Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-12-22

Ing farmer, who was socially under cloud,
IN tho charge Of having committed somc
small misdcmcanur. bccamc visitor at
her house. Then one evening she had
shown Preference for him over Jim Clay
ton. and CLAYTON. noticing Il, had uuhitch-
Vi his horse from the fence before the oven
ing was over and ridden away The coin
,ident had not escaped her that she had
provoked one mans anger by adding TO
another mans bliss. sun, ~ such things
girl may not testify, and the next morning
she felt a heavy shock when the cry OF
murder rang through the valley and the
guilt was laid at ROhcrt Dodd's door.
The victim was II stranger, who was sup
posed 20 have been passing over the noun
tains to the western states. Evidently an
alteration OF some sort had taken place,
and the result had been fatal. Nothing
further was definitely known, but It had
been proved that Robert Dudd had been
the only man who had passed down the
valley that night. md as society had nj
ready rejected him his namo was pretty
roughly handled by the loosely defined cir
clcs, where the force of judgment makes up
for the weakness Of the law In dealing with
crimes which are difficult Of detection and
uncertain Of punishment y word was
pronounced against him rs powerful as the
leyitlcal curse He was indicted, tried
and condemned, but afterward. through
the intercession Of the governor, was COM
muted 10 life sentence In prison.
He had not complained nor asked n hoar-
Ing In his own defense, Tor he well knew
a.. -. A.rt,s.l fkarahv f1f
from the first Miranda had disputed the
accusation and had fought his cause with
stubborn persistence. Many grieyous
hour and anxious night had she spent with
out fruition Ia her hopes. Still, she had con-
tinued to work and strive and plot until
| finally after ten weary years success had
| crowned her efforts Time had lessened
| the vindictivenoss ~ evil tongues, and the
people, fearing they had overstepped the
limits Of justice, wished to ease their con
sciences: So had signed "a petition for Rob
| ert : pardon.
As she tOyed with the thought that he
would bo home that morning Christmas
seemed 20 have new significance from
what it had had in the past. The tall
peaks and cliffs around, which had been
snow covered during the night, stood In
broken outlines against the grayish haze
| while "a star, rs though IL We're the star Of
Bethlehem, seemed to float far away and
dissolve into IA ruddy glow which slowly
| formed the sphere of rising sun. Then the
iciclcs hanging from trces and bushes glis-
tened. like thousands Of jewels studding
the scene, like some great crown offered for
the salvation of mankind. Christmas!
| She could almost see the Christ Child ly-
ing in his manger, where ho was found
that morning centuries agn. 1t had never
| been so clear u her before or the benefi-
cence Of the season 50 fun Of beauty.
What day of all days for Roberts re-
turn,
Seeing some one in the distance, she
| waited with an eagcrness akin To restless
ness. Then as he came nearer she recog-
nized Jim Clayton.
Good mornin. A merry Christmas, "
| b. said.
He was a lean, lank individual, and
nature seemed 70 begrudge him the few