The Red Cloud chief., 1900-06-15
CHAPTER VIII.

The assizes are going on, and the
attorneys; and all interest is centered
on the Portraven bank robbery case,
for the man to be tried Is a gentleman,
a member Of one Of the oldest families
in the county.
Mrs. Bouverie is staying in the same
hotel as the Judge who is to try her
son. She will stay neal George to the
last; and Doctor Carter, Tuning and
fussy. has taken up his quarters at
the Royal Arms too. He Is beginning
to lose heart. The evidence Is so dead
against George, and the great counsel
engaged can wiring nothing from the
silent lips of the prisoner. With a sad,
stern face OF George confronts him, but
refuses to speak-refuses to account
for the money that had been in his
possession that day. He will make nc
defense whatever, beyond declaring his
innocence. His counsel Is in despair.
Without doubt the jury will bring in a
verdict OF guilty.
Worn u with great anxiety, Mrs.
Bouverie lies on a sofa in a private
room Of the hotel. In the garden be-
low the windows great punches of IL
lacs scent the air, and the light breeze
rustles the golden sprays Of laburnum;
but the mothers eyes see them not.
She can only think of her boy within
the cold, gray walls of the Jail waiting
for his trial. Mr.. Saville Is in the town
too, with a look Of satisfaction on his
face; also Mr.. Grey, the cashier, who,
they say, has never recovered from the
shock of the assault on him. He starts
at every shadow, and looks a miser-
able, haunted individual.
In vain DR.. Carter tries to persuade
Mrs. Bouverie not to attend the trial.
1t will only be needlessly distressing,
he urges. And his Utmost conviction
Is that George will be found guilty.
Mrs. Bouverie Is firm. my place is
beside my son." she says, struggling
for calmness.
So the warm spring days go by, with
the world flooded with sunshine, and
every field and tree In its new dress of
vivid green, everything bright and
beautiful; only the stern, unhappy face
of the man awaiting trial, while moth
err prays to Him who pities this sor-
rowful signing Of the prisoners, TAX
| ing her trouble to the foot OF the cross
and laying 1t there. Oh. the shame,
the misery, and the pity of 1t all!
"A ALo lnu Jawno fn, tho trial nf
the bank robbery. DR.. Carter makes
one more desperate effort.
Mrs. Bouverie, you are not strong
enough to stand this. I promise to send
you word every half-hour as the case
goes on. Besides, II would only dis
tress poor George to see you"
"Dr. Carter, you mean well, but
must go. l will be very brave" Mrs
Bouverie says, looking at the doctors
kindly face with eyes that are din
with tears and want OF sleep.
ut will kill her. poor soul" DR.
Carter says, half aloud.
Crowds are focking to the court
hoxse. 1t is an exciting case. The
counsel retained for George is in thu
depths of despair. He cannot see the
chance of an acquittal unless som
wonderful evidence turns up, which II
not likely, at the eleventh hour.
Mr.. Grey, the cashier, is prepared t.
identify George Bouverie as the mar
who attacked and drugged him.
The case Is not very exciting aftel
all. In vain Mr.. Jarvis c~ross-examine:
Mr.. Grey; he sticks to his Statement
without wavering. Limp and ghastl,
looking he u.s., but firm; and yet HI
never once looks at the pale, set fac
of the man In the dock, who holds hi
golden head up bravely. Once once
when the Judge says:
Edward Grey, look at the prisone'
in the dock. Do you swear that Is tn
man who attacked you in the Portray
en- bank?
"Then only the witness looks for
second into the steady eyes Of Georg
Bouverie-eyes that look true as stee'
THAT Is the man." he says, with sue
conviction that George Bouverie'
cOunsel BTOaHS.
Mrs. Bouverie sits immovable, he
hands in her lap, a small, pitiful figur
crushed to the earth with a sorroN
that is so terrible and so strange.
Mr.. Saville, with an assumed air G
reluctance, steps into the witness boz
but every word he utters tells dea
against the prisoner. 1t Is he VIII
brings to light George Bouverie'
financial difficulties and racing pre-
cllvlties, and the jury prick their ear
and into their twelve intelligent face
comes a look that shows they hay
found out tho reason why. There
, not one of the ~ good men and tru
who has the faintest doubts OF the