The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-12-28

him everything is certain to come
right You must let me help you.
know the city very well. for it is my
home in the winter time. When we
arrive the carriage will be waiting, and
we will drive Immediately to the court.
house"
If the accused artist had seen them
as they entered the courtroom be-
might have found in their faces-the
wan, pitiful countenance of his dis
tracted mother and the glowing fea-
lures of her young companion-inspir-
alton for a 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.
Seating The little old woman in a
secluded corner. the girl hurried for
ward and asked a court attendant to
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 it upon
the desk, a curious golden horseshoe,
with the diamond nails flashing bril-
liantly.
With a puzzled expression the judge
scanned closely for moment her
flushed. eager face and then motioned
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.
'"This is the pin, is it not?" she asked
ut is a design one would not forget
easily There has been a great mis-
take" Then, with lowered voice, she
added: IF her son should be pro-
nounced guilty it will break his old
mothers heart. Think of that, gen.
tlemen. before you act"
Silently and with respectful admira-
ton the men regarded her. - 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 boyr'
The girl stood looking up into the
white, tense face of the young artist.
Why did you do ity' be demanded
curtly.
Without linching 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.
at never shall ber he declared. do
you DeIIeVe NE
In answer she held out her hand.
Then he spoke again: 1T was the
madness of despair When l saw them
coming to search me | 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, but
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
VOW.
"Some day l shall return it to you"
he said
Again the girl put forth her hand. |
~ 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 wrinkled 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-
eeived little package by post. Open
ing it. she removed some cotton, and
there below lay a diamond horseshoe
pin.