Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-11-22

nuAPrr XVIII

":Sontencrd tc death. did you say" ASK
ed Florence. rising AMI addressing tho
presidiug officer. TO his amusement and
thai al ali tho people present.
''rlaf is ri,n snling. Miss I.oring: and
l and my bro, aer officers deeply regret
Its, necessity" said IKE president OF the
couss.
II VIII no. blame YOU" she said, "but
this court was convened TO convict
no. ly The officers who have con ,ict-
ed H." said the president. Alusi,ins.
80. I aerce to t!at. Sat 1 say here
that the evidence. and the manner in
which it was obtained. should prove to
mcn accustomed To the Investigation of
faces, thaa Colin Morton is the victim OF
II conspiracy"
- Mss tor;ns can convince us of this
wc shat. FOLLOW her clews AMI try TO AZ
rive. at tl!n truth" said the officer.
"if ! could have produced evidence ia
fortify my cow .ions ii would have been
done dlrinS he ,r'al. Yct-
Florence Wa: stopped by lies father,
who strobe To hrr side and rudely forced
hes into the seat from which she had
risen.
"it is my duty" he said. i'll II low. in
tenSe voice. TO apologize for this Girl.
ssu!' is my uauSn.tf. KS every one mere
can see. her mind has become affected.
Thn conarn,ned man saved her life Mt the
time of the wreck uf the Arrow, and it is
natural that she should feel gratitude to
him. and that she should be deeply stir
red by these procecdings.'
w fully appreciatr MI that said
the president of the court,
u shall take her home tomorrow: and
a va. -. f,r,r t1,o~o o,rn, H., ,,;l ..,,. ~,
turn to herself"
Florence made no reply. hui She looked
mp into her fathers harsh face, and there
was Il light in her blue eyes that awcd all
who saw IL,
Maj. Gcrmcn,' said the president of
the court, "you will be responsible for
the. safety of the condemned man until
the death warrant returns from Washing
ton
I'm about two months::" said the ma
jor.
"Ahout two months,' said tile prcsi-
dent OF the court.
The major moticncd to Il sergeant who
was in waiting: the sergeant approached
and the major whispered:
Put him in the cell; place Il guard at
the door ind another outside at the win.
dow"
".Forward!' commanded the sergeant.
"~f'orward!" repeated the mon.
Colin Merton took Il step, then glanced
back at Florence. The beautiful head.
with its dishevelcd tresseS of gold sur
rounding it like 81 halo, was on the table
about which the officers composing the
court martial sat. Her face was white
as MARBLE: her eyes were closed, aud she
looked to TIC entering on the eternal sleep.
On the day following the close of the
trial Judge Iorirg went back to his beau
tiful home and took his daughter and
niece with him. Florence was SO passive,
so resigned, that her fathers stern heart
was touched: aRd it may be that now.
seeing ne could lead, that he was willing
as such natures are when they have
thcir own way-to yield.
Florence" he said, when he came in
to announce that all the preparations
Were made for their departure, do you
wish to see Morton before you so?"
why should Y wish to see him?'' she
asked.
y cannot answer that, my child, but l
thought TINT yoH: past interest might in
ducc you To scr him again." said the
judge. per7Aexcd by his daughters man
ner.
tNo. father she said, with the same
chilling calmncss. Colin Morton is con
demnea TO death. 1 nave not the power
to save him. as he did me when l stood
ON the outer brink of life and was lean
ing over"
"Rut I thought. Florence, you might
wish 10 say goodlsy:."
No. father"
FLORENCE was so preternaturally calm
and so du.ifnl that Judge Loring WAS
delighted. and he was quite prepared to
grant her any favor she might ask, now
that she was his W dutiful. obcdicn1
daughter.
Now, Florence" said Judge I.oring
when he reached home with his daugh,c:
and niece, ~ propose that we shall bury
all our MISUNDERSTANDING"
II am willing" said Florence. with tn.
ann of one wis was thinking of some
foreign subject.
And you will again be my own dear
obedient daughter
II win try to do what l think to b,
right" replied Florence, coming bacl
from afar of.
II know you will: and l hope we shall
never again disagree"
He kissed her and was about to leave
Uui SHc StS3sINu Hliu Will luS question
Am I free or a prisoner"
Why, what do you mean. Florencey'
he asked in surprise.
Just what 1 ask"
Then, I will answer that you are jus,
as free rs ever % were in your life"
"'Fhank You, father"
Why should you, my child?'
"gaeause yon are coming Back 20 yolr
seIs.,
He was about 70 say that she was com
ing back TO herself. but he thought better
of it, and instead kissed her again an
went out.
Florence and Jennie, being both YER,
weary. retired early, and the judge wa.
delighted to see the improved appear
ance Of both the next morning at break.
fast.
He fiattered himself hat he had broken
the spell that held his daughter. and
that henceforth she would be as obedi'
ent and tractable as she had been in the
saSt.