Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-11-20
CHAPTER vi.

ROUGH TO A FOCUS.
The day had seemed long to the prisoner
in Milldale jail, although he was cheered by
the society Of his mother, who spent al. the
time the authorities allowed in her sons
gloomy apartment. 1t was a sight to see
the brave-hear,ed old lady sitting opposite
her son knitting a couvre-pied Of soft Shet.
land wool, and preten ing to be as comfort.
able and as much at her ease as if she were
in her pretty drawing room at South Ken
slngton. Not by SO much as a CULVER of her
lip would she allow herself to be,ray her
anxiety. Her heart was as heavy as lead
yet she contrived to smile, and kept up a
cheerful flow Of small talk about the past
and future-church affairs, the schools. the
choir.
But even with this consoling mpa the
dark winter day had seemed long to George
Caulfeld- He was feverishly expectant Of
news from Grandchester, and when none
came he fancied that his friend, his lawyer.
and the police had alike failed in their
efforts to let in light. uoon the mystery of
that nameless girls death.
Aud if the day seemed long. what of the
dreary winter night, when Imagination, ex-
cited by strange circumstances and strange
surroundings, conjured up the horrors Of Q
criminal trial-the crowded court, every
creature in it believing him. George Caul
field, the murderer of a helpless girl. H,
saw the chain of circumstantial evidence
frightening out ink by link, and he could
have no power to sunder those links HIS lips
would be sealed.
And then involuptarily there broke from
his lips a cry of anguish:
He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb,
so he openeth not his mouth"
He had spent a feverish night, given half
to waketulness, half to appalling dreams
He had risen and dressed himself as soon as it
waslight, and now he sat waiting YEARLY for
some sign from ths outer world, some cheer
ing message, some word of hope. 1t was
only two days since the Vicar of Freshmead
had left him, yet 1t seemed ages
Hark! was not that the CHEEKY voice he
knew SO well, the full vibration of tones that
came from powerful lungs, the clear utter
ance of a man accustomed to address mu I'll.
tudesa Yes, it was Leworthy's voice, rs.
suredly, and that cheerfulton should belong
to the bringer Of good ,idings.
he sat with his hands clutching the edge
Of his pallet, profoundly agitated, while the
grating key turned in the lock. and the
heavy cell door moved slowly back Then
the vicar rushed into the cell and crashed
his hands, and laid his hand upon his fore
head in loving benedic. ion.
1God bless you, my dear boy! You will
not have long to stay in this wretched hole,
The man who brought that poor creature to
che station is arrested; he came here by the
train I Travelled in. he Is now in this Jail.
There will be a post norton to-day, the IN.
quest VIII be reopened on Monday instead Of
on Wednes lay next and the evidence then
produced will prove his guilt and your inuo-
ceuce."
THANK GodI" calculated George Caul.
deld, and then he fell on his knees beside tia
prison bed and po:red out the rapture of
his soul In prayer and thanksgiving,