Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-12-26

ing farmer, who was socially under cloud,
on the charge of having committed some
small misdemeanor, became visitor at
her house Then one evening she had
shown a preference for him over Jim Clay
ton, and Clayton, noticing 1t, had unhitch-
ed 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 at Robert Dodd's door.
The victim was a 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 know n, but 1t 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 namo 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 as 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 a hear
| ing IN his own defense for he we'll knew
no benefit could be derived thereby, but
| from the first Miranda had disputed the
| accusation and had fought his cause with
q stubborn persistence. Many q grievous
hour and anxious night had she spent with
II A. = 4. l. \
tinued to work and strive and plot until
finally 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 case their con-
sciences; so had signed a petition for Rob
ert's pardon.
AS she toyed with the thought that he
would be home that morning Christmas
seemed to have new significance from
what it had had in the past The tai
peaks and cliffs around, which had beer
snow covered during the night, stood II
broken outlines against the grayish haze
while star, as though it were the star o.
Bethlehem, seemed to float far away and
dissolve into q rudy glow which slogEl,
formed the sphere Of rising sun Then thu
icicles hanging from trees and bushes glis
tened. like thousands Of jewels studdinl
the scene, like some great crown offered 70
the salvation of mankind. Christmas
She could almost see the Christ Child ly
ing in his Manager, where he was founs
that morning centuries ago. It had neve
been SO clear to her before or the benen
cence OF the season so full of beauty.
> What day of all days for Roberts re
turnl
Seeing some one in the distance, sh
waited with an eagerness akin to restless
ness. Then as he came nearer she recog
nized Jim Clayton
GOOD mornin. A merry Christmas,
no said
He was lean, lank individual, an
nature seemed to begrudge him the fe,
pounds of hesh he had, for they hung o
him in wrinkles, as though they had shriV
I eled before they had grown He came an
leaned against the doorpOst, whiting
= stick.
You're expectin Robert today, ain
: your"
: Miranda glanced at him with somethin
{. OF soorn in her expression.
YES, I'm expectin Robert" she al
swered- "And you know very well, Jill
ii Clayton, II 1t had not been for you I
would never have been condemned Z,
9 something ne didn't do"
~ Clayton laughed His small eyes rest4
o on her hungrily.
II WELL" he said presently, cts taugl
him a lesson anyway, and it's taught yS
one too. You won't be so trifin wi
mems affections hereafter as you've be-
: with mine"
!. II never trified with yours.
"You didn't, ehi Then, when are y
goin to marry mef"