The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-14


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ment that nobody had counted upon-the
tesumony OF IKE Towns ono OF inc oHcels
VINO was ABOARD the launch on tnat iatai
night THIS man positively asserted tnat
no nad seen Blaine raise rine ana ann
u AZ onKood. sucn testimony. IN tne 40.
sence OF any otner, was IN tseil su.nc lie,
70 turn tno scale asAinst tne accuseu. M
c.icuus.snce. wntcn iooNeu 30 naIu as".as.
Blame, MS refusal TO make an explanauon
or oeiend himself. and the nign stanoin9
ne Formerly neid IN the community created
such perfect balance IN the Jury's mino,
that 1t only required touch TO turn tnem
to the one side or the other.
In the meantime the interest," for ana
against the young man was WORKING up the
citizens OF Port Townsend to white heat
or excitement. AS the time or trial drew
on the animosify between the two factions
became more marked. Friends Of the muir
dered man took no pains to conceal their
ill-feeiing toward the sympathizers OF the
accused. Old settlers. who rarely carried
weapons, took their pistols from the draw
er when they went into town. Women who
had been close friends uuarreled over the
reputation OF the man under Indictment,
and became enemies. The prisoner was tho
only one who had nothing to saw. His sill
enca alienated manv ~ the disinterested
uho had evnacted that he would sneedilv
c,asr h,rosais
tn. 49,. h,r,,.,, ,r..h,r mi. .ra cma-
80 - ~ ~ ~, s',.-I' a., ~. soo,,
1919 ~ 'v 1. ~ .ss,,o,s,,.
- sne va aDie ans wi"nsl s S a., q, ~,
Oh n's conuuct towalu ne, anu ssss - ~, .no
past put oniy hnpioreu MN 70 oelsnu I'm.
eelr' 10 wnicn ne wouIa only reply, turh-
ing away ms neart SICK witmn him'
cannot! l cannon
Clara came. too. and It was kind OF re-
Hat vyb ho If
felt unable to endure the entreaties long
err On the afternoon before the court con-
vened, his mother and Clara made last
appeal against his resolve. They begged
him to promise that he would speak on the
morrow, and name the murderer. He was
worn out with the conflict of emotions and
felt that he could endure no more.
Dear mother. dear Clara he said,
taking A hand of each ana turning his
weary eyes from one to the other, "you do
not know what YOU are doing. Listen to
me. What YOU urge me 10 do. 1 tell you
for the hundredth time. Is impossible.
have no option in the matter. I am
bound nv a bond. which every man holds
sacred. to keen silent and let things go
as thew will. / can do nothing. Do not
urre ma any more. Let us hope for the
best 1t cannot be that you innocent
ones are TO suffer much more for me-"
He did not feel the confidence he at
tempted to inspire the women with. and
his mother was not deceived.
sAnd what Of this bondY.' she cried ex-
cftetly ais there no bond between YOU
and me that forbids a son to break his
mothers heart? And this girl whom
YOU have said YOU loyed-do YOU owe
mora IA that foolish oath than to her?
Beware. boy. how you trample upon your
mothers prayerr'
she was half beside herself with her
mental and bodily suffering. She fell
upon her knees. sobbing hystericaliy.
.'IIave pity on us. dear Silas!' cried
Clara. kneeiing also; ..nave pity on us
and save Yourself for our sake-we love
YOU SOL
He snranr m paIa an dea,n. and turned
time he had broken down, He folded his
arms against the stone wall and bowed
his head upon them He had thought this
conflict over. and here was the worst or
deal to come vet For an instant he was
almost ready to sacrifice everything to
those two women who loved him~and
then. swift as lightning. came the after
thourht--wouId one of the Others break
that oath. foolish as II had been 10 take
a.?
He fe,t that thew would not II had
been n point of honor with them so long.
and should he be the first to break It?
How could he ever meet one OF them
o.
II was wrong. perhaps to take that pledge.
but. having taken. II. he must keep It to
the end. HE was silent so long they
Thought they had gained their point. The
mother came to him ana touched his ell
bow.
"Have Won decided?" she asked tremu-
lously. .'Think of it--they'll keep YOU in
prison and disgrace YOU. oh. Cod They
will hang Won II YOU do not speak: do not
tell them that It was nov you. No one
will suffer nv IT,: YOUR former mrades
are far away and will never return: why
should YOU bear IL aIl?"
ooh. mother. mothery' he murmured.
cumming "a her and raising her hands m
his Inns. '"Think of II? Have not Thought
Of Il through long DAYS and sleepiess
nights? Would YOU have me the spectacle
of ali men. as the one who could not keen
faith? II would kill me. mother. could
moi live II down.
"And II will kill me IL YOU do not" she
cried. growing excited again. at shall
NOT bei You shall not refuse me this