Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-02-20


the door II some one should come in
upon himl With a qualm OF fear ne
stood up. staggered 10 II and turned the
key In the lock. There was not the
wonted buzz about the station The
place was silent save Tor the thrcb OF
the halted engine. and the shadow of
the train on the frosty platform quiz
cred like a criminal A block away
he saw the courthouse. Knots Of PEG
pie were standing about its door wait
ing for what? A fit OF trembling SELF
ed him.
All his years Hugh had been a moral
coward Life TO him had been sweet
for the g-osser, material pleasures Il
held. He had cared for nobody, had
held nothing sacred, He had now only
10 keep silence, let Harry Sanderson
pay the penalty. and he need dread no
more. Hugh Stlres. to the persuasion
OF the law. would be dead. AS soon as
might be he could disappear. as the
rector Of st. James had disappeared be
fore. He might change his name and
live at ease in some quarter of the
world. his alarm laid forever
! But worse thing would haunt him
TO scare kis sleep-he would be deubly
blood guilty.
In the awful moment while he chung
TO the iron bars OF the collapsing rose
window. with the flames clutchlng at
him. Hugh had looked into he'll aud
shivered before the Judgment THE
wages OF sin Is death" In that fery
ordeal the cheapness and swagger. the
, Osteutation and self esteem. had burn
ed away. aud his soul had stood
naked as a winter wood. Dying had
not then been the austere terror. What
came after? That had appalled, him.
Yet Harry Sanderson was not afraid
or the hereafter. He chose death calm
ly. knowing that he. Hugh. was unit
10 die.
Suppose be told the truth now and
saved Harry. He had never done
brave deed for the sake OF truth or
righteousness or for the love OF any
human being. but he could do one now.
For the one red counter that had been
symbol OF a day OF evil living he
could render deed that would make
requital for those unpaid days. he
would not have played the towards
part. IL would repair the wrong be
had done Jessica. He would have
made expiRtion. Forgiveness and pity.
not reproacheS and shame. would fol
low him. aud Il would balance perhaps
the one dreadful count that stood
against him He thought OF the scat
fold and shIvered. yet there was a
more terrible thought: II is a fearful
thing 10 fall into the hands or the lv-
! ing Godl
lie made bis way again 70 the door
! and unlocked IL IL was only TO cross
I that space. to speak. and then the
/ grim brick building aud the penalty.
With hoarSe cry he slammed the
doSr and frantically locked H. The
edge OF the searching pain was upon
him again he stunt led back 10 the
couch and fell across II face down.
dragging the cushions In frantic haste
over his head to shut out the sick
throbbing OF the steam that seemed
shuddering at the fate his covering
soul dared not face.
The groups outside the courthou sc
made way deferentially for Iessica.
| but she was unconscious OF II. Some
one asked a question On the steps. aud
she heard the answer. THE state has
inst finished. and the judge Is charg
| ing"
The narrow hall was Oiled. and.
though all who saw gave her instant
place. the space beyond the inner door
was crowded beyond the possibility OF
1 b.,
bench. with its sedate. gray bearded
figure. the jury box at the left, the
moving. restless faces shout IL. set like
a living mosaic.
She became aware suddenly that the
figure at the high bench was speaking.
had been speaking all along:
With the prisoners later career In
Smoky Mountain they had nothing TO
do nor had the law. The question IT
asked-tbe only question II asked-was.
Did he XIII MoreauT They might be
ioath TO believe the same man eapa BILE
OF such contradictory acts-the cour-
ageous saving OF child from death.
for example. and the shooting down OF
a fellow mortal In cold blood-but IT
had been truly said that such contrasts
were not impossible-n were even
matters OF common observation Pref
udice aud bias aside. and sympathy
and liking aside. they constituted tri
bunal OF Justice This the state had a
right to demand. and this they. the
| jury, bad made solemn oath TO give"
| The words had no meaning for her
ears. ''What did he sayr' she whis-
| pered to herself piteously. She caught
but glimpse OF the prisoner as the
sheriff touched his arm and led the
way quickly TO the door through which
he bad been brought.
II opened and closed upon them. and
the tension OF the packed room broke
all at once In a great respiration Of re
lief and buzz OF conversation.
A voice spoke beside her. IL was DR..
Brent Come with me-" be said.
"Felder asked me TO watch for you
We can walt In the judges room"