Weekly commercial herald., 1885-09-25

She gets no further than those two words.
"Order in the court! Order in the court!'
is shouted so sternly and fiercely that she all
but loses her presence CT mind She falters,
she hesitates and glances helplessly around.
l seize the moment. By sheer force drag
her back to her seat pray her by the love
she bears me to wait in silence. draw the
veil over her face to hide it from the hun.
dreds of curious eyes which arc turned upon
it. While so doing hear the sharp man.
date, "Turn that person out of court"
Had any serious attempt been made ia
put the order in force, believe that Phil
ippa would have resisted, and once more at.
tempted to assert the prisoners innocence
and her own guilt-if it was guilt Fortu.
nately the policeman who draws near us tc
carry out the order is my friend of the
morning who had accepted my gold. II
may be on this account he favors us. II
may be, when q momentary disturbance
subsidies, and the perpetrator does not seem
bent upon repeating it, that the expulsion is
not insisted upon. 1t may be that Philippa's
accosting the judge was looked upon as
solecism brought about by the excitement
OF q weak woman who was in some way
connected with the prisoner. / suppose such
a scene does sometimes occur; and perhaps,
il its repetition is guarded against, hu-
namely. minded judge will not deny the
offender the sorry comfort of seeing her
friends trial to an end. Perhaps the Judge
who this day presides is unusually good
natured and easy going. Anyway, our
friendly policeman does not carry out his in
itructions and the court resumes its busi-
ness.
But many curious looks are cast at the
yelled woman by my side. / notice that
the hawk.faced Mrs. Wilson turns in her
seat and looks always at us; and, strange to
say, notice that the prisoner in the dock is
still staring fixedly in our direction. The
policemen take him by the arms; face him
round toward the bench. Once more the
solemn question, Are you guilty, or not
guiltF' is asked.
A short excited pause. The prisoner an
swors. Well, know what be says, although
he speaks 30 family that do not hear his
voice. Strange to say, his answer seems to
create considerable agitation. People who
are near to him look back and whisper to
those In the rear. A barrister turns In his
seat and stares in dumbfounded way at a
gentleman behind him. This gentleman
rises up fussily, and bustles round to the
dock, where for minute he seems to be en-
gagged In earnest conversation with the pris-
oner The latter shakes his head sullerAy
and hopelessly. In an apparently highly
excited state the gentleman, whom rightly
Judge to be solicitor for the defence, hurries
back. whispers to the barrister, and seems
l.,, 4. l. 10 bo -
some responsibility.
What does it all msanG Why do they not
90 on with the triall The suspense is grow
ing more than l can bear. Hushl The
judge speaks
The excitement is spreading through the
court In spite Of the warning looks of the
authorities, people ars whispering to each
other The Judge is speaking earnestly to
the prisoner. He seems to be explaining
something, counselling something: Still
the man shakes his head sullenly. What
does it all meant
Meant The next solemn action: the next
solemn words Of the red-robed Judge answer
my question, and tell me that thing has
come to pass which never entered within
the range of probability. Or have l been
asleep9 Has the trial been gone through,
and the worst the very worst, happenedl
Mo- five minutes ago pulled Philippa back
her seat, and forced her to withhold her
damning words. Even now my grasp is on
her to prevent her from rising.
Hal Lookl The judge places square Of
black silk upon his head. The prisoner
covers down He would fall were
it not for the arms which support
him on either side. A rustic Of in
tense feeling runs through the court Men
catch their breath; women's eyes are dis
tended. The sensation seekers are rewarded.
Hark The Judge speaks. ! can hear him
plainly now, although there is deep emotion
in his voice
prisoner at the bar, you are guilty, by
your own confession, Of an atrocious, cold,
blooded murder, the motive for which Is
known but to yourself and your God For
me only the painful duty remains"
GUILTY. On his own confessionl The man
guilty The tnan to save whom we have
travelled night and day--he the criminall
Philippa, my peerless Philippal my wifel