Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-12-08
groan showed him il had found other

Making his way quickly in the di-
rection of the sound, he stumbled
over the PROSTATE form of man
dyelng his clothes in the blood which
ebbed from a gaping wound. The
moons rays shone upon CHASTITY
face.
He started back, his own lips ash
en-, as he recognized the husband of
the woman from whom he parted
barely five minutes before.
'sMerciful heaven p he whispered,
when hand fell heavily upon his
shoulder.
Assassin % voice murmured in
his ear.
And turning he confronted two |
men, whom the noise of the shot had |
attracted to the spot. In vain he at
tested his innocence.
Explain it to the courts was
answered, mot to u.s.
And summoning other help to car
~ the wounded and insensible man
to his home, he followed them unre-
sistingly whittier they would.
The night wore heavily away.
Each moment as he paced the floor
of the room in which he had been
confined, awaiting his examination,
revealed tc him the hideousness of
his position.
Not yet had he washed the blood
stains from his hands. His eyes
seemed fascinated to gaze upon them
for with the morning light he knew
would come the question, ''What mo-
tive prompted your presence in the
baron's private park at such an
hour?" And to this question he
could assign no answer.
To say he had gone there to meet
the woman who once had been his
promised bride, but who now was the
honored wife of another, would be to
forever sully her fair fame. Honor
compelled him to keep silent-honor
bade him give up his life, if need be,
unless the baroness herself revealed
| the truth.
1t was as he had foreseen. In the
crowded court room, the fatal ques-
ton rang his death-knell in his ear
Marjorie Blaine's sweet, pleading
face, of which he caught a moment
airy glimpse in the distant corner
where she sat, seemed to say, ''For
my sake, at whatever cost, tell the
truth.
A week had passed since that hor-
rible night. The baron still fingered
unconscious, and with but little hope
of his recovery. Rumor was not slow
to assign a motive for the deed.
jealousy of the man who had won
the prize he had failed in securing.
His own noble name, his untarnished
youth, were swallowed up in the
frightful suspicion which engulfed
him; and as he stood in the prison
er's dock, faces which had ever smil-
ed on him were turned away.
81 can only plead my innocence, .
he said, when called upon-''can
only swear no man among you is
more gulltless than am / !; but of how
I spent that last hour, the secret is
my own-mine for time and eternity
Gentlemen, unless there be some
other way to establish my innocence
you must believe me guilty.
! As he was remanded back to his
cell, after the preliminary examina-
ton, to be held for trial, he found
awaiting him in the ante-room The
face whose pleading he had seemed
so heartlessly TO resist.
''Oscar!" she implored, "do yor
know that my happiness are at stake
with yours? Shall some false senti
ment of honor keep your lips sealed
Do you owe me, your betrothed, moth
ing?'
''My own!'' he said, clasping hel
close in his embrace. 'sDo not max,
my task impossible Give me assur
ance of your trust, your faith, thel
leave me to my conscience.
One moment she looked into tn,
dark eyes, whose passionate fond
ness dwelt upon her, then she an
swered, bravely:
, GAS you will, then. My faith
my trust, are yours foreverr'
5 ''Can it be- she thought, as, wit
| eyes which burned yet shed no tear
: she watched him from her sight
2 ssthat the woman he once loved ca
know of this-that she has aught t
t do with this secret which keeps hir
+ silent? Yet ! have said | will trus
t him. Aye, so | will, but must g
e to her and ask her, if in her power
to unlock his silence -
e 1t was young, lovely face whic
u looked with such imploring eyes int
S that older, more beautiful one of th
k baroness, summoned from her hus
: bands bedside.
e Oscar Redcliffe is accused {
Y murder you tell me, and this rumc
a has not reached me here. You sa,
!; you know his fate is in my hands
J. You are right-you are right! bl
:. oh, how can /, without bringin
worse than death upon myself, bu
% his acquittal? At such price woul
o he desire it?''
Madam the young girl answe
a. ed, ''you surely loved him once, whe
m you were his betrothed, though ha1
AZ. 49, o.,,ou~,