The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-05-02
THROUGH DIVINE INTERVENTION
BY A. Nanias.

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Then it all came back to her and she
cried out:
Jack! Jack! my love, you didn't
do it, Oh, my God! it isn't true.
Say you do not believe it,"
my DEAR" said her stepmother,
''it is not for me to say whether or
not your lover is guilty. That must
be decided by the law. Rest as
sured, however, that justice will be
done in either case"
"Oh. my dear, sweet mother IN
heaven; you at least know 1t IS not
true. You, my angel mother, know
my Jack is too noble and honorable
to commit so horrible deed"
With this pitiful appeal to her
dead mother, Esther sank into a
peaceful sleep. When she opened
her eyes again. it was happy smile
of contentment that had replaced
the look of fear and distress on her
sweet face.
''Oh!" she exclaimed. as Mrs.
Smell entered the room. 1--WE just
had the most beautiful dream! Oh,
it was so sweet and seemed so real
am inclined to doubt that it was
only dream.
Il dreamed that l had left this
cruel world and had gone to heaven
to dwell with my angel mother.
When | arrived there, my mother
came to me and said: My darling
daughter why did you leave the
world and come here?' Because,
replied, the world was so cruel to
me, mother, dear. They accused
the one loved better than life of a
crime and put him in prison. So
came to you, because | knew you
loved me and would sooth my ach-
ing heart Then / began to cry and
my mother took me in her arms and
said: Yes, my darling. | do love
you, and will sooth your little aching
heart. But you must go back to the
world, my pet. Your father and
lover need you to love and comfort
them in this. their hour of distress.
Your lover is innocent. You must
be brave and strong. for he needs
you. Now kiss me, my dear, and
return to your father and lover. and
our heavenly Father will gee to it
that all is we'll, if you only trust in
Him. Peace be with you, darling,
and let nothing shake your faith In
your lover. for he is innocent. and
true Then my mother kissed me
and | returned. All, | can feel her
sweet kiss of love burning on my
lips yet"
When the coroner's verdict was
announced, Jack was given a pre-
liminary hearing and bound over to
the January term of court.
Esther withdrew from society and
spent all her time between the coun-
ty Jail and her fathers summer
home at White Bear.
Richard Harding having been a
very popular young man, well liked
: by everybody, and Jack Nixon al
most stranger. the entire public
was against the latter, with the ex-
ceptions of Mr.. Smell, Esther and a
few loyal friends, who caused many
utterances of disgust by the stand
they had taken on behalf Of the ac-
cused.
Paul Van Brunt Immediately made
known the existence and terms OF
Harding's will, which revealed more
positive proof" that the accused
was guilty. The bulk of the fortune
was to go to his bosom friend, Jack
Nixon. This was not thought to be
so very strange, since Harding had
not a living relative, the last one
having died two years previous, by
whose death he became millionaire.
And it was also generally known
that he held Jack Nixon as his dear
est friend. The terms of the will
only tended to strengthen the belief
IN the guilt of the accused and sup
ply a motive for the deed.
To go into the details OF Jacks
trial would only be wsste OF time.
1t was not unlike hundreds OF SINH
lar murder trials, He was convict
ed and sentenced to the penitentiary
for life