The Washington critic., 1888-04-14
HE JURY re-entered the

COuTU aIter null un
hours consultations 1t
N all comes back to me
aus vividly as though
i stood in the dock at this very mo-
ment. The dense fog that hung over
the well of the court; the barristers'
wigs that bobbed up through it and
were drowned again in that seething
caldron; the rays of the guttering
candles--for the murder trial had
lasted far into the evening-that the
red robes and red face of my lord
judge opposite that stared through it
and outshone the candles; the black
crowd around, seen mistily; the voice
of the usher, calling "Silencev' the
shuffling of the jurymen's feet; the
blank pallor on their faces as leaned
forward and tried to read the verdict
on them; the very smell of the place,
compounded of fog, Jail fever, the
close air, and the dinners eaten earlier
in the day by the crowd-all this
strikes home upon me as sharply as
il then did after the numb apathy of
waiting.
AS the jury huddlcd into their
places j stole look at my counsel.
He paused moment from his task of
trimming quill, shot quick glance
at the foreman's face, and then went
on cutting as coolly as ever.
"Gentlemen of the jury"-it was
the judges voice-"are you agreed
upon your verdict?"
HWa are ~
''Do you find the prisoner guilty or
not guilty 2"
mot guilty"
1t must have been fully minute,
as leaned back clutching the rail in
front Of me, before / saw ANYTHING
but the bleared eyes of the candles or
heard anything but boarse murmur
from the crowd. But as soon as the
court ceased to heave and l could
stare about me | looked toward my
counsel again. He was still shaping
his pen. He made no motion to come
forward and shake hands over my ac-
quittal, for which he had worked un-
tiringly all day. He did not even Of
fer to speak. He just looked up,
nodded carelessly and turned to his
junior beside him; but in that glance
] had read something that turned my
heart cold, then sick within me, and
from that moment my hatred of the
man was fixed.
In the fog outside got clear of the
gaping crowd, but the chill of the
night after that heated court pierced
my very bones. / had on the clothes
i had been taken in. 1t was June
then, and now it was late in October.
remember that on the day when
they caught me / wore my coat open
for GOODNESS. Four months and O
half had gone out of my life. Well,
I had money enough in my pocket to
get great coat, but must put some
thing warm inside me first to get out
the chill that cursed lawyer had laid
on.my heart.
had purposely chosen the by-lanes
of the town, but remembered o GER
tain tavern-the Lamb and Flag
which lay downa side alley. Pres
emily q light from its windows
loomed like beacon ahead. pushed
open the door and entered The small
bar was full Of people newly come
from the court and discussing the
trial in all its bearings In the babel
/ heard q dozen different opinions
given in as many seconds, and learned
enough, too, to make me content with
the jury had had. But the warmth
of the place was pleasant, and l ell
bowed my way forward to the coun-
ter.
There was woman standing by
the door as | entered who looked
curiously at me for moment then
turned to nudge man at her side and
whisper. The whisper grew as i
pressed forward, and before | could
reach the counter a hand was laid on
my shoulder from behind, turned.
"Well?" said l.
1t was a heavy-looking drover that
had touched me. care you the chap
that was tried to-day for the murder
of Merchant Todd?" he asked.
"Well?" said ! again, but | could
see the crowd falling back as if / was
a leper, ut his question.
"'Well?' 'Taint we'll, then, as i
reckon, to be making so free with re-
spectacle people,
There was murmur of assent from
the gaping mouths turned toward me.
The landlord came forward from be.
hind the bar.
81 was acquitted" urged de6antly
"Ac-quittedP' said he, with big
scorn in the syllables. "Hear i'm
acquittedp Landlord is this O
respectable house?"
The landlord gave his verdict
III out yer goes, and blame yer i'm
pudence
looked around, but their faces
were all dead against me.
''H'out yer goes % repeated the
landlord, "And think yerself lucky
it amt worse,7 added the drover.
With no further defense / skunk
out into the night once more. A
pall crowd Of children (heaven