The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-08-15

Vr%s' : S $:5 ; :4' {. e 3;
come one?"
Pauline, who had been sitting in a
listless and pensive posture, instantly
frightened up and expectation sparkled
in her eyes.
eyes, rememberl Have you thought
who it ISL"
ut occurred to me last night. or early
this morning, while l was lying awake,
The name he gave yesterday evening
John-something"-
John Crush"
John Grush-yes; that was not the
name of the person am thinking of. !
don't mean to imply that his name may
not have been John Crush. But he GER
tainly bears a remarkable resemblance
to another man whom you, | think,
never saw, but whose name will be famil.
lar to you"
"Who2 tell meI''
The Judge was little surprised at her
Impotence. Mind you, it's only fancy
of mine," he said. perhaps l shouldn't
have mentioned it; but it had such an
odd relation to matter very near to
you. Of course, however, it is impossi-
BILE that the person who was here last
night can be the man refer to-"
"But who is it2"
HE reminded me of Horace Dupee,"
said the judge. "Of course you know
whom mean. was not personally en-
gagged in the trial, but i dropped into
the court one day, and watched the pro.
ceedings for half an hour. That was the
only occasion on which | ever saw Du-
pee. He was striking looking fellow,
and l retained an unusually distinct
memory of his features. This man Crush
looks good deal older than Dupee did
though, to be sure, it was several
years ago."
"Will you have some more coffee,
dear?" asked Pauline.
mo more, thank you. I'll go and
smoke cigar, and then How is your
mother feeling this morning."
About the same. have an idea it
might be good for her to get up to break.
fast in the mornings think she could,
if she tried. Perhaps stimulus of some
sort would benefit her-some great piece
Of news, for instance"
POSSIBLY. But hardly think there
is any news that would be likely to in
terest your mother. She hardly ever SO
much as looks in a newspaper"
81 don't mean news of that kind. But
if, for instance, she should hear that the
thief who committed the robbery OF
which Percy was accused was caught
and convicted; or Gf it were POSSIBILITY
that Percy himself is not dead, but had
in some strange way escaped"
"Ah, yes; such news would give her
fresh life, no doubt. But we must not
let our imagination take so wide a range"
at is not impossible. Why may not
Percy be alive? No one has seen his dead
body. Why may he not return some
day? Men have often returned who were
thought to be lost for years and years."
"Why. my dear, do not let your mind
run on such thoughts! You are excited
already. We must not hope to see Percy
again"
After a pause Pauline said, "If he
were to come back do you think he would
be arrested on that old charger
Speaking from the legal point Of
view, l suppose he would be-"
but suppose he were to come back
suppose he were in New York now
would it be unsafe for him to be seen or
to have it known? Would he nave to
keep in hiding until his innocence could
be provenI"
my dearest wife," replied the Judge,
gently, 1.-The law cannot be affected by
sentiment. If it were so, it would cease
to be the law. l do not say that, in
ceasing to be the law, it might not, in
certain instances, become something bet
ter and higher. Only in certain in
stances, mind you'll AS to Percy's case,
there is no reason to suppose that he
would be treated with any special sever
ity. Quite the contrary. 1t is almost
certain that the original prosecutor
would not appear; and the government
would scarcely take up the matter. No;
Percy would be arrested and certain for
malities gone through with, and-but,
bless my soul, l am talking as if the poor
boy were still in this worldl God bless
himl He is far beyond the reach Of
worldly justice or injustice now!"
With these words the good judge got
up, and after kissing las wife's hand in
a chivalrous fashion Of his, he went into
the library to smoke his cigar.
Pauline loved her husband, but she
was glad to be alone at that moment.
She was wrought up to a high pitch of
excitement, and felt the necessity of
dealing with her thoughts and emotions
in private. She went up to her boudoir
and locked herself in.
Since the occurrence Of the day before
she had more than once been on the
point of revealing the whole matter to
her husband. Had it concerned herself
alone, she would have done so at the
outset But the secret was Percy's in