The Penn's Grove record., 1885-10-03


fancy for knowing who this Mildred is,
whose name | heard mentioned among
vou?"
"Miss Mildred, my lord, is the only
child Of Mr.. Parkhurst, the gentleman
who is accused of numbering Mr..
Greene"
lyon seem to regard her very
kindly2''
''She is only sixteen years old, my
lord. and there's not a man in this little
town of Lynnfcrd but would have been
glad to give up half his wealth If he
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 CLEAN of interest flashed across the
features of the listener; his eyes grew
dim with a momentary tenderness, as
though some bygone dream of JOY had
returned unbidden to claim a passing
thought.
He made no reply, ave to thank Mr..
Harding for the information, and wish
chamber, attended by his servant, who
had been standing motlonless at the foot
of the staircase.
The parsonage whom we have just In-
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 9Th
instant, and he had arrived on the eve
of that day.
His lordship was u man of diStin-
guIshed bearing and imposing presence.
Generous, affable, high principled, he
was universally admired.
In person Lord Barrowes was decId-
eddy handsome. About forty. five years
of 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 a 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-
tatiop,
But We must urn 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 a low chair on
the rose-embowered piazza of the
''Beeehes."
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
it even for a moment.
And yet Lionel Ashton was a man
whom but few maidens would have
failed to smile upon. The only son of
a wealthy banker, young, handsome,
with unGlouded prospects, he might,
without vanity, have yentured 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
blush to the cheek that resembled the
petals of a white ross
'Oh, Lionel, hushl" she muTmured,
"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. l never had a brother; let me find
n in you ~
With a stifed sigh, he took her little
hands in his own, and pressing his lips
upon them, promised to obey her in all
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
babe him to hope.
Dear Mildred" said Grace Ashton,
as she fastened up the steps and reached
her friends side, ''do not fret. When |
left you, a few moments since, strolled
down as far as the gate. While | stood
there, MI. 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 influ-
| entail will never see the innocent CON-
demned, You must be hopeful, Milly;
I am sure no harm will come to your
father. Who knows2 Perhaps at this
hour tomorrow we may all be rejoicing
over his release"
Her cheerful words were not without
effect, and, somewhat treasured, Mil
bred talked more calmly of the subject
which was uppermost IN their minds.
Finally, as the night wore on and the
| clock in the church tower rang out the
hour of ten, Lionel rose andtook his de-
p%arture, leaving his sister seated with
Mildred In the moonlit garden, where
the tall trees were casting fantastic
| shadows on tha silvery paths and the
air was heavy with the scent of hon
| ~eysuckles and roses,
The 9th 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 n1ne O'Clock the little square
in front of the courthouse was well-hll-
| 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 t o avail themselves of the privilege.
Precisely at ten O'Clock the judge
took his seat upon the bench, the vari-
Gus 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
had suddenly fallen upon the whisper
ing multitude, the prisoner was called
to the bar.
Several cases were set down for the
same day, but precedence was given ON
the calendar TO that Of Benjamin HIb-
bert Parkhurst, whom the Coroner's
jury had found guilty of murder In the
first degree.
Tae man who appeared in answer to
| the summons looked strangely out of
place in the felon's dock. The stately
| form and noble countenance seemed
better fitted to grace the foremost ranks
| of chivalry and honor.
So thought Edward, Lord Barrowes,
as he raised his head from the perusal
of some papers on his desk to look upon
-