Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-05-28

young man would be convicted in
some degree, for there seemed no way
of overthrowing the fearful weight of
the evidence against him.
Rothesay was brought into court,
ed not guilty. The room was crowded,
for the case promised to be interest
ing.
The prisoner looked very pale and
worn. Besides the horror of the
charge against him was the conscious
ness. ever present with him, of who
did the deed; the memory of the WON
an he loved; the desire. almost fran
tic at times, to break from the bonds
that held him, to tell the truth, and
free himself for that life of love and
happiness that would await him then
But could he inform against his Sis
ter-his sister, who had trusted him
SO with her confession? Did she know
now?-had she not by this time
learned, even in the weak condition
of her mind, that he was accused of
the crime she had committed?' She
must know it now that he did not
shield her from the knowledge. And
where was she? What had become of
her? Was ever man placed in like sit
uation?
Among the women in the crowd no
one noticed particularly a slender
feminine figure on the outskirts of the
crcwd-a figure clad in somewhat
worn but still elegant garments. and
wearing a veil so thick as to almost
serve the purpose of mask.
She did not stir. but stood leaning
with both hands against the back of a
seat. listening intently. If one had
watched her he could have seen how
often long, quivering breath shook
her, but otherwise she was motion
! less.
Suddenly she pushed her way
through. cleaving passage somehow.
| until she came near where the pris-
oner sat.
| AS Vance looked down and saw her.
although he could not see her face, it
| seemed that his own face gre.E a
| shade paler. but he remained quiet.
| The woman for a few moments
seemed satisfied to have reached that
position. and listened to the proceed
ings quietly.
| Henry Loud. who was where he
could see both the prisoner and the
audience, saw the effect the womans
presence had upon Rothesay. and he
looked scrutinizingly at the woman
thinking at first of Kate Purcell But
| he soon decided it was not she, and
he was convinced as to her identity
He would not lose sight of her.
He gave orders to subordinate and
then sat down again to follow the
progress of the trial. But even Loud
with all his experience. did not antici-
pate the scene which followed.
AS something fearfully against
Vance was given in, the court were
electrified by voice crying:
ut is false!''
Loud sprang to his feet. so aston
ished was he. 1t was woman's voice
but until she has spoken she did not
rise.
"Order-order! called out an Off
Ger.
Then the woman stood up and
thrust her veil aside, revealing wild
face and eyes. but not the face and
eyes of an insane person. There were
reason and resolution in that counte-
nance, and it was still beautiful
enough to cause thrill of wonde: and
admiration in those who looked upon
it.
Rachel, be silent" said Vance,
leaning forward and looking at her.
But she made gesture of refusal
and cried again:
say never did the deed! He is inno-
cent and l know it,"
RACHEL" implored Vance; but in
vain.
A policeman was working his way
as rapidly as he could toward Rachel,
and until she should be taken out it
seemed impossible to prevent her
speaking, for she paid no heed to the
commands to be silent.
II tell you know it," she went on,
land you shall listen to me! can't
bear this any longer. Ever since
have known he was charged with that
murder l have been in a hell. But
won't endure it moment longer.
Judge how noble that man is when l
tell you that killed Ralph Caryl!
killed him. and my brother knew it,
.:ut he has not betrayed me-"
The sensation IN the room was indie
scribable.
1t was impossible for the crowd not
to believe the assertion. The voice
was the voice of truth itself. But the
prosecuting attorney said:
"The woman is under a delusion-
she is crazy"
Loud, who accepted the truth with
cut dissenting feeling, could not help
saying:
Il don't snow whether she is crazy
or not, but l am sure she tells the
truth. I'll stake my reputation on
that"
The detective saw the whole affair
clearly now. He had only been able
to gather very vague and unreliable
information from rumor that Ralph
Caryl had once been the lover of