The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-12-25

ing farmer, who was socially under a cloud
on the charge of having committed some
small misdSmeanor, became n visitor at
her house. Then one evening she had
shown preference for him over Jim Clay
ton, and Clayton, noticing it, had unhitch-
cd his horse from the fence before the even
ing was over and ridden away. The coin
cident had not escaped her that she had
provoked one mans anger by adding to
another mans bliss. Still, of such things a
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 ut Robert Dodd's door.
The victim was stranger, who was sup
posed to 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 Dodd had been
the only man who had passed down the
valley that night and as society had al
ready rejected him his name was pretty
roughly handled by the loosely defined cir
cles, 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 A word was
pronounced against him rs powerful as the
levitical curse. He was indicted, tried
and condemned, but afterward, through
the intercession of the governor, was COM
muted to a life sentence in prison.
He had not complained nor asked hear
ing in his own defense, for he we'll knew
no benefit could be derived thereby, but
from the nrst Mlrdnud nad disputed the
accusation and had fought his cause with
a stubborn persistence. Many grievous
hour and anxious night had she spent with
out fruition to her hopes Still, she had con-
tinued to work and strive and plot until
hnally after ten weary years success had
crowned her efforts Time had lessened
the vindictiveness of evil tongues, and the
people, fearing they had overstepped the
limits of Justice, wished to ease their con-
sciences; so had signed petition for Rob-
ert's pardon
AS she toyed with the thought that he
would be home that morning Christmas
seemed to havo 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 star, as though it were the star of
Bethlehem, seemed tofloat far away and
dissolve into a rudy glow which slowly
formed the sphere of rising sun. Then the
icicles hanging from trees and bushes glis-
tened, like thousands of jewels studding
the scene, like some great crown offered for
the salvation of mankind. Christmasl
She could almost see the Christ Child ly-
ing in his Manager, where he was found
that morning centuries ago. 1t had never
been so clear to her before or tho benefl-
cence of the season so full of beauty.
What n dav Of nil 6ava for Robayt,c
turnl
Seeing some one in the distance, she
waited with an eagerness akin to RESTLESS
ness. Then as he came nearer she recog.
nized Jim Clayton.
Good mornin A merry Christmas,
he said
He was lean, lank individual, and
nature seemed to begrudge him the few
pounds of flesh he had, for they hung on
him In wrinkles, as though they had shriv-
eled before they had grown. He came and
leaned against the doorpost, whiting a
stick
You're expectin Robert today, amt
your"
Miranda glanced at him with something
of scorn in her expression.
Yes, I'm !expectin Robert" she an-
swered. Anu You Know very well, Jim
Clayton, If it had not been for you he
would never have been condemned for
he didn't do"
Clayton laughed. His small eyes rested
on her hungrily.
WELL" he said presently, "it's taught
him . sson anyway, and it's taught you
one too. You won't be so triflin with
mems affections hereafter as you've been
with mino"
81 mover trifled with yours.
you didn't, ehS Then, when are you
goin 10 marry mes'