Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-28
2.-Tbe Sentence.

2.-I'be Sentence.
The low hum of talk among the persons in
court ceased when the jury returned to thei1
places. Curiosity now found its center OF
attraction in the prisoners wife-who had
been present throughout the trial. The cues
ton Of the moment was: How will she bear
the interval of delay which precedes the civ
ing of the verdict?
In the popular phrase, Mrs. Westerfeld
was snowy woman. Her commanding flo
ure was finely rObed in dark cOIOrs: her pro-
fuse light hair hung over her forehead in lit
tie clusters OF ringletS; her features, firmly
but not delicately shaped, were on large
scale. No outward betrayal of the Wife's
emotion rewarded the public curiosity: her
bold, light-gray eyes sustained the general
gaze without finching. To the surprise Of
the women present, she had brought her two
young children with her to the trial The
eldest was pretty little girl of 10 years old
the second child "a bOy) sat on his mothers
knee. 1t was generally observed that Mrs.
WeSterfield took no notice of her eldest child
When she whispered a word from time to
time, it was always addressed to her son.
She fOndled him when he grew restless, but
she never looked round to see if the girl at
her side was as weary Of the proceedings as
the boy.
The judge took his seat, and the order was
given to bring the prisoner up for Judgment
There was a long pause. The audience
remembering his chastity face when he first
appeared before them-Whispered to each
other: He's taken lip: and the audience
proved to be right
The surgeon of the prison entered the wit
ness box, and being duly sworn, made his
medical statement
The prisoners heart had been diseased for
some time past, and the malady had been
neglected. He had tainted under the pro-
longed suspense Of waiting for the verdict
The SWOOn had proved to be Of such seri-
Gus nature that the witness refused to an
Swer for consequences if a second fainting-
fit was produced by the excitement of facing
the court and the jury.
Under these circumstances the verdict was
formally recorded and sentence was defer
red. Once more the spectators looked at the
prisoners WIFE
She had risen to leave the court. In the
event of an adverse verdict her husband had
asked for a farewell interview, and the gov
ernOr Of the prison, after consultation with
the surgeon, had granted the request. 1t was
observed, when she retired, that she held her
boy by the hand and left the girl to follow.
A compassionate lady near her offered to
take care of the children while she was alb
sent. Mrs. Westerfield answered, quietly
and coldly: THANK you; their father
wishes to see them"
The prisoner was dying; nobody could
look at him -
His eyes opened YEARLY when his wife
and children approached the bed on which
he lay helpleSS-the wreck of grandly made
man. He struggled for breath, but he could
still speak word or two at time. II don't
ask you what the verdict is" he said to his
wife; Il see it in your face"
fearless and silent she waited by her rus-
bands side. He had only noticed her for a
moment. All his interest seemed to be CEN
tered in his children. The girl stood nearest
to him; he looked at her with faint smile.
The poor child understood him. Crying
piteously, she put her arms round his neck
and kissed him. Dear papa," she said
''come home and let me nurse you''
The surgeon, watching the fathers face,
saw change in him which the other persons
present had not observed. The failing heart
felt that parting moment and sank under it.
Take the child away" the surgeon whiS-
pered to the mother. Brandy was near him !;
he administered it while he spoke, and touch
ed the fluttering pulse. 1t felt, just felt, the
stimulant. He revived for moment, and
looked Wistfully for his son. 1.-THE boy" he
murmured; 81 want my boy" AS his wife
brought the child to him, the surgeon whis-
pered to her again. eff you have anything
to say to him be quick about itp' She shud-
dered; she took his cold hand Her touch
70 bo
asked her to stoop over him. 'They won't
let me write here" he whispered, unless
they see my-nly letter." He paused to get
his breath again. lift up my left ARM he
gasped open the wristband."
She detached the stud which closed the
wristband of the shirt. On the inner side of
the linen there was line written in red let
ters-Ted of the color of blood She saw
these words: Look IN the timing Of my
tT1tlk.
''What for?" she asked.
The fading light in his eyes flashed on her
a dreadful look Of doubt His lips fell apart
in the vain effort to answer. His last sigh
futtered the light ringlets of her hair as she
bent over him.
The surgeon pointed to her children.
Take the poor things home" he said; ''they
have seen the last Of their father"
Mrs. Westerfleld Obeyed in silence. She
had her own reasons for being in a hurry to
get home. Leaving the children under the
servants care, she locked herself up in the
dead mans room and emptied his trunk of
the few clothes that had been left in it.
The lining which she was now to examine
was Of the customary material, and of the
usual striped pattern in blue and white Her
fingers were not sufficiently sensitive to feel
anything under the surface, when she tried
it with her hand. Turning the empty trunk
with the inner side of the lid toward the
light she discovered, on one of the blue
stripes of the lining, thin little shining
stain which looked like a stain of dried gun.
After q moments consideration she cut the
gummed line with penknife. Something
of a white color appeared through the aper-