Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-08-16

rNSA HERE was despair written
4 4 on Jack Marston's face.
& ~ 6 The walls of the room in
4 Z ! which he was pacing rest
g0~ lessly seemed to close in
upon him. and the day to grow blacker
and blacker as the silence grew and
the minutes passed on.
At last he sank helplessly on a lounge
i'll 4 corner. She came in then-the
only woman in the world for him, but
h. did not notice her until she touched
his arm.
"Jack.,' her voice shook queerly. SIS
she WorSe:'
Dead" he stammered. as his eyes
wandered n~ervously from the girl to
til ground. Edith is dead. and-oh,
NeaFeEs.-you are accused of murder
lnS her. There is a warrant out for
Your arrest. and the police are coming
here to arrest you-to-night.''
Then followed a silence broken only
by the quick beating Of hearts.
Dead, jack" The girl spoke like
one who had been struck a severe
blow. 'Oh. Jack-Jack" She broke
off suddenly and fell back in a chair.
Jack stared at her wildly as he saw
the ashy pallor Of her face, but when
he spoke again there was sympathy
and sweetness in his voice.
"Dora-my lover
",T3ck. YOU believe
MY heart-my own heart, against all
the iuriaS and JUDGES in the world. You
could not have killed Hly ~sister-you,
who loved her so. Dora-my darling."
He gathered her in his arms and told
her everything then.
Or. MacManus, the physician in at
tendance in Mrs. Edith MaTston, Jacks
sister. who had been stricken down
with fever, had left his patient a pow
erful medicine to be given in twelve
drop doses every two hours. and had
cautioned Dora Sauber, who had Of
fered to attend to the wants of the sick
woman during the temporary absence
of the professional nurse. about ex-
ceeding the dose, and warned her that
a larger dose might prove fatal. He
had been summoned hastily in the
afternoon following Miss Sauber's de-
parture from the bedside, and had
found his patient in commissions, the
effect of a very strong dose of the
medicine. His skill was of no avail,
and she died in his arms. Dora alone
had attended the poor woman during
the morning, and administered her
medicines and food, and the doctor felt
that it was his duty to inform the po-
lice of the fact and how his patient
met her death. Jack and Dora were to
be married within a fortnight: but
the death of Jacks sister lad blotted
out everything now.
= = ). =
The days passed heavily, then came
the one when Dora was to be tried for
her life. The court was packed. In
the morning the prosecuting attorney
had given in all his testimony, and,
after luncheon, counsel rose for the
defense. He looked from the judge tc
the jury and smiled family. Very
briefly he made his speech.
"The prisoner is innocent" he said
"Sle is engaged to the deceased lady's
brother. Mr.. Jack Marston, and she
learned to love his sister as if she
were her own. She could not have
committed the crime that has beer
brought against her. She could not'
His tone changed. 81 have only one
witness, and 1 fear she is too youns
to understand the nature Of an OATH"
The prisoner grew deathly White
The tears came and gave her some re
lief, but she shuddered when a chal
was put into the witness box and a tiny
girl, with wavy golden hair and big
blue eyes, red now with crying, wa
lifted gently upon it.
"Your honor" said counsel, "the wit
ness is very young. but trust her eVl
dence will be admitted.'
Tbs Judge nodded assent, then cou1