El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-23
The Verdict
By A. G. Greenwood.

D
A HE neared his destination his
n feverish Impotence seemed to
4 die away. He sat up, biting his
lips. beating a tattoo with his toes,
frowning deeply.
Then suddenly: Stop he ordered.
Curtis, drive on. Take two berths
and one for yourself in the next boat
Arrange for the car to travel with Us.
Don't consider expense; bride if nee
essary, and keep your mouth shut
Yes sir"
The man looked straight ahead. John
Pensonby stepped out on the road
You understand" he said. Don't
say who you are or who 1 am BOOK
under the name OF Brown, and don't
discuss today's business with a soul"
Yes, sir"
He watched her car disappear to-
wards the harbOr, then retraced his
steps to a cottage 40 or so yards back
on the road by which he had come.
He opened the garden gate and walked
up the path. The little front door stood
WIDE and he strobe in without using
bell or knOcker.
A woman looked up from the writing
table where she sat But she had not
been writing. She could not have seen
to write, and the handkerchief she
clasped was a little sodden ball Of
cambria. She looked up, her eyes red,
swimming. tortured.
He stood still, staring at her. in
tense melancholy in his eyes.
Peter was wise" he said hoarsely.
I'm glad you were not there"
She rose. her knees trembling, and
stretched out a shaking hand.
john she said again
MOurnfuly he shook his head.
God help your he muttered.
Guilty"
tz5. .s., ..e,z
broke from her. She cIutched at the
tables edge, her Mortified eyes fixed
on his face. Sharp painting breaths,
her throat pulsing, her lips wide apart,
great tremors passing over her slim
figure. rocking her, the color OF death
in her chill cheeks showed him how she +
had hoped.
~How-how long, John?" 3
1t was surely not Rose who spoke 2
little Rose Valley, the flirt, the madcap .
Of four years ago, whose marriage to .
penniless Peter Pensonby had caused /
such a sensation.
Seven years he said, and sat down .
on a chair his hands before his eyes. :
Seven years penal seTYitude-"
She reeled as though he had struck
her. Scream upon scream, shrill, pierre
ing, animal screams burst from her .
following lips. She staggered out into
the middle Of the room, her hands .
moving in circles clutching at the air.
'Mummie is you i'll? Is you"
A little girl-Peter's little daughter
had come unnOticed unheard, to the
window, and now stared in dismay
and terror. The mothers hands went
to her throat clinging to the lace of
her collar, dragging at it, as though
throttling her misery and despair
NO, dear, no." she chOked and
turned with a rigid smile on her frozen 4
face. Run away, sweeting and play.
Cousin John has come down"
An dad, when's i'm coming?
d
lily. Go, darling, mother wants to be
The calm she had conjured up from
the ruins of her stricken mind did not
desert her when the child had gone. I
She turned to John.
Peter was determined I should not
90 to the trial, she said in mechanical,
expressiOnless tones. He was afraid
should unnerve him. I'm not-nOt
brave, he knew that He said he would
telegraph"
The solicitor was about to. but I
dissuaded him." said John. Il came Z
straight to you instead"
She sat down. staring with filmy
eyes out through the window.
Hes innocent they'll know one
lay. How sorry they will be! Twelve
men-12 men, and not one to pity.
Twelve, twelve. If only one had be-
ieved-i"
The evidence was overwhelming
off for money!"
She shook her head. TT doesn't mat
ter she whispered. 1T only mattered
for Peters sake"
You're poor" he said bluntly, dead
~ poor. Peter viii be unable to con-
tribute. 1t matters for the child"
She nodded, and suddenly her tears
began to fall
There's the child to feed. to clothe.
10 school" he went on. You have no
relatives, believer
None" she answered with a sob.
I'm glad; they might misjudge PeterP'
Il am going abroad" He drew out
his watch, and his hand shook as he
glanced at it. Il sail in an hours time.
What do you intend to do, Rose
She shook her head dispairingly.
Seven years is a long time" he said.
The child will be 10. Children-unless
they are paupers' children-are ex-
1ensive things How viii you provide
'Or her. ROse2"
How can 1 tell2' she cried, twining !
her hands together. Have thought;