Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-10-07

| N0u:'
Miss Mildred, my lord, is the only
child Of Mr.. Parkhurst, the gentleman
who is accused of numbering MIR,
| Greene"
You seem to regard her very
kindly?"
'She is only sixteen years old. nv
lord. and there's not man in this little
town of Lynnfcrd but would have been
| glad to give up half his wealth if be
could have saved the poor child this
trouble. She is as pretty as an angel,
and as good as she Is pretty. They say
she is the living image of her dead
mother.''
A gleam of interest flashed across the
features of the listener; his eyes grew
dim with momentary tenderness, as
though some bygone dream of Joy had
returned unbidden to claim a passing
| thought.
he made no reply, save to thank Mr..
Harding for the information, and WISH
ing him good night, proceeded to his
chamber, attended by his servant, who
had been standing motionless at the foot
of the staircase.
kNloOAAdSC W uOAh VIC nave luSt liz
troduced was none other than Lord Bar
rowes, who had come, while on his cir
cult, to hold court at Lynnford. The
trial for murder was set down for the Sth
| instant, and he had arrived ON the eve
of that day.
bis lordship was a man of distin-
gulshed bearing and imposing presence.
Generous, affable. high princ;pled, he
was universally admired.
In person Lord Barrowes was decld-
edly handsome. About forty five years
or age, his appearance would have led
one to deem him not less than fifty, so
far removed was he from all the follies
and passions of youth, or those which
are to be seen at much later period,
and his manner, which was conspicu-
ously that of ''the old school," contrib
uted to this impression. In addition to
this, his hair and moustache were iron
gray, and on his face were deep lines
produced by profound study and medi-
tation.
But We must turn to contemplate a
fairer picture. While the kindly sentl-
ments of the townsmen were leading
them to deplore the sorrow which had
fallen upon Mildred Parkhurst, that
young lady was seated in low chair on
the rose-embowered piazza of the
"Beeches. :"
The tears rolled down her pale cheeks
as she thought of the morrow. The
pleading voice beside her was powerless
to charm away her grief or to assuage
ii even for moment.
And yet Lienel Ashton was man
whom but few maidens would have
failed to smile upon. The only son of
a wealthy banker, young, handsome,
with unclouded prospects, he might,
without vanity, have ventured to hope
that his wooing might be successful
But the beautiful face before him be-
trayed no emotion save the fears for
her father, which almost consumed her
heart. His ardent words brought no
petals of white rose.
''Oh, Lionel, hush!" she murmured.
"What you ask is impossible. In this
hour of SORROW let me feel that you are
my friend. Come, with dear Lady Ash
ton and Oracle, to uphold me in the or
deal through which | must pass to-mor-
row. never had brother; let me find
one in you ~
With Stifled sigh, he took her little
hands in his own, and pressing his lips
upon them, promised to obey her in al
things, and to always deserve her
friendship,
Respect for her distress held him
mute, even if he would have urged his
suit, but something in her manner for
bade him to hope.
Dear Mildred" said Grace Ashton,
as she hastened up the steps and reached
her friends side, "do not fret. When 1
left you, few moments since, istrolled
down as far as the gate. While 1 stood
there, Mr.. BaSsett came by and stopped
to speak to me. He says that Lord
Barrowes arrived this afternoon and
put up at the Lynnford Arms. All the
men are charmed with his kindly, SYM
pathetic manner, and are convinced that
a gentleman so conscientious and infiu-
ential will never see the innocent con-
demned. You must be hopeful, Milly;
am sure no harm will come to your
father. Who knows? Perhaps at this
hour tomorrow we may all be rejoicing
over his release.
Her sheerful words were not without
effect, and, somewhat reassured,- Mil
dred talked more calmly of the subject
which was uppermost III their minds.
Finally, as the night wore on and the
clock in the church tower rang out the
hour of ten, Lionel rose and took his de-
parture, leaving his sister seated with
Mildred In the moonlit garden, where
the tall trees were casting fantastic
shadows on the silvery paths and the
air vas heavy with the scent of hon.
evsuckles and roses,
The Sth of April, which was the day
set apart for the trial of Mr.. ParkhurSt,
rose clear and bright. A gentle breeze
relieved the atmosphere, that on the
previous evening had been sultry and
oppressive.
Before nine O'Clock the little square
in front of the courthouse was well-fill-
ed with those whom both curiosity and
kindly interest had drawn thither, TO
await the events of the occasion, while
all those who could claim the right to a
place within the hall of justice did not
fail to avail themselves of the privilege.
1IttlSGl1 tl bCA " OiONh ehO JNNcN
took his seat upon the bench, the vari-
Dus officers of the court having already
proceeded to the performance Of their
respective functions.
The room was crowded to its utmost
limits. and amid the dead silence which |
nad suddenly fallen upon the whisper
ing multitude, the prisoner was called
10 the bar. =,
Several cases were set down for tue
same day, but precedence was given on |
he calendar to that Of Benjamin Hib-
bert Parkhurst, whom the Coroner's
Jury had found guilty of murder in the
irst degree.
The man who appeared in answer to
he summons looked strangely out OF
Dlace in the felon's dock. The stately /
Forn and noble countenance seemed
better fitted to grace the foremost ranks
If chivalry and honor.
So thought Edward, Lord BarroWes,
IS he raised his head from the perusal
IF some papers on his desk, to look upon
he prisoner.