Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-01

If the accused artist had seen Them
as they entered the courtroom be
might have found in their faces-the
wan. pitifuI countenance of his dis
tracted mother and the glowing fea-
lures Of her young companion-inspir-
alton for u picture to be called Hope
and Despair" but his head was bowed
low and his face was buried in his
hands as he sat waiting for his case
to be called.
Sea ting the little old woman in a
secluded corner the girl hurried for
ward and asked court attendant 10
permit her to speak to the judge. The
man conducted her TO the bench. and
his honor signified his willingness TO
hear her.
IF the case of Henry Burrows has
not yet been called" she pleaded, "will
you please have it dismissed? am
Miss Stanfield. the person who lost the
diamond horseshoe. and l do not wish
to appear against him. You will re-
member that nothing was found upon
him when he was searched. There
has been a great mistake, and the horse
shoe is now safe in my possession
So saying. she unclasped a pin from
the laces at her throat and laid IL upon
the desk, a curious golden horseshoe.
with the diamond nails nashing bril-
liantly.
With a puzzled expression the Judge
scanned closely for a moment her
flushed, eager face and then motioued
to two men seated together in the
room. "The witnesses" he said i'm
pressively, ARE positive that the man
unclasped the pin"
Quickly the girl turned TO the men.
'"rhis is the pin, is it not?" she asked.
att is a design one would not forget
easily. There has been a great mis-
take" Then, with lowered voice, she
added: eff her son should be pro-
nounced guilty 1t will break his old
mothers heart. Think Of that, gen
tlemen. before you act"
Silently and with respectful admira
ton the men regarded her. Il see"
said one of them finally, that it is all
a mistake. as you say"
A few moments later 1.-The case of
Henry Burrows dismissed" rang out
through the courtroom, and the old
woman turned excitedly to those near
by and cried jubilantly: II knew it!
My boy. my boy"'
The girl stood looking up into the
white. tense face Of the young artist.
why did you do it|' he demanded
CURLY.
without finching the girl looked
straight into his eyes and answered.
1.-The faith your mother has in her son
should never be permitted to grow
less"
With a quick sob the man hid his
face from her cleaning eyes.
ut never shall be.' he declared. ''Do
you believe me?"
In answer she held out her hand.
Then be spoke again: lit was the
madness of despair. When / saw them
coming to search me l threw the pin
through an open window. 1t must
have fallen into the marshes or into
the water below the bridge. How.
then can you have it today?"
They were standing quite alone. bud
the girl almost whispered her answer.
There were two" she said-"twin
horseshoes. My father gave them to
me-"
AS she was going he rose to his feet
and raised his right arm as If he were
registering a VOW.
Some day 1 shall return it to you"
he said.
Again the girl put forth her hand.
II believe you" she said simply and
went her way. And the memory that
she carried out into the sunshine Of
the morning was the perfect content
on the wrinkIed face of the old mother
as her son led her tenderly from the
courtroom.
The young man kept his promise.
One day two years later the girl re-
ceived little package by post. ODen.
ing 1t. she removed some cotton, and
there below lay a diamond horseshoe
pin.