St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-07-20

''Why," said John Steele, because
I wished to sift, to get to the very
bottom of, this crime for which I was
convicted For all real wrongdoing.
resisting officers of the law. offenses
against officialdom, I had paid the
penalty in full, I believe. But this
other matter-that was different. 1t
weighed on me through those years
on the island and afterward. A jury
had convicted me wrongfully. But
I had to prove it, to satisfy myself, to
find out beyond any shadow of
doubt, and''-
-'He did" For the first time Captain
Forsythe spoke. -"Steele has in his
possession full proofs of his innocence,
and I have seen them. They go to
show that he suffered through the cow
ardice of a miserable cad, a titled
scoundrel who struck his hand from
the gunwale of the boat when the
Lord Nelson went down. Yes, you
told that story in your fevered ram
blings, Steele"
''Forsythe''-the others voice rang
out warningly-'tdidn't I tell you the
part he played was to be forgotten I'M
Less
Cali right; have your way grudg-
ingly.
"a titled scoundrel! There was only
one person of rank on the Lord Nelson
besides myself, and Forsythe'-the
old nobleman's voice called out sharp
ly-"you have said too much or too lit
tie"
John Steele made a gesture. ct have
given my word not to-
''But I haven't" said Captain For
sythe. 'The confession I procured
and what I subsequently learned led
Charles"
It was over at last. They were gone
Sir Charles and Captain Forsythe.
Their hand clasps still fingered in his
For a few moments now John Steele
remained motionless, listening to their
departing footsteps, then turned and
gaZed around him.
Never had his rooms appeared more
cherries, more barren, more empty.
No; not empty. They were filed with
memories. The man squared his Shout
ders and looked out again from the
window toward that small bit Of the
river he could just discern. Once he
had gaZed at it when its song seemed
to be Of the green banks and flowers
it had passed by, but that had been on
a fairer occasional the close of joy
GUS spring day. How it came back to
him, the solemn court Of justice. the
beautiful face. an open doorway, with
the sunshine golden without and a
figure that, ere passing into it, had
turned to look back! It was but for
an instant, yet again his gaze seemed
to leap to that Turing light, the pass
ing CLEAN of her eyes, that had lin
gered-
That he saw now, or was it dream
At the threshold near by some one
looked out-some one as fair-fairer,
if that could be-whose cheeks wore
the tint of the wild rose.
Pardon me. I came up to see If
my uncle"-
He stared at her.
"Youw
eyes" She raised a small, gloved
hand and swept back a disordered
tress.
"Your-your uncle has just gone"
he said
SCI know"
"You do?"
81 was in the library when they
went out. had come up to see
was with my uncle in the cab and
wondered why he'-
She stopped. He took a quick step
toward her. You were in there. that
room, when
Yes she said and threw back her
head as if to contradict a sudden misti-
ness that seemed stupidity sweeping
over her gaze. why did you not tell
me-you did not-that you were inno-
cent?
"You were in there?' He did not
seem to catch her words. Heard
heard
A moment they stood looking at each
other. Suddenly she reached out her
hands to him. With a quick eXclama-
ton he caught and held them.
But in a moment he let them fall.
What had he been about TO say. to
do, with the fair face. the golden head,
SO near? He stepped back quickly.
Madness!
''You are going awayT' She was the