Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-05-17
CHAPTER XIV.
GfpEoN PUAwLE stfsrEcrEp

ut NHpTe cbNclN mary t'NOugut over
Oibeor Prawle's meaning in saying
That he knew Tom was innocent, the
more puzzled was she
II no spoke the truth II was clear
that there were hut two ways ir which
he could know. Either he was with
Tom, or had seen him sufficiently often
curing that night tc know that ne could
ret have gore 20 the mill, or he knew
who had coml2itteG the crime.
"his began to take hold Of her
thoughts, and she asked herself whcth-
el his knowledge could possibly mean
that he himsc,, had hac some conncc.
tiur with II. She was very loth H. enter.
tain that suspicion Of him, rs lis man.
pcr % her. and especially his ready
ard strong assertion o. Toms limo
ccnco, had scftenca her DISLIKE and
.eSicncd her 6istrust OF him. But the
problem remained: Why should lac to ,n
such an intcrcsr In the muttcr? There
haG never been love lost between him
and Tom koylance. Was It that he
wished tn turn away fror himself all
Thought Il suspicion 10y showing a
great zeal in getting Tom ac1uittad'
Two days passed without n sign ~
him. SO far as she coulG. tell hr was
not even in the village; AMI thus tho
trust ana the hopes which. despite her
first Judgment, she had placed upon
him and his help, wencl A. the lav
came round for the adjourned hearing
of the charge against Tom.
On the eve of tho day Reuben Cor.
ringe came to he's at the cottage, aud
Mary's heart sank within her, know
Ing that he had como for an answer 20
His question.
Tomorrow In the bearing, Mary"
he saiG, after he haa becL In the cot
tago n Few minutes, land ! have been
asked to give my evidence"
"Wcll?' she said, interrogatively.
"What am 10 say2" he nslSe' again.
"What do you wish to sayP"
NAY. laos, that rests with you, not
with me-"
'I do not sea how It rests with me "
said Mary.
"lt cannot DO necessary for me TO go
ell over the same ground as last time J
wss here. tola you then how IL was.
have not bothered you since; for I
knew how you might be puzzled aud
worried, ana didh't want to hurry
you. But the time has come how when
we must deciGc."
"3ut canLnt lecias yet" sale Mary.
81 cannot make mp my mind. canno.
see that one who is innocent can run
any risk OF being punished for what he
did not do. The law Is just"
AYE, my lass, that'c IT, The law Is
just" said Gorringc in deep. strong
voice.
"Tban II vii not find him guilty OF
what he did Los do" she added. "Ohl
oeac, / dc not know what t. say II
Ne can prove his innocence, You de- not
want ths promise. Why not wait and
see?" she pleaded.
"how can we wait and see? Either
ne DID on did not 90 this. The evidence
which have all points TO the fact that
he did. II that evidence Is kept back,
wl,at PROOF have ! OF his innocence,
snrPosing the law finds him innocent?
/ None none. That is the point. Could
! trust you to man whom feared
might be a-might have done what
he Is said TO have done2 Could love
you II did such thing?"
but something might yet happen 10
lee hihl prove his innocence, despite
what You think such strong evidence
against him."
Might" echoed the man. Might
You have had week to look for this.
lave vou found single shred or scrap
Oh evidence that Will make that proofY'
II have his denial. That Is enough
tor me. she answered, confidently.
mo doubt. But will IT be enough
Iur jury? Was there man ever ac-
oused who did not deny the accusationf
DON'T think me hard, or cruel, or un,
Just. | am not must do what Is best
Tor you, even though | know you may
!eel am unkind in doing 1t, But we
cannot look at the matter from the
came point"
What do you mean?" asked the girl.
You think and believe Tom is limo.
cent, and that his liberation would be
right and just l think him guilty, and
We're II not for you should not halt
Tor an Instant in the path of duty"
He paused, and when the girl did moi
speak, continued:
81 must talk of myself tonight, fol-
can feel that you ought to see this
action OF mine as | see II myself II
Ton had been a good, true, honest
man 10 You could have borne It to sec
you his vile. But when learned, u,
did learn, that he was carrying ON .
double game with you and that CIR
Savannah, began TO be afraid for you
Then came the resti the stories Of ths