Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-21


at is wonderful how he has survived so
long. cannot hold out the least hope.
But he will recover his senses presently,
and viii not suffer much
Ned Burton was opening his eyes, ard
looking round vita hewilaered express
sion on the faces gathered about Rim.
AT last be spoke.
"What is this? What does this mean?
All | understand. Oh, l have been
poor wretched creature. and have behav-
ed like coward"'
"No, no. dearest r cried his wife. fran
tically. sit was not you. II was another
hand that did it. that crnel, wicked OPP
rrcssor, whom YOU viii live TO see pun
ishedr'
"Punishment.' he said This is the
way have taken TO punish her. by de-
stroying myself. God forgive me,--and
leaving a legacy behind me of this guilty
act"
Guilty? no, no. You knew not what
You did. Your mind was ciouded with
all this agony and sorrow"
mo. As lie here MANNED, bleeding.
| dying, | did not 1t seems all like q
/ dream And yet, as | look back, could
not go through it all again. could not
| live and be thought g murderer. II is
| hard that / Should die in this fashion.
| Now, indeed. have forever put it out of
my power to clear myself. People will
| talk of the miserable wretch that threw
| his brothers helpless infant from the win
| dow and then, killed irsef from remorse
and shame"
The light was suddenly abscured by a
/ dark figure, that had come between hin,
| and the window.
| Ned Burton Immediately raised himself
on his. elbow, and vehemently waved it
| from him with his arms.
| Take her away" he said family. "She
has come to exult over her work. Let her
not come near, Let her have mercy at
| this moment"
"Then confess.' said she. IAN you
| who are here, listen to rilis. Look at the
| murderer of my child. lying there Strick-
| en- down by ms own hand. Who shall
| say now which is the illuminated, or
| who is. guiltyT'
This is shoczing-indecent, said Mr.
| Burton. coming forward. The time las
come when the truth must be declared 4
| few hours more and my dear Ned had
| been saved"
Your dear Nedf" repeated Mrs Bur
| ton, turning ON him with a contemptu-
Gus surprise, has it come to thatI What
| do you mean"
Il mean that the least that can be done
| now is to repair the frightfu wrong you
/ have made my weakness aid on in doing.
| l firmly believe that he is Innocent"
! Believe she said scornfully, but
that will not do"
| Il say this he went on, turning to
| Ned. for your comfort. But for the
world there is yet more to be done. There
| is proof clear and Convincing witness
who saw the whole
She started. Witness who
whcf?"
your brother here"
Yes, sister," said Ralph. coming for
| ward. Il am not the most scrupulons
| of fellows, know But am not brought
/ so low that | can see man reduced to
| this to crafty your dislike. As it is there
seems to be blood on my hands l never
thought it would have ended like this. To
| my shame and confusion, / see here the
victim of this terrible conspiracy. He
| is innocent. say so here before all
assembled, strangers and friends. | was
at the window in the courtyard, and
when the shutters flew open the noise
made me raise my eyes--and-'
Here he hung down his head, and
spoke slowly And saw the child topple
over the window and--there was no.
body behind or near it,
Every face in the room was fixed up
on his as he made this confession. Ned
Burton's thin fingers were clasped to-
cether in thankfulness, his eyes looking
up TO heaven.
at is true" went on Ralph, in whose
voice there was an agitation none Of his
! family had ever noticed before. Take
me to a magistrate and | shall swear it.
| My hands are clear of his innocent
blood"
ITO he continued