Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-08-04

tale OF your d1SnOn0r IN open court And
/ am to remain idly by while you stand
forth ard glory publicly in your shame"
"Father-father, have mercy!' cried
Muriel His life is at stake l love
him; | alone can save him. Would you
have me silent and see him murdered?"
YES" said the judge, in terrible
voice. Better Lawrence Gent be muir
dered than my name dishonored in pub
lic"
Muriel rose With sudden gesture
she flung her arms around her fathers
neck, kissed him again and again, and
fled to her own room.
CHAPTER II.
The clock chimed 3.
With eyes fixed on the black embers
of the dead fire, the judge sat alone in
his study. What suffering he had under
gone in those last dreadful hours none
save himself would ever know. His I'M
sulhed name and reputation disgraced
before the world to save the life of Law
renee Cent? No! better death than dis
honor. Death!
A fearful thought flashed through his
brain. His deepset eyes glowed with
new fire. He rose from his chair, his
whole form vibrating with this terrible
suggestion. Then, in that half -darkened
room, ensued a CHASTITY struggle between
his good and evil angels.
Stealthily as thief in the night the
father stole to the bedside of his daugh-
ter. Upon a small table cleaned
nightlight, whose tiny flame threw faint
radiance on Murieps face
Beneath the white-dsaped canopy, with
one hand pressed to her tear stained
cheek, the girl slept on, unconscious of
the watcher by the bed. Lower and
lower he stopped, until his hot breath
swept her cheek But at that moment of
softening Muriel stirred restlessly in her
sleep.
A faint whisper escaped her lips.
Lawrence" she murmured, gently; and
for one fleeting moment smile came
over her mouth.
At the sound of that hated name the
judge rose and crept quietly from the
room.
Ten minutes later the Judge stole once
more to the bedside. In his hand he held
a vial and a cloth. With steady fingers
the judge uncorked the vial and
sprinkled the cloth with the liquid. A
faint, sickly odor stole through the room.
He knelt down and held the cloth tightly
before his daughters mouth.
Presently her breath came in hurried
irregular gasps, a profuse perspiration
broke out on her face, a blueness stole
over her lips, the muscles OF her BODY
contracted violently.
One last sigh and Muriel had ceased to
breathe!
CHAPTER III.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon of that
same day Mr.. Justice Lorimer sat alone
in his darkened library. In the quiet
house the servants went about with red
eyes, discussing the terrible catastrophe |
that had hefalen their master Such a
shocking thing to find Miss Muriel dead
in bed that morning! Now the doctor |
had certified it to be case of sudden |
failure of the heart.
In that bent, STOPPING figure, half |
crouehed in the armchair, who could have |
recognized the erect, inhexible Judge of |
the previous day? Upon his heavily bur-
dened shoulders had fallen another blow. |
That very morning he had received |
news that Lawrence Gent would be dis |
charged from prison without stain on |
his character.
Two nights before. the police had clev-
crly surprised gang of burglars at work |
in jewelers. shop. A fierce fight had |
ensued which resulted in fatal injuries |
to one of the thieves. Before his death |
the burglar had gasped out confession |
relative to the death of Charles Barnard. |
1t appeared that in the hope of robbing |
the unfortunate man the thief had at
tackled Barnard from behind. Barnard |
had fallen insensible to the ground, but |
the appearance of Policeman Collier had |
prevented the thief from completing his
work. The wretched man had also adj
rlitted the theft of the purse from Gent. |
Muriel was dead and Gent was free! |
Could fate have permitted the dying |
lhiefs confession to have reached the |
fathers ears some six hours /
sooner, NIuriel would still be living and |
no crushing lemorse would be weighing |
down his soul.
The opening sound of the library door
disturbed the wretched father from his
thoughts. IN the pale, agitated man the
judge recognized Lawrence Gent.
All the pent.up wrath at the sight of |
the man surged through the fathers
mind.
This visit is an insult he said, in a
voice vibrant with passion. How dare |
you intrude upon me at this time? Is
nothing ascred to a mind like yours?"
Gents pale face flushed deeply at the
words.
Your grief is mine" he said, coming
forward in agitation. Il have a right to
share your sorrOw-"
Not content with your work, you came |
her to gloat over my grief" went on the |
Judge III deep. passionate tones You |
thought VOur Nillainv wouId no ,,nlyno,,.,,
to me. You were wrong. Aluriel told me
all last night"
Tie broke off abruptly. Even the men
ton OF that dear name choked his utter
ance. Gent started forward.
"Mmiel told you all, he said. hurried.
Y, and yet you accuse me of villainy?
" nat do you mean? Have l no grief?
Do You think it is nothing to me to lose