the clear, intelli-
gent look of his eye convinced her that he
was sane. AS gently as possible she soothed
him, and he soon fell off to sleep again.
When DR.. Bailey, coming in soon after, was
told of the success of the operation, he was
much pleased; but he enjoined the greatest
quietude, especially that all topics should be
avoided which were likely to excite the pa
TENTS mind
"From this time the General improved
very rapidly, so much so as to be able to
take little walk in the garden on Sunday.
Following the instructions of the doctor,
Rose eonversed only of commonplace and
pleasant matters, although, Of course, to some
extent, the past must have been alluded to,
in explanation of her fathers's change OF
position, that is, from shipboard to London.
At the same time she was burning to question
him as to what he remembered of that ter.
rible night.
"On Monday morning, when she went into
his bedroom, he said:
"'My dear child, you look very i'll and
careworn ; and then receiving no answer, he
continued, 81 have been thinking about
Lieutenant Stevenson what has become Of
him?' This was.more than Rose could bear,
so falling on her knees at his bedside, She
with many sob and tear-told him all.
GAS the result of this conversation will
appear further on, I will not detain you with
it now only to say that it sent Rose to her
room in an ecstasy of joy, causing her to
throw herself on her knees, and in the full
ness of her heart, thank God for all His
mercies.
II pass on to the trial of the prisoner. 1t
happened that this was the first case on the
list, so it was still early when the trial COM
menced. I should like to describe to you
the scene in Court, did time permit, but I
must ask you to imagine it.
captain Bowlby proved the finding of
Stevenson in the Generals cabin, and de-
cribed the state in which it appeared. Colo
mel Morton proved the fact of the will hav-
ing been made and deposited in the box, and
told how it was against Stevenson's interests,
which fact was known to Rose, and therefore
presumably to Stevenson also. Others prov
ed the finding of the box, hidden behind the
prisoners bed and last Of all the paper written
by the General was brought forward, con-
tanning the first three letters of Stevenson's 8
name. The counsel for the defence did all
that could be done, but was quite unable to
dispute the facts or break down the evidence.
"Then came the Judges summing up. He
pointed out that although the evidence was
clear, yet it was in measure what is termed
circumstantial; on the other hand, it must
necessarily be so, as many murders were
committed with no actual eyewitness. Much
more he said fairly and pointedly, and then
the jury retired. You might have heard a
pin drop when they returned, and although
the foreman pronounced the word "Guilty"
in low tone, it seemed to sound and re-
echo through the whole court.
"Prisoner at the bar" said the judge in a
solemn voice, "a jury of your fellow coun-
trymen have found you guilty of a dreadful
crime, and lam bound to say that I agree
with the verdict l am quite willing to be.
lieve that you did it under a sudden impulse,
hardly knowing what you did; nay, l may
believe that in the first instance your only OBJ.
ject was to get possession of the will; but
finding yourself discovered, either by the
servant or the General, you committed the