Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-12-24

osIty more lively than was exhibited by
most of the court all that long after
noon and evening. Conjecture, COM
ment and suggestion passed from lip to
lip. One or two men even went so far
as to drop in at the tent assigned to the
lonely accused, and, after expressing in
terest and sympathy and desire to see
that be got "fair play and fresh
start they ventured to inquire if New
ms knew why Mr.. Loring had been SO
much astonished, if not overcome, by
the mention of the name of Nevins' sis
ter-in-law.
Nevins didn't know, but at that mo-
ment he would have given his hopes of
mercy to find out. He was writing to
his wife when his visitors came, de-
handing explanation. He could think
Of several possibilities any of which in
. his unenlighIened mind might give him
a claim, even a hold, on the hitherto
intractabIe West Pointer. Why, why
had he not heard or dreamed before this
long trial came to its dramatic close
that there was some strong and mystic
rious connection between him and Lor
ing. between the prosecutor and ac-
that Loring and Geraldine were or had
been affianced.
From all his wife had told him IN
their few days of moderate content and
apparent bliss he knew Geraldine to be
beautiful, gifted and attractive to any
man despite her poverty. That she had
been petted and spoiled, that she was
selfish to the core, grasping and ambi-
tious, he had never heard, yet might
have inferred from Naomi's faltering
pleas on her sisters behalf early in the
days of their welded life. In his eager
ness 70 learn something of the truth he
sent a messenger during the afternoon,
after the final adjournment, and begged
that Mr.. Loring should come to see
him. The reply was that Mr.. Loring
would do so later. Only two men sue
ceeded in seeing Loring that afternoon
and evening--the post commander, Ma
jor Starke, at whose quarters he was
housed, and the veteran president Of the
court. On the plea of being very busy
writing the record Of the weeks ses-
sion he had excused himself to every
body else.
There had been something Of a scene
before the adjournment that morning.
The court was ordered to try ''such
other prisoners as might properly be
brought before it,, and it was under
stood that two deserters, captured at
Tucson, had announced their intention
of pleading guilty and throwing them
selves on the mercy Of the court. Hig
gins had been sent to Fort Yuma. 1t
would take long weeks to get the evil
dence in his case from New Orleans,
but the two victims at Cooke knew we'll
that their case was clear. There was no
use in fighting. The sooner they were
tried the shorter terms would they serve
as prisoners. Nevins finished at 10
O'Clock. Loring's brief stupefaction was
conquered not without evident effort
Vouchsafing no response to the plea of
the accused for mercy, he announced
that he submitted the case without re-
mark, and the president nodded to
Nevins the intimat ion that he might
retire. Nevins slowly gained his feet,
took a long look about the silent array,
hestated, and then with his eyes on
Loring said:
81 should like to be assured that the
judge advocate accepts the trust. It
will be two or three months before the
orders in my case can get back from
Washington, meantime my pay is stop
ped and has been for three months back.
My wife must have means to live on,
and that's all / have to offer. There is
no other way of getting it to her that
consider safe.
Loring's white hand was trem bling
visibly, but his head was bowed as
though in painful thought The presi
dent had to speak. 81 presume you will
not refuse, Mr.. Loring?''
For another moment there was ST.
lence. AT last, slowly, the judge advo-