The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-05-26
THE CASE OF BROWN
A Strange Story.
VXTHEN a learned judge acknowl-
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WHEN learned judge acknowl-
w edges himself mystified and un-
certain as to the moral culpa bility OF
an offender against the law it is best
to present the facts in the case and
then submit it to the judgment of the
world.
There is struggling little village on
one of the many mountains that dot
the interior of Pennsylvania. The pic
turesque road that forms its main
street is part of the arched highway
that reaches it's highest point in the
center of the town and curves away
with graceful, even slope to the val
ley on either siGe. Life in the village
was a monotonous routine and the
coming of an occasional artist or holt
day seeker for day or two was an
event to be discussed until it was re-
peated. When a handsome young
man with several trunks arrived at the
old-fashioned tavern one day and an
nounced that he would make it his
home for several months at least,
there was sensation eclipsing that
created when supposed Molly Nc
Guire had stopped an evening, years
before, to get his supper and inquire
his way to the nearest railroad sta
ton.
The new arrival, well-dressed, re-
fined in his manners, but hearty and
democratic in his greetings, gave the
familiar name of Brown. In France
the landlord would have produced
register and been backed by the law
in learning all important particulars
of Browns career. But there was no
need of such inquisition in this primi-
tive village. Propriety did not exact
a restraint of curiosity, and before
the young guest went to his room the
first night it was known that he was
a bank clerk in New York, that he had
come for rest and health, that he
would fish and hunt and explore the
surrounding country, that he had
supply of books with him and that he
would be glad to call upon his new ac-
quaintances at their homes if it would
not be regarded as an abuse of hospi-
tality. He quickly ingratiated himself
with the men, and the women told each
other what fine-looking, ine-spoken
man he was.
Before going to his room that night
Brown ordered some ale and sat down
with the landlord to enjoy it, the wife
OF the latter being content with a seat
under protecting vine outside the
window. After praising the tipple,
the tavern and the peaceful quiet of
the place. Brown expressed curiosity
to know more of certain Miss Pine
ton, of whom some one had talked to
MIN on the train after learning that he
was going to summer with this par
ticular landlord.
Strange woman" said the host.
She lives just beyond the edge of the
village in the tumble-down house with
a high fence about it. She is 70 now,
and I'll venture she has had more than
one offer of marriage for every year
OF her life. She is very rich, you know.
She had big fortune left her and she
has doubled it three or four times by
good investments through the Judge.
But now she keeps it all in her own
house, mistrusting every one and liv-
ing on less than the poorest person
in the village. She admits no one but
the rector and goes nowhere but to
church"
Doesn't she know the danger from
robbers?"
Everyone is honest here. Nothing
Is ever stolen, and, besides, she has
willed every cent to the church and
she says that heaven will protect its
own"
Sublime faith" unused Brown, and
then he went to inquiring about
the streams and woods in the vicinity.
One of Browns first moves was TO
ingratiate himself with the rector by
visiting him and regularly attending
upon the services. This also proved
the way to Miss Pincton's esteem. and
soon he was regular caller at her
house, working with her upon the
plans for rectory and parsonage that
were to be built with her money after