Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-01-02
c,imesq i there n one here who

1 lDO NItdI W lt"NN " 49,
mind of any one present.
proof? How can there be proof or
that which never happened-fwhich
never could have h%appenedg A crime
which my very soul abhors; at whlch
nv whole frame shoulders, from which
my whole nature recoils-aud COMM
ted by me and upon those whom was
bound TO love and respect and serve!
And committed for what purpose,
great heaven, for what purposet what
object could | have had In the De
struction of my own nearest kindred
dearest friends and only protectors!
demanded the accused girl, in a tone
of impassioned grief, Indignation ana
horror.
Your object was obvious to the
dullest comprehension; it forms n OF
the strongest points in the evidence
against you" said the ~implacable doc
tor.
my object. then, what was 1t? You,
who charge me with the crime, de-
clare the object" exclaimed Eudora
rlvetting upon his face her blazing
eyes. through which her rising and III
dignant soul flashed Reputation at so
( vile a charge.
Your object. girl. was the inherit
auce of their estates. Lord 4 Lady
( Leaton and their daughter being dead,
YOU are the sole heiress of unencum-
/ bered Allworth." replied the untiinch-
ing physician.
The fire that flashed from her eyes.
| the color that burned upon her cheeks
/ died slowly out. The pallor of unut-
( terable horror spread like death over
her face. She reeled as though she
must have fallen to the floor, but re-
covered herself by Il violent effort.
Clasping her hands in the agonizing
earnestness of her appeal, she eX-
claiIaed:
oh! does any one here believe this
OF me-"
Stern silence was the only reply.
Madame Pezzilini. you have known
me intimately for months-do you be-
lieve it," she said, turning IN an an
guish Of supplication to the Italian
princess.
"Benissima. my heart is broken-co
! not ask me- said the princess, avert
ing her face.
Eudora turned her despairing eyes
TO the crowd of stern, p~itiless, ac-
cusing faces around her, and, seeing
the form of Malcolm Montrose in the
background, she extended her clasped
hands in passionate prayer toward
/ him. and the tones of her voice arose,
wild. high and piercing in the agony
of her last appeal, as she cried:
MIR. Montrose. oh, Mr.. Montrose!
you do not believe me 10 be such a
fiend?"
mo. no, no." said Malcolm earnestly,
f~ervently, vehemently, as he pushed
his way through the crowd and came
to her side and took her hand. No,
Eudora, | do not believe it. l have
| never for an instant been tempted to
believe ii. You are innocent Of the
very thought OF evil, and this l will
| uphold both In private and in public.
l will stand by you like n brother; L
win aid, protect and defend you to the
last. so Ear as you have need OF me-,
and | power to serve you; and TO this
/ pledge my life and soul and honor!
And as / keep this pledge to you, may
heaven deal with me at my OWL great
est extremity. Take comfort, sweet
girl. Your innocence is a mighty, in
yincible stronghold, which all these
~atrocious charges must assail in vain.
.Oh, thanks. thanks! thanks" said
Eudora, her fiery eyes melting into the
first tears that she had shed since her
arrest.
sMr. Montrose. I would recommend
YOU to be cautions" said the doctor,
severely, "for, let me inform you,
young gentleman, that you are not so
far removed from suspicion as your
friends would wishl Your bethrothal
to the late Miss Leaton and your at
tachment to the present one are both
too Wen known already. And / assure
you the propriety Of your own arrest
as an accomplice to this crime was Sc
| riously discussed at Tin. inquest"
The cheeks of Malcolm Montrose
flashed. and he made one threatening
step towards his accuser, then, recol-
lecting himself, he dropped his hand.
saying:
mo. no, no! you are an old friend OF
the family, and it is your zeal alone
for them that urges you to such indie
corous speech and action. And since
the wisdom of the coroner's jury was
engaged with the question Of my ar
rest. / wish to Heaven they had or
dered it, Since they have found a YER
| dict against this innocent girl, | would
to the Lord they a found n
against me as her accomEiice. that I
/ might stand where she will have to
stand; meet what she will have to
meet; and endure what she will have
to endure, Go. tell the nearest magis-
:rate from me that in all the fel0nies
Eudora Leaton has committed NAL
colin Montrose has been her alder n
abettor-nay. her instigator! Tell him,
srnai me. thar when Eudora Leaton
poisoned her kindred, Malcolm Mont
rose procured the bane and mixed the
drips, Tell him that when Eudora
1eaton is in the prison cell, or waits
in the prisoners dock. or stands upon
the scaffold. Malcolm Montrose should
be by her side as far the more guilty
OF the two, Tell him this from me.
ard get me arrested, ard | will thank
you.,"
You are mad, Mr.. Montrose. as, in
deed, the events of this Gay are well
calculated to make YOU replied the
doctor.
Then. turning TO the officer, he said:
1T is getting late: had you not bet
ter remove your prisoner"
..iC is some distance TO the ccrnty
gaol. sir. Is there such n thing rs n
l.haisa ~ :iaie s-tiiies. Tnat | could have