Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-03-13


downcast eyes and dropping form, evi
IDENTIFY full of a dull apathy, and care
less of his future and his fate. Ant
where was the friend who cared to hell
him?
He learned from the jailer the pop
ular conclusion which had been reache'
regarding him. He had money; MI
Barron's business had suffered; he hat
offered to help the banker past the cri
sis in his affairs on condition that Elsi'
became his wife; Mr.. Barron had con
sented; the girl had been forced Il
Weld: that was the story which wa!
generally believed in Boomville. Sem
cared little for what they said abou
him; he was willing they should sa!
what they would-believe what the!
would-so they did not learn the rea
reason for Elsies marriage with him
and, since his arrest and incarceration
on the charge Of murder, he was no
so particular to have his connection
with the bank robbery kept a secret as
he had been.
The taller not only told him all abou,
the conclusions at which the citizens OF
Boomville had so easily arrived, but
he informed him that there were many
who believed that the money he was
supposed to have had had been stoler
from murdered Constance Craig.
Sem heard Of Donald Barron's buri-
al. To look at the prisoners face, one
would have found it easy to believe
that he had loved old Donald Barron
loved him in spite of any wrong he ha6
done him and his house. There were
surely tears in his eyes as he looked al
the jailer and listened to his narrative;
there was surely a weak quaver in his
voice as he replied. But he heard
of Elsies wild grief, and he smiled;
Gilbert Sem was not in love with the
woman who had cost him so much-sC
much--and who was likely to cost hin
more.
The trial came on speedily, as 1 have
said. One day Gilbert Sem knew thai
he had been indicted; that night he
knew that tomorrow he must face trial
But he barely looked up while he was
told of what was to come; he let his
head fall forward upon his breast again
he looked down and not up-it seem
ed as though he had forgotten his dan
ger and forgotten what had been said
The jaiIer had grown to like Gilbert
Sem. 1t may be that the authorities
and instruments of the laws vengeance
always learn to like those of their pris-
oners who are quite, docile, orderly
and who cause them no extra care mol
alarm: it may be that men always like
those with whom they become familiar
l do not know. I cannot say 1t is
certain that the jailer had learned to
like the accused. Perhaps because the
fellow was his prisoner, and under his
control Possibly-because the man
was Gilbert Sem.
You have no lawyer?" asked the
jailer.
NO. suppose the court will assign
me one
You have made no arrangements fol
having witnesses called in your be-
half?"
mo; shall need none"
Surely you will not plead guilty."
Sem rased his eyes then. He had
not looked up before during the inter
view. There was a look upon his face
which seemed a stranger there.
Il shall plead not guilty." he said
for 1 am not guilty. But am outside
hope-outside pity-outside any chance
for a future. They may hang me; NJ
matter. I-I--"
His gaze was no longer fixed upor
the jailers face. He had given W
hope, no doubt.
There was letter for Sem tha
evening.
Mrs. Senn's companion. or friend. Of
whatever she calls herself, sent it,
said the jailer.
Gilbert Sem had never seen her, eX'
cept as she walked in to see him mar
ried, and walked out and intruded her
self into the carriage with him and hi:
newly welded wife. To him she was
an unknown quantity in the problem
of life-a veiled figure, with graceful
movements, but with an utter blanl
where the womans face should be. HI
h. lA1i
she had worked for him, rather thar
against him, when Elsie's fate hung II
the balance, weighing itself against he
fathers future; he scarcely knew VIII!
he placed her on that side in the con
fict-he did place her there, almos
instinctively. She probably knew moth
ing regarding his connection with tn
bank robbery; she had only urged Ell
sic to avert, by her consent, disaste
of which the adviser understood Meth
er the nature nor the remedy.
So Sem had little interest in hi
wife's companion. What interest h
had was connected with Elsie. HI
opened the letter very leisurely ant
very indifferently.
There were three bits Of paper with
in. Sem read them in order. Thi
was the substance of the first. date
that day. and evidently written by ;
person laboring under intense excite
ment:
"Mr. Sem: 1 shall offer neither eX
PLANTATION nor excuse for what l an
about to do. If my help and my warn
ing are of use-it is we'll: if they ar
MOTT is we'll. Walter Aldrich vii
come to see you this evening, and
know what his errand is; no matte
how l know; it is enough that 1 d.
know.
Mr.. Aldrich has been here sine
! your marriage. He has sent one not
to Mrs. Senn--tO your wife. He ma.
have sent more: l have reasons t
think he has not; no matter what IN,
reasons are; | have them.
Il inclOSe the note Mr.. Aldrich sent
inclose a copy of the letter Mrs. SEM
sent in reply. A word to the wise i
| all l intend Lurline Bannottie."
1t was treachery's hand which hat
sent these letters. these communication
between Walter AldriCh and Elsi
Sem, and the strange letter of eXpla