Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-08-19
MASTER OF THE NINE
BY Robert Buchanan.
BY Robert Buchanan.
coo

D 8AA8 y - AA2 fAN 49, $3.50 ~ - NAF<
/ cline herself entered the box as a witness
on my side; and though what she had to
say was practically Irrelevant. though
it concerned chie2v my saving Of her life
from shipwreck. il worked wonders for
nj Never shall / forgct the thrill Of joy
sbnt went rough ne as she said, ID
answer 70 a question:
No one who knows the prisoner be-
lieyes him capable Of this or amy crime.
He is the brayest and truest man / KAYE
ever met"
After a trial which lasted only the
greater part Of one day, the judge sum
med up-sterniy enough, | thought-and
the jury retired 10 consider their verdict.
They retained into the box. and the
judge also reappeared in his place. The
foreman stood up. and replied, in answer
re the clerk of the courts question wheth-
er | was guilty or not guilty;
We are agreed that there is not sufi-
cient evidence to convict the prisoner"
THAT is no verdict at ALI" cried the
judge sharply. "Yon must decide one
way or another-gui!sy or not guilty"
For a moment the foreman seemed
dubious, and. STOPPING to his companions,
spoke to them in a whisper. Then be
said:
mot guilty, my lord"
| was acquitted but the manner Of the
aequittg was cruel enough. leaving It
clear that the moral presumption was
against me. though the evidence was in
adequate. l did not quite realize this at
the time, but | bad bitter cause to re-
member 1t afterward.
A little later. ] was standing. a free
man, in the parlor of a small inn. with
er l had been led by John Rudd, and
where l found my aunt and uncle await
ing me. I cannot say that it was alto
gether a joyful meeting. The shadow Of
death seemed still upon us. John Rudd
alone WIS jabilant.
1t had been arranged that my aunt and
uncle were 20 return in the wagon that
evening with John Rudd. / was In no
hurry. however, to hasten back to st.
Gurl0tt's. My plans were to leave Eng
and, perhaps working out my passage to
the colonies OH some outward bound yes
sci
While we were sitting together. a wait
ing girl beckoned me out; and following
her into another room, l found Madeline
waiting TO speak TO me. Directly cur
eyes met, she reid out both her hands,
aud | took them eagerly in mine. Then,
for the first time, my emotion mastered
me; and. fairly sobbing. | almost sank
upon my knees before her.
Il was right. You sec" she said ten
derby. II knew they would never CON
denim you"
Il owe my life to you" l answered,
in a voice choked with tears.
She smiled sweetly, and shook her
head.
Even if Il were so, 1t is only doing
as / have been done by; but no one ever
doubted your innocence from the first.
OF course, you are returning to st. Cur.
lofts? Suppose" she slid, thoughtful.
IL, suppose l could pers uade my cousin
TO reinstate you as oYerseer of the
mine"
"He would never do that I replied
"aid even were he willing, Il would be
impossible. It is like sou, it is ike your
heavenly goodness to think Of IL; but it
Is out Of the question, l think there is
bat one course for me to adopt. ami that
iq~-to leave England"
you must not!' she cried, quickly.
For all our sakes! for niue
For your sakeI" | returned.
Promise me at least one thing. Not
to depart from England without letting
me k~now-without seeing me again"
''IsH promise that freely
After a few more words, she held out
her hand and said ~"Good-by.' | walked
with her to the inn door.
MY cousin Is waiting for me in the
market place. she said. "He il going
to drive me back to Relruth House,
An hour or SO later. my uncle and my
aunt went away IN the wagon, under
the escort Of John Rudd I promised to
follow them home In a day or two. and
in the mean time to look about for some
kind of employment. So | remained in
Falmouth for several days,
What was | TO do9 The future was
dark before me. NY only practical
knowledge was connected with copp,r
mining beyond thar. | knew nothing.
However. | was fairly educated. aud
quite ready to tugn my hand TO any
thing. / searched the newspapers, Fin4
ing a clerkship vacant IN a mine some
where ia South Wales. | wrote In for Il
-oaly to ind that my misfortune had
preceded mv, and that the owners re
fused 70 employ a man who had just
heen accused Of murder. Tie same fate
dogsed me ia every quarter. To my
horror ] at last realized the fact that. al.
Though | was free. | had been acquitted
under such circumstances as left unde-
streyed the black presumption Of my
guilt. | saw no hope now save in speedy
departure from England. | would cross
the seas under. an assumed name and
begin a new life In a new world.
1 was incoming Que day on the sea,
shore, close TO the quay. when a hand
was placed Gu my shoulder. and. look
ing up, | saw the kindly face Of my old
friend the carrier,
"Baek again. Johng" | said. taking his
hand in mine. How are all at home 2
"Middlias. middliug. The avid man
be queer still. and folk say the trouble
shout Mics Annie ha' turned his head.
But that's what | want to speak on. I
ha' seen her-she be here. in Falmouth,
Measter Hugh"
eshe2 Do you mean my cousin An.
aieg"
"Sartlnly. | saw her last night WI
my wi 1--WE eyes. and | misdoubt she's
in trouble"
Then the good fellow. With teats stand
ing 10 his eyes. teld me that late ON the
previous evening he had caught sight Of
my cousin 10 the poorest part 81 the
town. She WAS wretehedly aitired and
looked worn and IN. His FIRST impulse
was tc speak 10 her. but hndiRg that
he was unseen and unrecognized. he
chose rather to follow her, which he did
and tracked her TO a poor lodging.
Remembering my last meeting with
Annie, aud how I had found her sur