Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-03-06
DARK DAYS
BY HUGlI CONW AY.
CHATTER XIV.
THE CRIMINAL COuET.

tice. The staiwart policeman led us through
stone corridors aud passages, which re-
echoed with the tread of our feet, and at
last We found ourselves before double
swinging pain oak door, over which in old
English letters was written " Criminal
Court
felt Ihilippa shudder, and knew that
the sight of those words brought the horror
of the situation fully home to her. Mechan.
caly pressed a sovereign in the hand of
the venial inspector, or whatever he was
then, holding my wite's hand. | passed
through the noiseess swinging loor INTO the
all but empty court
A few policemen and other officials we're
lounging about Two or three people, who
had no doubt gained admittance IN the same
way as we had done, were seated in various
coignes of vantage. led Philippa up the
broad steps, and pointed to one OF the bard
wooden benches provided for the uccommo-
iRtion of the general public, These benches
we're raised step 10y step, one above another.
We chose our position about halfway up,
on the richt-hand side OF tus ceurt Pint
ippa, with her thick veil falling .,own to u.I
chin, and SO Tying recognition, SAM, wear
lily into her scat. ! placed myself bcsiue
her; my hand CTcpt un Ter the cloak size
wore and head har hand
Surely, 1t was all Il dream-a dreadful,
realistic dream. | should wake and find
myself under the great orange tree in that
courtyard IN gay Seville, my hali-SmolSed
cigar and the book which | had bern lazi.y
reading lying at my feet; my mother Uppo-
site me, laughing at my solnnolency, and
fhlllppas grave dark eyes looking with
calm everlasting love into my own
should wake and find the cool of the eve ing
had succeeded to the glare of the afternoon.
we should walk through the merry streets
lounge in the Alameda, wander through the
glowing Alcazar gardens or drive out miles
and miles over the fertile smiling plains. Or
| nv H,,.I a..
over my fire in my lonely cottage, the stolid
William the only human creature within
nail; Phlllppa's return, the snow storm, the
dreadful discovery, the flight, Seville, the
marriage-all all a dreamS
In Kind of stupor-the temporary reac-
ton, suppose, consequent upon such fatigue
and trouble-l gazed around me, and on
dered where was
What is this great empty building lit
from one side by large clerartorv windows
raised boxes on either side of the building
OF ecclesiastical design! What are these
dull gray vacant walls, that lofty ceiling,
crossed and cut into small squares by dark
ratters, this loaded floor on which feet
fall all but noiselessly' What are those
those small rallied platforms all but al join
ing them. and all but ad joining that paneled
oak structure at the end facing mel
what is that rectangular box shaped
erection with overhanging carved cornicel
Let us away from this dismal, colorless
place Let me wake and find myself amid
the Mowers, orange trees, the fair sights and
surroundings of our Spanish home
No! | have but to turn my dazed ey es 70
the centre Of space in which we sat to know
that am dreaming no dream: that we mast
wall hera ami learn our fates. That oblong
wooden enclosure with high sides. topped by
hight iron railing, brings reality back to
me. 1t Is the prisoners dock In an hours
time man will stand there. He will be
brought M those stone steps which lead to
IL from below. the topmost flag of which
can lust sec. He will stand there for hours
As.le leaves the dock, declared innocent or
guiirY ;" VIII our lives be declared happy
or miserable
NV hand holds my wifes vet closer: for
the last minutes which may ba ours to
spend tn"-ther are slipping by so fast SO
very fast
See, thr clock under the balcony marks
halt-past nine. The all hat deserted court
begins to assume the appearance of pre-.
pairing for business. Policemen and other
officials pass to and fro, some arranging
papers, some replenishing ink-hottes, and
placing Quill pens ready for tie barristers
and solicitors who will soon ill those front
seats Some one, with what seems to me
bitter irony, places a magnificent bouquet
or flowers on either hand of the Judges va.
cant chair. What have flowers in common
with such scene as this! Flowers, too,
which are beautiful enough to recall tc
mna fss H See s nS ore h"m which h
this den of sorrow Rather should every
seat, every beam he draped in black.
Now the doors of each side of the court
OF many feet People. in a continuous
stream. pass through the entrance, and
wend their way to the portion of the court
allotted to tie general public. So fast, sc
thick they come, that in ten minutes this
space is thronged almost to suff ocation
liT.rQ md II. 4 i
each other, as every inch OF the bench on
which we are seated is appropriated. The
court is full
Crowded by respecta ble-looking, well.
dressed people, who have gained admission.
as heard by favor of the sheriff. Yet,
woman rushes in eagerly and strives for
the best available seat. And for what rea.
SOM To see and hear poor wretch tried
for his life In my bitter mood look with
hate on these sensation seekers. hate them
even more when think that their morbid
craving for excitement may be satisfied with
such food AS they little OK pect; and / clinch
my teeth as picture the scene at that mo-
ment when Philippe, in pursuance Of her
immovable resolution, rises and makes her
enort to procla i'm her own guilt and the
convicted mans innocence. Although
strive TO force the picture from my mind,
by telling myself that justice cannot err,
that the man will be acquitted, vet agnin
and again tho dread of the worst seizss me
and / hate every face in that crowd which
may, by and by, be gaping, with looks OF
wonder and curiosity, at the woman love!
As in a haze | see some faces which are
familiar to me. A number of gentlemen
enter and seat themselves on the benches
which counsel usually occupy. Some few OF
these | knew by sight. They are country
gentlemen from the neighborhood of Rod
ing, who are now called to serve on the
grand july. see also the thin faced, hawk
ish-looking woman who calls herself Mrs
Wilson | am thankful that she takes
seat in front of us and does not see u.s. She,
like ourselves must know that an innocent
man is this day about to be tried.
So for half an hour | sit, gazing now at
the crowd OF people, now at the empty dock
and vacant bench in front of me, listening
ing to the hum of voices which rises from
the packed court longing for the moment
TO come when this dreadful suspense NAV
end yet all the same dreading and willing
TO put Off that moment. And all the while
Philippa, in her black garb close to me and
unseen 10y our neighbours holding my hand.
Hush! The door at the back of the bench
opens. and nj ten o'clock to the minute the
black-ro: ed judge appears. He bows to the
court, seas himself, and by his action sign-