Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-06-18
CHAPTER XII.
WHAT JUDGE?

WHAT JUDGE?
For many days. meanwhile, Sir Gilbert
had lowered between life and death, and
Elma had watched his illness daily with
profound and absorbing interest: for in her
deep. intuitive way she felt certain to her.
self that their one chance now lay in Sir
Gilberts own sense OF remorse and repent
ance. She didn't yet know, to be sure
what Sir Gilbert himself knew--that if he
recovered he would, in all probability.
have to sit In trial on another man for the
crime he had himself committed; but she
did feel this. that Sir Gilbert would surely
never stand by and let All innocent man die
for his own transgression.
II he recovered, that was to say; but per-
haps he would not recover. Perhaps his
life would flicker out by degrees in the
midst of his delirum, and lie would go to
his grave uncOnteSsed and unfOrgiven
Perhaps even, for his wife and DAUGHTERS
sake he would shrink from revealing what
Elma felt to be the truth. and would rest
content to die, leaving Guy Waring to clear
himself at the trial ~ best he might from
this hateful accusation.
1t would be unjust; it would be criminal:
yet Sir Gilbert might do it.
Elma had bad time. therefore, during
all those long days, even before Guy re-
by a slender thread. which Sir Gilbert
Gildersleeve might cut short at any mo-
ment: but her anxiety was nothing COM
pared to Sir Gilbert's own. That unhappy
man moral coward ut heart. in spite OF
all his clustering, lay writhing in his own
worse, longing to die as the easiest way
out Of this impossible difficulty For his
wife's sake. for GwendOline's sake, it was
better he should die; and ii only he could,
he would have lett Guy Warning to his fate
contentedly. His anger against Guy burnt
HpS rt,f NJ 1ncS hat ~n has
sacrificed him willingly, provided he was
not there himself to see and know it.
What did the man mean by living on to
vex him. Over and over again
tn. the unhappy judge wished him.
sell s dead, and prayed to be
verely broken by the shock, seemed hard
~ able to yield up its lite merely because
its owner was anxious to part with l..
After a fortnight's severe illness, lowering
all the time between hope and fear. the
doctor came one dav, and looked at him
hard.
"How is her" Lady Gildersleeye asked,
seeing him hold his breath and consider
To her great surprise. the doctor answer
ed. Better; against all hope, better" And
indeed. Sir Gilbert was once more conval-
escent. A week or two abroad. it was said,
would restore him completely.
Then Elma had another terrible source
Of doubt Would the doctors order Sir
Gilbert abroad so long that he would be
out of England when the trial took place?
II so;he might miss many pricks ofremorse
She must take some active steps to arouse
his conscience.
Sir Gilbert himself now recovering fast,
leave OF absence. He was quite unfit. he
said, to return to his judicial work so soon.
Though he had said nothing about it in
public before-this was the tenor of his
talk-he was q man of profound but re-
strained feelings; and he had felt. he
would sdmit. the absence Of Gwendoline's
lover, especially when combined with the
tragic death Of Colonel Kelmscott. the
father, and the memory of the unpleasant
ness that had once subsisted Through the
Colonies blind obstinacy) between the two
houses This sudden news of the young
of which fewswould have believed him ca
pahie. You wouldn't think, to look at
me-" Sir Gilbert said, plaintively. smooth
ing down his bed-clothes with those ele-
phantine hands of his, II was the sort OF
man to be knocked down in this way"
gazing at him with smile, admitted to
himself that he certainly would not have
thought it.
"Oh. nonsense, my dear sir!" the specia-
hist answered, however, to all his appeals.
This is the mere passing turn. l assure
you. :. co oan l .cohsc'en.iousiy say you
DC unm .o1 GUY ~ the ume the assizes
coe .oun ~. asa.n =: cfeas 70 me, on .nS
con con, wltn PHYSIQUE IKE yourS.you II
ku.. yours .; 'ogs:nher IA someenlne less
s nasn~a ~ ,.,,. WIN Isek OF :, ~ opa.
H..,S oue ~ " EIsIanu zane up
nsl ss.s. youn oe wa.AinR milIes
h;,,. ~ sescn over NOSE neasnery
nlA1s sAeie Sonssiesce"ce VIII Mah
IKE you y rapid process. In fortnight
rom to'oay. III venture 70 guarantee.
Xoul pe IN mt condition to swim the
Cnsnnel on your back, OF to take one OF
your famous nfty-mIie tramps across the
DOGS OF Dartmoor. III give you tonic
tnas y SET your nerves all right at once,
iouIi come back nom Spa as fresh as .
oa1sy: - -,
To Spa, accordingly. Sir Gilbert went;
and from Spa came trembling letters now
ana again between Gwendoline and Elma.
Gwendol'ne was very anxious papa should
&C., we'll soon. she said. for she wanted to
pc hone before the Cane steamer arrived.
ZION know why. 1ima." But Sir Gilbert
didn't return before Guys arrival in Eng
land, for all that. The papers continued
to give bulletins of his health, and to spec
ulate on the probability q { his returning in