Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-07-12
s .GUILTYe2RR
s INNOCENT?
By AMY BRAZIER
CHAPTER vII.-(Continued.l


Are they going to arrest me?'
George whispers hoarsely. looking
grey and haggard.
Yes, they've got warrant! George,
you are innocent, aren't your"
Yes, am innocent" he returns, in
a dull sort Of way. my poor mother,
you'll stand to her, doctor?"
GEORGE! oh, my SOM" His mothers
arms are round him. She has heard
every word. Her voice is full Of
agony-an agony that is like sword
in her heart
Mother, my poor mother" The
mans face works as he holds her to
him tight.
God bless my SOUL" shouts the
doctor, what are we coming to when
a man like Saville can act on a
trumped-up pack of rubbish? My dear
Mrs. Bouverie, don't let this worry
you, 1t is all a wretched mistake!
George. man, say you can set it
rightr"
There was no shame in the eyes Of
George Bouverie. A kind of proud
light leaps into them for a moment;
then he puts his mother gently into the
doctors arms, saying softly:
Whatever happens, believe / am in
nocent." Then he turns to the SER
geant. Nov, then, l am ready to go
with you"
Mrs. Bouverie does not see the
browning act Of disgrace as her son
walks out of his own home a prisoner
into the goodly light OF the setting
sun. She has tainted, and lies back
with closed eyes, unconscious Of the
young golden head. that, for the first
time in his life, George bows with
shame.
He gets up on the car, with white
lips and stony face. His eyes are
fixed and show no wavering. And, be-
fore night falls, all Portraven stands at
Sits doors discussing the bank robbery
and the arrest of Mr. Bouverie: while
Che cashier lies in his lodgings, and
Turns his face to the wall, limp heap
OF shuddering humanity.
His landlady hurries to tell him that
Mr.. Bouverie has been taken. Mr..
Grey only shivers and buries his chat
tering teeth and leaden face in the bed
clothes.
1t is Doctor Carter who. with tears
in his eyes, breaks to Mrs. Bouverie
the terrible intelligence that her son
has been brought before the magis-
trates and committed for trial on the
charge of robbery and murderous as
sault.
He never did It," sobs the old man;
"but it looks very black against him.
Poor lad! He wouldn't say where he
got the money he was wiring of to
that scoundrel. the bookmaker, and
that went dead against him; and that
fellow Grey stuck to his story. He
swore it was George who attacked him
he swore it through thick and thin.
On the face of evidence like that the
magistrates had nothing to do but send
the case for trial; but | can't telieve
1t OF George-I can't indeed!"
Yet the doctor is wavering. Facts
are stubborn ,-.ngs and honorable
men have become thieves and crimi-
mails before now. Mrs. Bouverie lies
worn out with grief and anxiety.
Would l had died for thee, my
son!" she means. as David did. and can
take no comfort. Her boy, her idol,
sent to prison, condemned already in
the eyes of the world. Yet her faith
has never wavered. George said he was
innocent, and God in His own good
time will make that innocence clear.
Then there was that awkward bit
OF evidence about the chloroform," the
doctor goes on, examining and sitting
every bit of evidence. Dale, that
chemist, swore that George had
bought that chloroform for the de-
struction OF a diseased cat"
THAT was true" Mrs. Bouverie lifts
her heavy, tear-wet eyes for a second.
yes; but George couldn't say he
had used the chloroform. and that told
against him. Saville jumped at that
point"
MY poor cat died She was a pet,
and she was caught in a trap. To
spare my feelings, George said he
would give her chloroform. She was
dead before he got back from Port
raven, and afterwards he said he had
thrown the bottle away. Oh, Doctor
Carter, you know my boy is innocent!
These hideous doubts must be dis
solved! feel so weak, so heartbroken.
so friendless!" sobs the poor lady;
land my poor George was so happy
Just before this happened-engaed to
Barbara Saville, and looking forward
to going out to Tasmania"
The doctor draws long whistle.
THAT accounts for the milk in the
cocoanut-that sour-visaged SaviIle
means to marry the girl himself. 1t
is as plain as daylight now. That is
why he Is 80 dead against George!"
Mrs. Bouverie clasps her trembling
hands and bows her grief-stained
face.
George in prison! Doctor Carter,
God only knows my agony! My poor.
poor boy, weak as he may have been.
but criminal never!"
Doctor Carter tries to comfort and
console her.
There, there, let II come to trial:
have secured Jarvis for George. IL
any man can ferret out the truth he
can. and we've not long to wait. The
assizes are in week or two. BY the
by, did you hear that Philip Saville is
dead In Tasmania? He was killed
kicked by a horse; and that poor girl
Barbara will only have to turn round
and come home again. I met Sebas-
tian on his way to send her a tele-
gram"
Poor child. poor Barbara! and she
was to have married George!" signs