Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-12-26

wakeful and watchful suspicion is the
penalty of being the best-hated man In
the county. 1t was Quine's houses and
barns, remember, that were burned by
the mob of which Abe Littel is ac-
cused of being the leader. Sympathics,
undoubtedly, they are chock fun of
them; but they are magistrates first be-
fore they are men,
"NVho are the Riders and what did he
mean by saying that | resembled them
Again MIR. sprole laughed unpleasantly.
"You ought to take that as a compli-
ment Judge" he replied. "One of the
handsomest as well as the best-known
families in the county; tall and straight
with fine. clcan-cut features and ex-
pressive eyes, sort Of Roman type,
you really have that same cameo-ike
effect. Didn't you notice that young
woman talking in court with Abe Lit
tell? Well, that's Nellie Rider. She's
engaged to him, and, now | think of 1t,
she does look enough like you to be your
sister But what of it? It's only a
chance resemblance. certain to make
you all the more popular with our peo-
pie"
| have said twice that Mr.. Sproles
smile was unpleasant, and so 1t was be
cause it gave the impression of falsity.
Thoroughly educated and well trained in
his profession there was yet that about
him that aroused distrust
1t seemed to me. as | thought of him
afterward. that just so far as he had
progressed from his people I'm attainment
he had refrigerated from their simple
virtues ! know | felt more lonely and
more stranger in a hostile land that
night for his visit
And yet nothing could be more com
petent and thorough than the way he
took hold of the case on Monday. 1t
was business-like: it was admirable
Wasting no time with trivial tech
uicalities he yet never lost sight of "a
possible advantage, nor ever rested until
IT was his own. In Mr.. Braze, the de-
PENDANTS attorney, he had n foeman
worthy of his steel-bod, skilful. adroit.
Between them they tried the case for
all Il was worth. with discretion, com
prehenson and learning which are never
shown except in a rural county by lead
ers of a county bar.
During the monotonous examination of
talesmen had ample chance to sean the
crowded room. The scene was i'm
posing in its solidity.
one type of humanity prevailed-the
beef and Drawn OF which my colleagues
on the bench might be taken as com
posite photographs. Here was no emo
/ ton. no nervousness; yet in the very
/ stolidity there was an intense power
/ felt it. as one feels the force of a gale
against which he presses his onward
1 way. universal opposition to, a uni
versal condemnation of. myself and my
! mission.
off at one side. unattended a little
/ space about her. sat Nellie Rider a chief
! parsonage by common consent Her
/ black dress was unrelieved save by a
cherry bow. lmpassive, motionless. she
watched the course of events as If each
one might be the grain that would turn
her scale of happiness.
once and again she scrutinied me close
ly studying it seemed. my every char
acteristic-the pose of my head. my
/ posture the turn of my hand as I
wrote 1t was as II she took my meas
ure for some mental tribunal and
| could not keep from wondering what
were the thoughts surging behind hei
beautiful mask. Might they not be
as desperate. as fatal. as those that ami.
mated the cold. still women who had
calmly knitted while the tumbrels rolled
. up with the victims of their hate?
As the trial progressed. my apprehen
sions regarding the Justices of the SEES
| sions faded away. They We're, If pos
sibe even more stupid and stolid thar
| ever. In the first days | tried then
frequently by consulting over som,
mooted point, with the invariable result
You know best, your Honor" mum
hled Squire Jim.
IT'S your funeral, Judge" muttereC
| Squire Joe.
And then the tobacco box was passed
behind my back. and again my colleague.
were as blind. deaf and dumb as Justic,
herself.
We made rapid progress under the pre-
vailng long hours. sitting from unit
noon in the morning, from l until II
the afternoon and from half-past unit
- in the evening The lawyers jur!
and spectators seemed to thrive on th
ordeal, and, of course. my associate
were in continual process Of sweet resto
ration by balmy sleep.
But for me, fresh from the brief worl
of city the strain was very eXhausting
/ formed the habit, accordingly, of no
going up to the hotel for supper, blu
after a hasty bite with the janitor fl
the basement of taking an hours nal
on the comfortable. old-fashioned loung
In my retiring room. Had it not beel
for this grateful and refreshing rest.
doubt whether | could have endured tn
two weeks of grinding excitement tina
elapsed before the evidence was sub
mitted
1t was a pretty case, truly; well pre-