Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-07-15
CHAPTER v.-THE PENALTY.


him.
CHAPTER V.-THE PENALTY.
Between nine and ten o'clock in the
morning two old farmers IN sunday al
tire-rough blue suits and shaggy Ola
top hats, enormously long In the crown
stood in the little market place OF
Scadden and looked up with sort Of
awe at certain corner OF the goal
Mcclure was the last" said one.
"That will be fYe-andf forty years ago
II it's a day"
Every Bit" said the other. al was
away at the behring's, 1 mind, and only
heard tell of il when got back. That
was only sheep-stsaling, though. "
Ave, sheep.stealing il was.
This is worse"
"But. man, we're not sure OF 10. l
san'tthiuk il OF one of the family. Any
Wav. it's not our business 70 say 90.
Then the two old farmers logged on
again slowly aud hesitatingly as If they
were going TO painful task, little
thinking that their conversation
had been overheard by one whom
tbev would have called a ghost. This
was the first intimation l had vet re-
ceived Of the drift Of public opinion
With regard 20 the murder-for nothing
else could have been meant-and IL was
with greatly Increased anxiety that l
followed the pair.
A large number OF persons were 20
Ing in the same directiOn-towards the
Court. a small. plain building, which
formed part of the goal. All the Scad-
den inoue.ts wre held there, and when
entered 10 was already we'll filled.
Among those present I noticed my
father, Austair Grove, Captain Wilmot,
Mr.. Vane, and a great many more whom
I knew. The two farmers belonged TO
the jury, aud had taken their places In
the box.
I looked round for George Vaue, and
eventually discovered him sitting in the
front row. But the next moment he
was oloEgd out from my sight, for by
his sidAgas Rachel, and 1 could see
none bUs her. IL was an astonishing
thing, 20 my mind, and an alarming
thing too. that she should be there. As
] stood with a select few near the Bench,
Satoa q i0Uar level, had full view
OF her. She was dressed in black, and
every tface OF the weakness which she
had shk 40 on the previous evening was
gone Though evidently much agltated,
she controlled her feelings superoly.
She sat proud, erect. almost defiant, by
her brothers side, looking round as II
expecting uafriendly comment, ana
prepared 70 meet II.
There was an incessant buzz OF con-
versation until the entrance OF the cor
oner, a short. stout man, with rudy
face and a fringe OF white hair all
round the lower part. Mr.. Greer, who
appeared on behalf OF Captain WiIlmott,
Immediately rose and asked that George
Nane should be recalled, as he had
some further questions TO ask. There
was q pause, a simultaneous indrawing
Of breath, a concentrating OF all eyes
upon the lads crimson face. Rachel
pressed her brothers hand, gave him
little push, aud be went rather wildly
10 the witness box.
you have sworn, said Mr.. Greer,
"that after your quarrel with the de-
eeased -"
"Stopw Interrupted George. 81
didn't swear that 1 had no quarrel
with Willm0tt I asked him 70 ight-a
fiir fight with fsts-0ecause he had in
suited me, but be wouldn't That was
all. There was no quarrel
But did you not threaten 10 break
his head with your stick?'
eyes"
"Out OF pure fun, I suppose?" said
Mr. Greer, with detestable grin. You
had 90 quarre, with him, remember
.Nor had l." declared George,
terCe.y do you mean 20 say / have
told you a lie? There was no dispute
between us. 10 takes two 90 make a
quarrel, and WimotJ was laughing the
whole time. That was what riled me.
II he bao lost his temper 1 shouldn't
have cared.
'Veu, Mr.. George Nane, as your are
30 particular. we will put il thus: The
deceased refused TO quarrel with you,
whereuDon you threatened 90 break his
head. Now, will you tell the jury what
became OF the stick. Perhaps you
have brought 10 with yOu?'
The question, put in Mr.. Grear'S
N desJ tones, overwhelmed George
with confusion. aud upon me il fell like
a tuuuderclaD. ] had forgotten all
about The stick. | had hurled itamOng
the uettIes 10 the ditch, aud had since
beeA> acerDed only with my crime and
its = sequences Sooner or later 10
was sure 10 be discovered, aud then it
would certainly incrimiuaJe poor George,
its owner. The nett'es would die down
I'm winter, and the blood stained stick
would be laid bare 10 the gaze
Of every pasSer-by. There was
nos. liability about earthly things,
thX was the worst Of them. They
changed and faded aud died; I alone
remained unchanged in the midst Of all
the decay. Perhaps the stick would rot
like the nettieS, Perhaps II had been
found already, This was indeed a fear
ful thought, aud IL seemed not unlikely
70 be true, Mr.. Greer's manner was so
hatefuly smooth in asking that Ques-
tion.
"Id-n't know where it is" stammered
out George.
RachePS face was as white az death.
saw her fingers tighten on the rail in
front OF her, and she looked at Mr.
Greer as though she could have killed
him.
GLOW is that?" DO asked. "Sticks
don't get lost easily in 3 general way,
and YOURS was particularly big and
heavy"
Il have hunted for it, said George,
''but can't End il anywhere. Charlie
Hsvwood took IL from mel remember
that. although l was in such rage
I N