The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-27

aad sunk like lead at her words. and
still more at the change in her voice
and expression. But one thing can
tell you," he said, after a minutes
pause-"I have doubts about the valid
tty of the charges made against the
accused, and could not conscientious
" take up the side of the prosecution
when am more than doubtful of the
criminals guilt
Cecil burst into a laugh.
Paul felt a chill come over him as
he heard that laugh. clear and silvery
as it was.
!" Oh. just young judge!-a Daniel
come to Judgment she cried. in
tone of mockery, which hit Paul hard
In her voice. "Why, it is the first time
knew of barrister being troubled
concerned! My dear Mr.. Enderby, you
are going to let all chances slip past
you like this? If so. do your friends
need to look forward to the time when
you will be successful Queens Coun-
sci or aspiring to the Woolsack?"
III success depends on my putting
wealth and ambition before honor and
Justice as an end, Miss Lennox," Paul
answered gravely. II certainly shall
not attain it. But you do not mean
what you say?" he added, tone of
keen pain in his voice.
He turned to her suddenly, and look
ing into the beautiful. fascinating face,
a sudden wave of hot, young passion
swept over him and he seized her
hands,
Cecil" he said. a little hoarsely,
for PHYS sake say you do not mean
that! / would willingly win fame and
wealth that might win you; but even
for so precious prize cannot sacrifice
my sense of right. Tell me, is there
any hope for me, even if l do not at
tain such success as you dream Off"
For moment there was silence
q silence during which Enderby's heart
beat with almost sickening speed. He
dared not look into her beautiful face.
If he had done so, he would have seen.
an expression that would have chilled
the warm passion in his voice.
At last she said. almost in a wfis-
per. though they were in deserted
corner Of the room, with no one near:
Paul, have always looked forward
to your success. because-because
wished it to be also NINE Shall we
make compact 'twixt us twain, as
Scotch people say? If you undertake
this case with my father, and the case
is won, we shall take future successes
as granted. and you will win that
prize you speak Of
Enderby's face paled, and his throat
swelled, his pulses beat with the wild,
strong pulsations of victory. He had
just dared to hope for this great prize
and now. 10, it was almost within his
hands! Almost! for nothing stood be-
tween him and it but this wretched
man. who might be dying, or might be
insane. for anything he knew, and his
daughter. Nothing but half-formed
belief in the innocence of criminal
whose case he had not investigated.
And all his future happiness was at
stake.
SUDDENLY, as Paul Enderby hesitated,
there came to his memory the words
he had heard chanted in the gray old
abbey last night:
"He that hath not taken reward
against the innocent. though it were
to his own hindrance."
He turned towards Cecil, the flush
gone out of his face, his lips suddenly
grave and set
..You do not ask me to do this
thing, Cecil-to sell my soul for your
&love?"
Her ripe red lips curved themselves
as II into laugh, then became
steady, and, bending little nearer to
him, she whispered:
would you not give up anything on
earth for my love, Paul?"
Somehow, the whisper, meant to
tempt him beyond resistance, was the
means Of Strengthening the manhood
and uprightness of Paul Enderby. For
one moment-only one-that strange
revulsion of feeling which sometimes
comes to man in his love for a wom-
an. came over him. He felt as if the
beautiful girl he had loved so passion
ately had undergone some such change
as that which the lovely Geraldine un-
derwent when
1.-THE lady's eyes they shrank in her
head
Each shrank up to serpent's eye."
and he saw her as temptress, not as
the woman he loved. He looked at
her in the face.
Anything but manhood and honor,
Cecil. should be worthy of scorn
and contempt if sold them for my
happiness, or for the fuldlment of my
dearest earthly hope"
For a moment Cecil Lennox's fair
face grew dark and evil. She was ac-
eustomed to fiattery and lore. They
were the very life of her soul, the
breath of her life. She herself felt for
Paul Enderby such love as such a
woman is capable Of; but in this, mo-
ment it was changed to angry haired.
''Vary WE'LL" she said, all the soft
ness gone out of her caressing tones,
and harsh ring in them which Ender-
by had never heard before, that set
ties the question for us. Mr.. Enderby.
! have no doubt your decision is wise
one-for me. And now, will you ex-
.-suse me If speak to someone else?
ses some Of my friends are growing
impatient
Enderby bowed and left her, feeling