The Washington herald., 1909-02-07
AsED0nrz7zESz SzARs zsAzAH mzzov nzRz

edged with mornings gold The sounds that
from the crowd harsh and explosive. Among The
shouted jangng fragments OF speech tiny clause
leaped out continually in shreks and hoEris; Hang
him, Hang him." There froth the lips OF
some strange flames dancing IN the eyes OF all
BuTeted. half strsngled, the youth was swept 70
the base OF Of the larger trees The doctors
began climb the tree 70 the rope over limb.
crowd surging beneath him IN terrible eatiOn Why
should they shout and urge him TO vengeance?
Had Il been said that he the girls betrothed?
wildly transhgured yet hideousy some. the
professor swayed the crowd looking up at the doc
His bare white head. hit by the morning
light, above the general mass Upon his features
there played something that was almost dazzling.
white fame Of passion. exaltaton OF emotion that
made him look unearthly
Quite suddenly. II he had been touched by point
OF fire he started and looked about him. His eyes ran
the people. dilating with fright and horror ne
brushed his shaking fingers across HIS face shudder
ing and gasping, then hurriedly pushed his out
OF the crowd. Extending a hand II vieVless
person were leading him. he walked dozen PAGES or
away, bending curioUsy as he walked and listening
At point not ten feet distant from the spot where
the girl had been struck down he stopped peerng into
grass took Up something in his hand The object
looked not unlike stone, chsrred heat fused mass
the size Of a mans fist The professor looked at it
fntently and with obvious marveling. Two or three
times he spoke aloud as II 20 person before him.
though there WIS no visible person there then he
whirled about himself into the crowd,
ing:
Silence here. Drop that rope. Let the young
GO I here the object that caused my daugh-
ter's death. She killed by meteorite. stone
dropped from the SKY! Here are bright hairs from
her head cnging st. Doctor, know these things
as well I; look at this.
1T is a meteorite" said the doctor No man is
guilty. It's fall caused the fash Of light that many
have said they saw the moment OF the girls
death Doubtless the boy was running away IN fear
The matter IS ended"
The lawyer stared at the stone Ike one whose at
tention IS suddenly rveted upon fearful thing
on waking from sleep He looked at the sngushed
Of the hslf-suhocated boy. then up at the sky
Ny God~ he whispered. and east the rope from him
II It had been serpent
The morning had advanced midway 10 noon The
professor IN Doctors library again. pale and
sad Of co1ntena7ce A mote fecked beam sunshine
from a window fell across his face. From II his
looked out tearfully. The doctor sat al table his
great brow puckered his wide mouth fallen al the cor
ners poring upon ths charred stone through maga-
fyinz glass AZ his elbow were bottles OF acids The
LAWYER walked IN heavily down Beneath his
eyes wers half-mOons OF purple, he looked salloW
weary bruised. III Hundreds IN the town that day,
their natures sick from angeTs outrage, we're as he
The laid down the glass and looked toward the
other two.
1T IS true aerOte" he said. "a scoreAed mass OF
silIcates hecked With iron
Yes" said the professor. sadly, 7 know
The LAWYER said nothing his chin sank toward his
breast The doctors eyes fell TO tho stone again for a
moment then he looked al the professor The-the
accident IN itself IS strange enough he said but how
means were you directed this object this stone that
rna7ffestIy took your daughters life?
The professor stirred and hesitated I would not,
could not speak 70 you with decent calmRess oS this
terrible matter now but that certain strength and
comfort remains with from that which 1 saw and
experlenced AZ the end he said controlling himself
with effort "Inexpresseble seems my loss to me.
vet am grateful IN that something like miracle was
wrought that might that have not really lost
nv child Il has been my happy fortune 70 have ex-
rarsenced before this some slight atnatons OF that
state 70 which brings but anything that
a ali approached The convincing completeness OF this
marvel
yet I would not be honest with you did not con
fess that ny part IN It had II degree the qualities
OF dream and vet = wholly that for It vas
more than dream an gifted With larger conscious
ness even than the cearest moments Of daily life
AT least so seemed the time, though now il returns
10 me much as one remembers dream that was within
dream though none the less clear and sharp OF out
line for that but rather somehow farther withdrawn
facets 70 which the images Of outer objects rarely
reach.
Il shall not expect you 20 believe ne wholly, at
least I shall hardly look Coz yeu draw such deduc-
tons from what 5efeu ne I myself feel compelled
20 draw You can take & for what il may seem worth
to YOU to the experience is valuable beyond CON-
putstion-
ing with emotion IN that overwrought pack OF people
something voice q tone force. know not what
shot TO the center OF me- striking upon inner cord
OF nv spirit and with a shock I seemed 20 awaken
Suddenly saw those about with an iadescTie2oie
clarity Of vision Clearer and more vivid OF seeming
than dream yet thought myself dreaming, so over
luminous and startling It all. Above and about
ton palpitatnE emanatOn Of angry light thin. vapor