Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-01-26
CHAPTER XIII.
81 REMEMBERED THE ROOM"

AhI hooni
AS Carmel's gaze passed from
"a her brothers face it travelled
~ slowly and with glowing hesi-
tation over the countenances
of those near her. on and on past the
Judge, past the jury until they reached
the spot where l sat. There they
seemed to falter, and the beating of
my heart became so loud that | in
stinctively shrank away from my
neighbor By so doing drew her eye,
which fell full upon mine for one over
whelming minute; then she shrank and
looked away, but not before the color
had risen in a flood to her cheek.
The hope which had sprung to life
under her first beautiful aspect van
ished at sight of this flush, for it was
not one of joy or surprise or even of
unconscious sympathy. 1t was the
banner of deep, uncomfortable shame.
But in a few minutes her features
settled into a strange placidity. undis-
turbed by the leveled gaze of hun
dred eyes. Her whole attention was
concentrated on her brother and
wavered only when the duties of the
occasion demanded recognition of the
various gentlemen concerned in the
trial.
Mr.. Moffat prefaced his examination
by the following words:
nIo honor / uiSh
to ask the indulgence Of the court In
my examination of this witness. She
Is just recovering from a long and
dangerous Illness, and, while l shall
endeavor to keep within the rules of
examination, l shall be grateful for
any consideration which may be shown
her by your honor and by the counsel
ln the other side"
Mr.. Fox at once rose. He had by
this time recovered from his aston1sh-
ment at seeing before him and in fair
state of health the young girl whom he
had every reason to believe to be still
In a condition of partial forgetfulness
at Lakewood and under the care of
woman entirely in his confidence and
under his express orders. He had also
mastered his chagrin at the triumph
which her presence here and under
these dramatic circumstances had CIV
en- his adversary. He expressed In
warm tones his deep desire to extend
every possible indulgence.
Mr. Moffat bowed his acknowledge
ments and waited for his witness to
take the oath, which she did with a
simple grace which touched all hearts,
even that of her constrained and un-
reconciled brother. Compelled by the
silence and my own bounding pulses
to look at her in my own despite, l
caught the sweet and elevated look
with which she laid her hand on the
book and asked myself If her pres
ence here was not a self accusation
which would bring satisfaction to no
body, which would sink her and hers
into an ignominy worse than the con-
yiction of the brother whom she was
supposedly there to save. .
Tortured by this fear, l awaited
events in indescribable agitation
The cool voice Of Mr.. Moffat broke
in upon my gloom. Carmel had reseat-
ed herself after taking the oath, ana
the customary question could be heard'
"Your name. If you please"
Carmel Cumberland"
"Do you recognize the prisoner, Miss
| Cumberland"
"Yes; he is my brother"
A thrill ran through the room. Ihe
lingering tone, the tender accent, told.
Some of the feeling she thus expressed
seemed to pass into every heart which
contemplated the two. From TINS mo
ment on he was looked upon WIN less
harshness. People showed a disposl'