The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-09
HIT, 1907, BY IRVING KING. ALL RlGHTS RE5ERvED.

begged Lady Mason to confess all to Lu- clus, but the mother always said in ag- ony; Not yet; oh, not yet
 The day of the trial came at last, and Mrs. Orme sat beside Lady Mason in the crowded courtroom. Mrs. Orme as she took her seat was so confused that she could scarcely look around her. but Lady Mason was calm and collected. She had thought much of this day, and had ar ranged all It's details. She had dressed herself with great care and appropriate ness and Mir. Furnlval. and she turned her head toward the Judge was startled by the grace of her appearance Luctus Mason was with his mother, of course, and filled with indignation that she was no, acquitted at once and her enemies de- nounced and sent to jail.
 Joseph Mason also was discontented The solicitor general. in his opening ad- dress, did not hold Lady Mason up to the scorn and indignation of the jury, as the squire would have had him do If he lets her escape me- said Mason, q think 1t will be the death of me
 Peregrine Orme was in attendance on his aunt. but at The Cleeve Sir Peregrine was tottering feebly through his empty rooms. saying to himself. T have but d few more years to live-a few more. It cannot matter. But I loved her. and l love her still. l have forgiven her and love her"
 He dared not think of the great horror that the trial might go against Lady Mason and she be sent to the penitenti- ary.
 The trial lasted two days and part of inc third day was occupied by the judges charge and the consultation of the jury. When the lawyers for the defense got through with Dockwrath he had not shred of character left. The great MT. Chaftanbrass made him confess his re- Vengeful motives in the matter and dragged out of him that he had prom ise from Joseph Mason that so soon as Orley Farm was restored to the head of the, family the Hamworth attorney should be the tenant Dockwrath was a 1 bad man, but no man was ever quite as l bad as he was made to appear to that Jury.
 Poor John Kennedy, who had got so woefully mixed up in his testimony at the first trial that the judge had called him fool, was confronted with a tran script of that testimony, and became so confused in his answers that, though he honestly tried his best to say that he had witnessed only one document on July 14, he was In reality made to say anything his examiner and cross-examlner wanted him to. His testimony was worthless.
 But Bridget Bolster was quite another sort of person and baffled even the crafty MT. Chaffanbrass The most damaging admission he could get out of her was that she had taken a glass of spirits Just before she came Into court and had been in the company of Dockwrath. But Bridget fixing her eyes on the canopy over the Judges head, repeated steadfast- ly that she had witnessed only one doc ument on July IA.
 At the end of the second days session of the court, when the evidence was all in and the lawyers had made their pleas, the fate of Lady Mason plainly was In doubt. The great crowd which had come into the little assze town of Aston to see and hear the trial was divided Into two camps over what the verdict would be. When Lady Mason came into court on the morning of the third day her son Lucius was not with her. The night be- fore Mrs. Orme had with his mothers consent told him all
 "Oh, mother what is this she has told me?" said Luclus in stern voice as Lady Mason threw herself on the floor at his feet.
 Mother, if you will rise I will speak to you"
 Your words kill mel. she cried. She had done 1t all for him. Had it been m- puted a crime to Rebecca that she had robbed Esau for Jacob?
 
 over here. But our lot must still be to- gether. You will find me here when you come back tomorrow. But we must then go away forever. If they imprison you l will come to you If I said that I for gave you my words would be a mock cry. I neither condemn nor forgive. 1 accept the situation"
 Yet Lady Mason seemed as calm, col lected and confident as even when she appeared in court next morning. She was glad Lucius was not with her. The judges charge blew aside all the froth which the lawyers had been stirring up. and the jury retired. Lady Mason and Mrs Orme. accompanied by the sturdy and faithful Peregrine. went to little room and waited waited. waited. Sud- denly Mir Aram rushed upon them. The jury was coming in! Lady Mason must appear in court.
 The three followed Mir. Aram into the court room. There stood the jury looking serious and composed.
 Have you agreed upon a verdet?"
 We have, my Lord"
 "Is 1t guilty or not gnilty?'
 Not guilty, my Lord"
 Shortly after that eventful day MT. Ma- son of Groby Park received a letter from Mir Furnival saying that his client. Lu- clus Mason. would no longer occupy Or ley Farm and desired to give up that es- tate to "the head of the family" 1t took a personal interview to convince Joseph Mason that he was really to have the estate.
 What? ?" said he. And without com pensation? Then she had robbed me. That will was forged after all. For twenty years she has robbed me and l will punish her if spend every penny possess"
 In fact he did try to reopen the case, but could find no one to take 1t up for him in the face of two adverse verdicts. MT. Dockwrath sued Mason for q large sum which he claimed was due him for his services. He lost and the expenses of the trial ruined him, and also made big hole In Mason's estate.
 Miss Furniva when she heard that Lucius was to give up Orley Farm. promptly wrote him a letter offering to be "a sister to him. Madame Staveley married her briefiless barrister and young peregrine went off to Central Africa big game hunting.
 Edith" said poor old Sir Peregrif to Mrs Orne, had she so chosen she c.l Y have demanded home from me. Whs should I not give it to her now?"
 T trust" replied Mrs. Orme. that she