Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-29

In the city, together with an order from the
prfvy council for the raising and examining
of the body of Sir James.
So right gladly Mr.. Spurway and went
our ways with them to be witnesses The
cnirurgions and the officers would not per-
init us to come near when they set about to
examine the body, but made us stand at
the kirk entrance to keep all else out
should any try the door.
1t was nigh the breaking of the morning
when one of the surgeons suddenly held up
MS hand and an officer leaped down and
OUT at the door like a shot Then every
one waited, with the candles burning low
and the poor body of him that had been
my friend again decently covered up 1t
was dreary work waiting thus, and we
ieard nothing but the drip of large rain
drops on the roof where the damp had
seeped through the trees Then we heard
the tramp of feet and the rattle of arms
without. Umphray Spurway opened the
door, and We saw company of his mai
estys foot-guards at the kirk yeti When
they came to our stance they wheeled right
and left with clash of accouterment, and
mere, fair between the open leaves of the
door, stood Philip Standsfield with a kings
ofiicer on either side of him.
A little pale-faced man In a wig, who had
pee. peen the keenest about the examination,
then went into the precentors desk, and
the guard brought the prisoner into the
elders seat. There were a couple of can
dies, one on either end of the table, and the
sharp-faced man had another set on the
angle of the desk beside him.
Phiiip Stardsfield stood between his
guards as pale as death. Said the little
man to hfn, What have you to say, Philip
StandsfieN. why you should not be COM
mtted to stand trial for the unnatural
murder of your father?"
L charge John Bell, minister with the
fact" said he, dowily holding to his for
nler folly.
John Bell?" said the little man doubt
fully, sucking at a pen, for he was not
SO spoken of, we mean Mr.. John Bell.
minister of Morton-take care how you
speak of him."
And that was my first intimation that I
was in fact a minister with a settled
charge. 1t was my Lord Advocate Dali
rymple who spoke.
Il charge him with the murderf' said
Philip Standsfield sullenly.
Enough of this" said the advocate. ct
charge you, Philip Standsfield, with cruel
parricide and these two women here"
With wave of his hand he caused the
guard to bring in the wretched women who
had danced at the midnight burial Now
they stood weeping and wringing their
hands, calling on heaven to witness their
innocence.
Il call you not guilty as this desperate
man is guilty. said the advocate, "but 1
Will prove the extent of your guilt out of
the mouth of your innocent children, and
If We confess your punishment shall be
light"
Then in that kirk of Norman there was
scene to wiring tears from hearts of
stone. The candles burned dim and low.
The light of morning came struggling in,
making the white wrapping sheets and
mort cloths very CHASTITY, the chirurgion's
horf1d implements lying uncleansed upon
them. The two women never ceased to
wall and cry, but in the black bitterness of
his evil heart Philip Standsfeld stood
silent, with his hands gripped on every side
by the armed men of the guard.
l wondered greatly what they awaited
as the light came clearer and clearer. For
l was shivering and every one save the
little hawk-nosed man in the precentor's
desk was blue with cold. But as for him.
he made himself new point to his pen
and did it carefully.
Then after We mad waited long there
were brought into the kirk two children
in their night habits, looking tearfully
afraid Nor could imagine for what cause
they were brought out of their warm beds
at that time of night. But at the first gliff
OF them as they came through the doors,
the women cast their hands upward and
cried out as in an agony.
Cruel, cruel they said ito make our
BARNS bear witness against usr'
Then the shap-faced man took the
BARNS in hand being a boy and a girl,
questioning them none SO unkndly, but
rather as one that has suchlike of his own
and kenned the Tilt of their talk. So the
little James Thomson told how that his
father and mother came home after being
gone long season. They. went to bed
and began to talk together. he lying mean
time cross the foot. They told how that
Philip Standsfield had done the deed, de-
clarfng that he should now be laird of all
II.
he ride in their skirts that had been III to
him. and how he had promised them great
rewards for helping him to cast the body
into the water SO that il might appear that
his father had been drowned.
So the lad spoke, and when his father and
mother reproached him, he kneeled down in
the kirk there and besought them with tears
running down his face to confess, but be-
ing hardened, they would not for all his
asking.
1t was still more piteous when little Anna
Mark, that was daughter to the i'll woman
Janet Johnston, a BARN of but nine year
or thereby, with yellow hair and much of
1t running every way down her back, came
forward. Being so little they had. perforce
TO give her a footStool to stand upon,
But all she could say was "Dinna hurt
nie-
For it is strange thing that though the
woman was such an i'll wretch she had not
been i'll to the BARN. But the child loved
her and that greatly. And Da1rymple
looked upon Anna Mark and said, NO no.
little lass, your mothers life shall not be
hurt because of you. But If We will tell what
your mother said when she came home
that night she was out late, you may help
US muckle and your mother too"
Are We sure of that?" said the little one
ceasing her tears and looking up
Then my minnie said when she cam
home that 1t was all done and well DONE
but not by her. She would vet be a lady
and ride in her carriage And the Draw
man that gied me the pennies guarded the
door with drawn sword and pistol in
his hand"
At the word I minded that which 1 had
seen at the latch hole Of the door, and my
demon was made plain to me.
1 was about to rise and tell my tale; but
Cmphray Spurway dragged me back by the
coat tail. For one of the women suddenly
lifted up her hands over her head and fell
forward over the seat with the cry, "Oh,
God! 1t is enough. 1t is true, all true; 1
confess
And the other also suddenly gave way in
like manner, crying. "It is true, it is true:
but my sin is not unto death. Say that my
sin is not unto death"
Then the little advocate in the desk took
his pen between his teeth and bundled up
his papers. AS he rose, he said to Philip
Standsfeld where he stood as gray as a dead
man in the light of the morning Have We
anything to say? VIII We touch your father
for the test of blood?'
No said Philip, plackly. that 1 will
not"
Imphray Spurway came forward.
My lord advocate" said he, runs It
with your will, ii the parents of these chill
dren are long time confined or banished,
that | should bind the lad apprentice TO
my trade, which is a good one, and adopt
the little lass to be as my child in my
home?"
tc a1I-