The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-03-19

the law
And he read anew the summary before
him, the black, spTawling scratches
across the white page, declaring Anne
Bede condemned to six months impris-
onment for receiving stolen goods"
Meanwhile the leaden ventilator had
quickened its pace and spun furiously.
Outside the wind had risen, and now it
shook the windows, whistled through
the crevices and seemed to hiss remOrse-
" about the ears of the gaping crowd:
The law, yes, the law is the law"
The head of the president bent affirm
atively before this importunate voice;
he dropped his eyes and touched the
bell for the tipstaff.
Accompany Anne Bede," said he,
TO the house of the inspector of prisons.
The man bowed, the child turned
obedIently, but her little rose red lips
opened and shook TREMENDOUSLY, as If
words were on them that she could not
"Perhaps, my child" said the presi-
dent, noticing her dismay, perhaps you
have still something to say to us
"Only-that am Lizette, Lizette
Bede, NJ. lie President: Anne Bede was
my sister, and we buried her, poor girl, a
week ago"
Twas not you. that was condemned
and sentenced?n cried the president, sur
prised.
"Ahl bon Dieu, no. Why should l
have been condemned who have never
done harm to a fly"
"Then why are you here, mad child
that you are?n
because, if you please, it is because
Anne died while this business was before
the royal table" 1.-THE lower court of
Hungary. 1t was when she was lying
in her coffin all cold and white that this
order concerning the six months arrived,
certifying that she must submit. Oh!
how she had waited and prayed for it,
and tried so hard to live to receive it.
She had never dreamed of this, NJ. lie
President; and when they had taken her
away with closed eyes, mute and deaf
forever, my mother and told ourselves
that we must repair the wrong she had
done because of her .fdnce, Gabriel kar-
loney. 1t was for him, and without
knowing it that she sinned, and we
thought"
"What, my child?'
THAT to let her rest peacefully in hel
mortal ashes, and that no one should say
she owed them anything, that we must
do as said-repair the wrong done by
her. Ny mother has paid the amends fol
the goods, and have come NJ. lie Presl
dent, to serve in her place the siA
months in the county prison."
To serve in her sisters place!
What innocence, what simplicity.
The Jurors smiled broadly; the face Of
the president was no longer cold or cere
mOnious, nor was it precisely his brow
| from which he mOpped the moisture
with large yellow handkerchief.
at is well,' said he; ''you were right
nv child. but-but now that | think
He stopped, frowned and seemed t.
reflect intently-''nOw that | think of it. >
continued he, "there was an error il
this affair." We have, my dear child sen
you the wrong document"
"The wrong document, NJ. lie Presi
dent" faltered Lizette, raising her grea
sorrOwful eyes to his face with gaze o
heart-breaking reproach, "the wront
document"
She could say no more, and the prcsl
dent himself was no less moved.
1.-The wrong document, child, yes,
said he firmly, rising from his seat Il
tenderly pass his hand across the shinin!
hair, beyond there"-pointing to til,
heaven above them through the mist
yelled window. Justice has given an
other verdict"
SEQ now to thy mother and tell he
from me that thy sister was not a crimi
inal-that Anne was innocent"
Before God. at least" added he, in
tone only audible to his own great heart
"before God, at least. Translated iron
the Hungarian Of MikStrdH by 4. c
| ITdygener.