The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-08
XVII.
LOVE THAT IL NOT ASHAMED.


LOVE THAT IL NOT ASHAMED.
The closing OF the inquest upon the
body of Jacob Van Deust was a mere
forma!ity. 1t WAS generally understood
that there was within reach. II not in &C.
tual possession. some evidence that would
60 far TO connect Dorm Hackett with the
crime, and Squire Bodley even limited as
much in a few remarks that he made to
the Jury; but it was deemed injudicious
to make it known at this iuncturs. and
the jury by the squire's direction, re-
turned a verdict of death by violence at
the hands OF some person unknown"
Mary Wallace, ignorant Of the slow, SER
pentine and deadly ways of the thing men
amuse themselves by calling Justice"
when the finding of tho jury was told TO
her that night found il difficult to under
stand why Dorm should DO kept in Jail,
when there seomed to be no evidence
which the cOToaer's Jury has found suffi-
Gent to connect him with the crime.
Uncle" said she, timidly approaching
grim Mr.. Thatcher, as he sat on the stone
doorstep, surrounded by litter OF fine
shavings that he had Rcraped from a
wha!e-lance handle that he was finishing
by the last light oil day, why is it that, il
the jury gave their verdict that the muir
der was done by some unknown person,
they don't lot Mr.. Hackctt out of jail2"
did you ever see a cat playing with q
live mouse that she had cnught?"
"Hes, uncle"
How she lets it go little way off, max.
ING IL think IL ID going TO escape, and then
pOunces on il ayain2 How she pretends
she isn't paying any attention to il, and
has no notion OF hurting il, and then sud-
denly tears it to pieces"
Yes, uncle" repeated Mary with n
shudder.
well, that's the way the law does with
a man."
Merry covered her face with her hands
and wept softly, while be went on:
III they still hold on TO Dorm Hacket
il ia because they hope to get proof enough
against him TO make him out guilty.
have heard lawyers say that the law pre-
sumes every man TO be innocent until he
is proved guilty; and when / was q
younger man | actually believed that, but
as | have got older | have learned that
practically, in the administration Of the
law, when a crime is committed somebody
moral effect on the community. and il
don't really make much difference who II
is. go long as the poor devil who il caught
cannot prove himself innocent, which is
sometimes a mighty hard thing to do. He
may not be guilty. but they will try TO
make him ont so. Better hang him than
admit having made blundsr in his ar
rest"
"Oh, but uncle you don't believe Dorm
could be guilty, do your"
lie looked at her pale anxious face with
q feeling OF deep pity, for his eyes were
keen enough TO see that il was of her
lover she spoke. and replied with un-
wonted tenderness:
"No. INV poor child. No, 1 don't; and
! wouldn't If | knew nothing moro about
him than your trust in him."
Two low sounds mingled softly. and
were doubtless duly noted by the record
| ing angel on duty: q sign from Uncle
Thatcher and a snif OF disgust from his
loan and rancorous wife in the dark room
| behind him. tie sighed to think, Gs he
looked at Mary, and appreciated the worth
of her full and perfect love, what a treas
ure his profligate son had Lost in her,
among all the good he had recklessly cast
! from him. Aunt Thatcher shifted because
she did not dare TO express openly her
! contempt for his weakness in manifes.ing
/ sympathy for the poor orphan who had
/ won her hearty and unextinguishable ha-
/ tired by rejection of Silas' advances.
| And If Dorm cannot, as you say il is
/ difficult TO do, prove himself innocent,
what will they do with himY
They'll hang him." exclaimed Aunt
! Thatcher. in a tone of malicious triumph,
unable longer to contain herself, and now
! appearing in the door to enjoy Mary's
! horror.
Uncle Thatcher turned upon her with q
! look OF disgust and retorted:
"Sallie Thatcher, II the devil himself
! amt ashamed of you, he's meaner than
take him Tor"
"Oh, indeed I'm so bad, am I? Thank
/ you, Mr.. Thatcher. Just because don't
/ choose 10 take up for murderer and a
i thief. Pm sure anybody might have
! known what he'd come TO when he com
menced by nearly killing my poor boy"
"Your poor boy deserved all he got,
and more. too; and I've good reasons of
my own for thinking that we'll both SEQ
the day well have 10 regret that Dorm
Hackett didn't finish him then"
Aunt ThRtchers surprise and rage at
hearing those words deprived her for a
moment of the power OF articulation, and
J she could only give vent TO her feelings
by sort wild beast howl OF fury But
very soon her ready tongue loosened itsolf
again, and she poured forth torrent OF re-
proach. vituperation, an dmalediction d.
rected at random against her hus-
band, against Mary, against Dorm. against
the world. indeed, excepting only her
poor injured boy"
When Uncle Thatcher had had enough
OF this, no Strengthened himself up before
her. and she. as II fearing the weight OF
bis heavy hand, retreated into the dark
room. hut he did not seem to have any
intention OF personal violence. He simply
pulled tho door to, locked il on the out
side, and sat down again. moment at.
torward the door was tried and ratified
from the inside.
STAY in there and keen quiet, II you