The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-26

this moment OF extremity, when hui
man and Divine powers had coalesced
| against him, she would be by her old
playmate's side to comfort, to sustain,
to bless! She looked at her grand
mother. That expectant gaze had not
yet changed into triumph. Il VIII go
little closer. SO that can find OUT
she said, and the Old lady nodded an
eager approval
! Down the narrow iron stairway along
| the wall came the jury-swaggerin
| hesitsting, strutting. Patty leaned
| against the little door Of the railing
which divided the courtroom, thus sep
arating the goats of spectators from
the sheep of the bar, and studied their
faces as they passed. Stoid, immova-
BILE for the most part; but there were
| two that seemed worried and dubious,
and they were the faces of the two men
in whom she had put her trust. Oh,
towards! Why had they not preserved
the courage of their convictions or why
had they put themselves in position
where aint-heartedness is a crime?
The jury took their seats, these two
men in the places which they had oc-
cupied during the trial, Nos. : and 8
in the rear row, directly behind the
foreman. From the ante-room came
Tommy, and sat by his lawyer along
side of the table in front OF the judges
bench. How pale he was, but how
quiet how sternl Was it possible that
those lips which had ever curled in
smiles could be so firm? Why one
might be afraid of him, that is, one
who didn't love him as she did! Patty
brushed tear from her cheek, as she
gazed; it seemed rs if he were already
dead, and that it was his cold gray
shade that now appeared.
Call the roll, Mr.. Clerk" said Judge
Greengoods, and, as that functionary
obeyed, each juryman answered
'Present"-complacently so, too. ex-
cepting Nos. and 8, who looked as if
they wished very much they were else
where. No. was tall, slender, bent
young man, awkward aud bashful,
who was perpetually blnshing, either
because people were looking at him or
because he imagined they were. He
also stammered. No. was short,
thick-set, aggressive-appearing old
gentleman, very deliberate in action,
slightly deaf, but ever ready to slay
anyone who imputed such defect to
him Consequently, No. dropped into
pool of suffering, where he hope
lessly foundered, and No. 7shouted
Here" some time after the clerk had
noted the attendance.
stand up," said the clerk to the
prisoner. And Tommy arose and stood
with folded arms, a fragile yet intrepid
Ajax defying the lightning. But, Oh.
it was dark about him; if there might
be but single ray of sympathy. then
he could endure. The court officer at
the little gate was naturally more in
terested in the proceedings than in his
duty He moved forward, and Patty
slipped within the rail
Let the prisoner look upon the jury;
let the jury look upon the prisoner"
continued the clerk. ''Gentlemen of
the jury, have you agreed upon your
verdict?'
The foreman dropped his hat and
folded his overcoat and struggled to his
feet. In that silent instant OF suspense
there was futtering sound. and Patty
few to her old playmate's side. She
threw one arm about his neck, and
stood with the other extended toward
the jury box like guardian angel per
forming her mission. She appraised her
face glowing with the light OF love, and
Tommy bent his head and kissed her
tremulous lips.
I'VE have" answered the foreman
ave find the prisoner"-but here arose
confusion. From the seats behind him,
aroused into action by the touching
tableau, Nos. and sprang forward on
either side, both noisy, incoherent and
indignant. From the spectators space
an ancient fury with blazing eyes and
twitching fingers was rnenacngly ad-
vancing.
SILENCE! Order'' cried Judge Green
goods. raDping sharply, and the crier
reiterated his command. The bailifs
rushed 10 their posts. One caught the
grandmother at the little gate aud
forced her back; another gently placed
Patty in chair. but she leaned against
the prisoner and CHING to his hand and
anointed il with her tears. Once
more the silence Of suspense prevailed
I'VE find him guilty. your honor
blurted the foreman. "Or at leas. I
thought we did; bat these two gentle
men seem TO object"
Than again there was confusion
The district attorney, his assistant the
defendants counsel were on their feet
together and talking at oncc
Sit down" thunae-cd Judge Green
goods. Mr. Clerk. poll that jEry."
Guilty" answered the foreman in !
response 70 his name and guilty" an !
swered the succeeding fve. Then came I
No 7-s turn de sprang forward. apo /
plectic with determination 20 express /
himself and for once unconscious Of his
h.