Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-12-26


his counsel. Presently the Judge en-
tered through rear door and took
his place upon the bench He glanced
at those in front OF him and nodded
at the bailiff, who withdrew.
After a few moments the sound of
footsteps sounded along the corridor
and the jury, with the bailiff at their
head, entered solemnly through a
side door. All eyes except those of
the prisoner and the woman in black
were turned upon them.
The prisoner gazed calmly at the
wall back of the Judge; the woman
stared at the man with the bronzed
face. The jurymen took their seats
in the box and the judge said:
Gentlemen, have you decided upon
verdict?'
eve have, your honor" replied the
foreman.
The man with. the broad shoulders
glanced nervously at the woman in
black. Calmly, intently, she was
peering into his face, the CLEAN in
her eyes seeming to pierce the dark
ness like the light from burning Goals.
He shranl6 from her gaze; his hands
clutehed the back of the chair in
front of him so tightly that the nails
cut the wood. He tried to turn his
face away from her, but could not.
Her eyes held him; their glimmer ate
its way through him, and he grew
| pale and trembled.
"What is your verdict, gentlemen"
asked the judge.
Again the broad-shouldered man
vainly struggled to tear his gaze from
that Of the woman. An icy GOODNESS
chung round his heart and cold per-
sp;ration sprang from his forehead.
But still the woman in black gazed
silently at him, and in her eyes was
sign of deadly reproach, Of unpity-
ing censure.
The foreman arose and began speak
ing His voice, sounding loud and
clear in the quiet room, startled the
man with the bronzed face, and he
sprang from his seat, white with fear
eve. the jury" read the foreman
from a paper in his hand, find the
defendant"
Hold. your honor!" cried the man
with the broad shoulders, raising his
hand as though commanding silence.
Hold, your honorl"
The voice. ringing through the dark
ness, sounded weird and ghost-like.
Two Of the jurymen visibly trembled.
All present. except the prisoner,
turned TO look at the man standing
like a specter in the uncertain light.
For a moment he paused, covering
his eyes with his hands. Then he
staggered down the aisle and leaned
against the railing. The clock in the
tower began the stroke of 10.
"If your honor please" he said, with
voice that shook with fear, 'if your
honor please, let not this verdict be
rendered. For I am guilty of this
murder. I-I-my God, / killed that
mani"
4 sudden movement swept through
the room as though each one present
caught his breath.
"He had grievously wronged me"
IUE man lENunAFAs 81 4 va hAh MIN
and stabbed him to death. The pris-
oner here, your honor, heard his dying
yell and ran to his assistance. l had
dropped the knife, but he picked it
up. Then pulled my gun, and he ran
away"
Again there was silence-deep, aw-
full silence. The judge spoke:
quences of this confession. sir?"
~ do. your honor" replied the man,
slowly, deliberately. 81 have tried TO
leave here, but something held me
back. Some resistless power has
dragged me into this courtroom every
day Of the trial; has compelled me to
hang around tonight until the
jury should agree, and has forced me
back into this room to listen to a YER
dict that I knew would be a lie. /
am guilty. your honor, | swear it,"
Then the Judge turned to the fore
man of the jury.
"You viii find for the defendant"
he said. "Mr Sheriff, release the pris
oner and place that man under ar
rest"
When the shackIes had been re-
moved from his wrist. the young man
with the clear-cut features walked
calmly up the aisle with the light Of
great JOY on his face. In the rear
of the room he found the woman IN
black leaning forward against the
back OF chair. a handkerchief
pressed against her eyes. He rested
his hand tenderly upon her shoulder
Sweetheart" he said. Brave lit
tie woman"
She arose 70 her feet and locked her
arms around his neck.
"John." she sobbed, "Johnl"
When he had been locked in a cell.
the sheriff said to the man with the
bronzed face;
what ever possessed you tos'olun-
tarilv make that confession?"
And the man looked at him with q
f-s~LEara1 fana