The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-11-18
Observation-Disclosures ~
THE ACCUSING CONSCIENCE


the verdict of the jury. For three
weeks the trial had waged about him
now an accusing witness dramati-
cally reciting damning facts which
brought the murder directly to the
accused mans door; again n who
recited what little there was to be
told in the prisoners favor. The
voice of the attorney for the defense,
striving to make the worst appear
the better reason, had risen in con-
fict with the cold, cutting accusa-
lions of the district attorney. Wis
ions Of life and freedom were dis
placed by Nightmares of the room
with the little door-the gaunt chair
the twelve solemn-faced, profess
sional witnesses, the sharp click of
the key, the end!
Even the presence of his wife at
his side had not served to tighten the
load that he carried. He had felt at
times as if he should be compelled to
cry out, so ordinary and humdrum
did it seem to everyone else-so vital
to him. The pain of it all was acute,
and the more so because of his feel
ing of utter loncliness--because Of
the fact that among all of them there.
he alone, Basil Montresson, knew
whether he had taken human life
wontonly; he alone could say
whether the tortures that he had en-
dured through those three tumultu-
Gus weeks anne from a consciousness
of outraged innocence, or of remorse
over the act and gnawing fear of the
consequences.
Jurors, look upon the prisoner
prisoner, look upon the jurors. How
say you, gentlemen of the jury, do
you find the prisoner guilty or not
guilty."
mot guilty"
The words seemed to come from
afar off. At first he wasn't sure that
he had heard right. A low murmur
of voices in the court room attracted
his attention, and he glanced about
in confusion. Then he felt a tugging
at his coat. He was drawn into his
seat, and a woman's arms encircled
him. A woman's head fell Upon the
shoulder. p
Basil, BASIL" she cried, don't
you hear? Don't you understand?
You are free, free! Oh, thank God
that it is so. Thank God! Thank
God"
Her cries awoke him from his STU
por. He bent forward mechanically
and kissed her. A pang went through
him when their lips met. He vaguely
felt that he had done something that
he should not have done. His attor-
ney took his hand and pressed it,
saying:
Congratulations, MontressoD. 1t
was a hard fight, but I never had any
doubt as to the result. Come along.
now. There is nothing more to hold
you here. Come out in the fresh air.
Brace up, man; brace up"
He looked curiously at this advo-
cate-the man who had wrought the
wonderful thing, and mumbled a few
words of thanks. But there was no
warmth in the hand-clasp with which
he returned the salutation of the law
yer.
The next thing that he remembered
was being in the carriage beside his
wife. She was holding his hand, al
ternately smiling and weeping, and
murmuring her thanks for his de-
liverance.
1.-The children will be waiting for
u.s." she crooned. They will be
glad, Think, Basil, tiff it had
been-otherwise."
She shuddered and shrank back
into the corner OF the seat.
But it couldn't have been" she
fastened to say. "Oh, I was conf
dent from the very beginning. 7
knew it was all a mistake. I knew
that they would see it as I did. How
could they believe that you, my
Basil, could-Oh, it y all too. hor-
rible."
YES" he said. sud .soAly, in a hol-
low voice, lit is all horrible. God, if
I could only get the thing out of my
mind"
But you are free now" she said,
+'exonerated, and the world knows
that you are innocent"
He looked down at her with great,
blood-shot eyes-peering, question
ing eyes, eyes that seemed to read
her through and through, wondering
eyes,, eyes filled with apprehension
fear, shame, remorse-for what?
please, please, Basil. don't look
at me like that. You brighten me.
Tell me what it is"
What is it," he repeated. Then
he shrugged his shoulders, and his
lips parted in a CHASTITY smile,
"Nohting-nothiag." he said hur'
riedly.
She nestled closely to his side once
more and her joy reached the SD
preme height in thai, and in silence
So they rode out into the suburbs
of the great city, the mans gaze fixed
wonderingly on the old familiar
sights that now looked so strange &c
him. He had been in Jail but nine
months and yet the change seemed
like that of a century span.
He speculated if the world would
ever again look to him as it did be.
fore that night-that night when the
gale drove the clouds in great black
masses across the night and the
hawk cried shrilly; that night wher
the noon leaped suddenly into {
.. ~ eDanfra1 lioht choujuo the