Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-02-10


AGness deep in his heart. entered the
station to send n telegram.
Hugh's haggard face peered after
them through rift in a window cur
tain. What could she have suspected?
Not the truth! And only that could be-
tray him Presently the bishop would
return. the train would start again. and
this spot Of terror would be behind
him. What had he TO do with Harry
Sanderson?
lie bethought himself suddenly Of
the door II some one should come In
upon him! With Qualm Of fear he
stood up. staggered to It and turned the
key in the lock. There was not the
wonted buzz about the station. The
place wGs silent save for the throb of
the halted engine. and the shadow Of
the train on the frosty platform quv-
cred like 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 seiz-
ed him.
All his years Hugh had been moral
coward Life to him had been sweet
for the grosser, material pleasures it
held. He had cared for nobody, had
! held nothing sacred. lie had now only
TO keep silence, let Hurry Sanderson
! pay the penalty, and he need dread no
more. Hugh Stires. 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 lie might change his name and
live at case In some quarter Of the
world. bis alarm laid forever.
But worse thing would haunt him
TO scare his sleep--he would be doubly
blood guilty.
In the awful moment while be chung
to the iron bars of the collapsing rose
window. with the flames clutching ut
him. Hugh had looked into hell and
slivered before the Judgment, 1.-THE
wages OF sin Is death" In that fiery
ordeal the cheapness and swagger. the
ostentation and self esteem. had burn
cd away. and Lis soul had stood
naked as winter wood. Dying had
not then been the austere terror What
came after? That had appalled, him.
Yet Harry Snnderson was not afraid
Of the hereafter He chose death calm
ly. knowing that he. Hugh, was unfit
to die.
Suppose he told the truth now and
saved Harry. He had never done q
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 day Of evil living he
could render deed that would make
requtal for those unpaid days. he
would not have played the towards
part. 1t would repair the wrong he
had done Jessicn. He would have
made expiution. forgiveness and pity,
not reproaches and shame, would fol
low him. and it 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 fearful
thing to fall into the hands Of the lv-
ing God!
He made bis way again to the door
and unlocked 1t. 1t was only to cross
that space. to speak, and then the
grim brick building ard the penalty.
with hoarse cry he slammed tho
door and frantically locked It, The
edge OF the searching pain was upon
him again He stumbled back TO the
couch and fell across ii face down
dragging the cushions in frantic haste
over his head to shut out the sick
throbbng o. the steam that seemed
, shuddering at the fate his covering
5 soul dared not face.
The groups outside the courthouse
/, made way deferentially for Jessica
- but she was unconscious OF It, Some
( one asked n question on the steps. ant
she heard the answer. The state ha
q just finished and the judge Is ctarg
b ing"
y The narrow hall was filed. and
e though all who saw gave her instan
e place, the space beyond the inner doc
was crowded beyond the possibility o
l passage she could see the Judge
e bench. with its sedate. gray bearded
? figure. the jury box at the left. III
moving. restless faces about IL. set liz
O living mosaic.
}, She became aware suddenly that III
Y figure at the high bench was speaking
@ had been speaking all along:
. with the prisoners later career Il
!. Smoky Mountain they had nothing Z
I do nor had the law. The question
asEed-the only question it asked was
i Did he Kill Moreau? They might b.
!. oath to believe the same man capable
+. of such contradictory acts-the cour
y ageous saving of child from death
!. for example. and the shooting down o
: n fellow rnortal In cold blood-but
e had been truly said that such contrast
I We're not impossible--nay were eve1
d matters OF common observation. Pref
udice and bias aside. and sympath.
n and liking aside. they constituted tr'
e bunal of justice This the state had
r. right to demand, and this they, tn
g jury. had made solemn oath to give"
| The words had no meaning for he
l ears. What did he say" she wills
pered to herself piteously. She caugh
& but glimpse Of the prisoner as III
$ sheriff touched hts arm and led tn
10 way quickly to the door through whic
It he had been brought.
= 1t opened and closed upon them. an
Q the tension OF the packed room broE