The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-09


 Joseph Mason also was discontented. The Solicitor General, in his opening address, 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, T think it will be the death of me-"
 Peregrine Orme was in attendance on his aunt, but at The Cleeve Sir Pere- grine was tottering feebly through his empty rooms, saying to himself. T have but a few more years to live--a few more. It cannot natter. But loved her. and love her still I have for given her and I love her"
 He dared not think of the great hor- ror- that the trial might go against Lady Mason and she be sent to the penitentiary.
 The trial lasted two days and a part of the third day was occupied by the jury. When the lawyers for the de- fense got through with Dockwrath he had not a shred of character left. The great MT. Chaffanbrass made him con fess his revengeful motives in the mat ter and dragged out of him that he had a promise from Joseph Mason that so soon as Orley Farm was restored to the head of the family" the Hamworth attorney should be the tenant. Dock wrath was a bad man. but no man was ever quite as 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 a 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 IA. he was In reality made to say anything his examiner and cross- examiner wanted him to- His test- mony was worthless.
 But Bridget Bolster was quite another sort of person and baffled even the | crafty Mir 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 1 Dockwrath. But Bridget, fixing her | eyes on the canopy over the Judge 2 head, repeated steadfastly that she had witnessed only one document on | July 14.
 At the end of the second days ses- sion 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 l assize town of Aston tt 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 before, Mrs. Orme had, with his mothers con- l sent, told him all Oh mother. what it this she has told me?" said Lucius in a stern voice | a. Mo com threyv shergalf m the floor at his feet.
 Mother, if you will rise will speak to you"
 "Your words kill me" she cried. She had done it all for him. Had 1t been imputed a crime to Rebecca that she had robbed Esau for Jacob?
 Mother" continued Lucius, Tt Is all over here. But our lot must still be together. You will find me here when you come back tomorrow. But we must then go away forever. If they imprison you I will come to you. If said that I forgave you my words would be a mockery. l neither con demn nor forgive. I accept the situa- tionH
 Yet Lady Mason seemed as calm collected and confident as ever when she appeared in court next morning l 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 retlreu. Lauy y Mason and Mrs. Orme, accompanied bv the sturdy and faithful Peregrine went to A little room and waited, waited waited Suddenly MT. Aram rushed unon them. The jury was coming in Lady Mason must appear In court
 The three followed MT. Aram Into inc court room. There stood the jury looking serious and composed
 Have you agreed upon a verdictT
 We have. my Lord"
 "Is 1t guilty or not guilty?
 Not guilty, my Lord"
 Shortly after that eventful day MT Mason of Groby Park received letter from MT. Furnival saying that his client. Lucius Mason, would no longer occupy Orley Farm and desired 10 give up that estate to the head or the l famiIv." It took a personal interview to convince Joseph Mason that he was really to have the estate. l "what?" said he. And without oonnensation? Then she has robbed me. That will was forged after all. For twenty years she has robbed me and I'll punish her if I spend every penny I possess
 Tn fact he did try to reopen the case, l hut could find no one to take 1t up for | him in the face of two adverse yer | diets Mir Dockwrath sued Mason for A large sum which he claimed was due l him for his services He lost, and the expenses of the trial ruined him, and also made a big Lole in Mason's estate.
 Miss Furnival. when she heard that Lucius was to give up Orley Farm, promptly wrote him q letter offering | to he "a sister to him" Madeline staveley married her briefless barrister and young Peregrine went off to Gen. tral Africa big game hunting.
 "Edith." said poor old Sir Peregrine to Mrs. Orme. had she so chosen she could have demanded home from me Why should I not give it to her now?' T trust" replied Mrs. Orme. that she will bear her present lot for a few years. and then, perhaps--" "Ah, then shall be in my grave. A | few months will do that" said the baro- | net. He went up to London to see Lady Mason. and found her preparing l to go abroad with Lucius. Her in- come would support them in a quiet German village for a while, until Lucius | should get employment.