The Madison journal., 1913-10-18

/ gesture, anu IN frozen OlSulty az
dressed the court.
Judge Wot'h'in'ton," said she,
"Ah'm not quite ce'tain All get the full
meanin' of this. but All feel that All
CANT pe'mit It to go fu'thah. All de
siah to say to you as gentleman and
an acquaintance. If not a friend. that
these ah things that can not be said
of a lady, suh!"
The defendant" said the judge,
after two or three Intellectual attempts
to speak, will be heard through her
counsel-proceed!"
She was hurt and desperate as she
sat down, and in a cold and livid fury.
With her eyes level and shining like
| knife-points, she put off. with look
| like a blow. Chester's efforts to COM
fort her. She sat, an alien In an inhos-
pitable land, hedged about by wall
of displeasure at some formless insult,
and at friends without chivalry. The
judge began stating his decision, CIV
ing the argument for the one side and
then for the other. as judges do.
The evidence tends to prove" said
he. that Roberta Lee Frayn has a
malign fascination over her pupils
the larger boys especially; that she
has lured them into personal attend
ance upon her rather than 10 study;
that she has melted young men to
duels, brawls, breaches of the peace.
and"
l could see that she thought the
phrase 1T tends to prove" an express
sion OF his belief In the charges; and
as he went on her face famed red
once more, and then went white as
snow. She stepped back from the Ia
BILE as If to clear for action, one little
hand lifted. the other in the folds of
her dress.
"Suh," she cried in a passion Of In
dignation which was splendid and ter
rible This must stop! II nah false
friends lack the chivalry to protect
me and NAH good name, Ah'll defend
mahself, subj"
Chester half rose, as If to throw him
self into the hopeless contest.
The defendant does not under
stand" said the Judge. The defend
ant will resume her seat! The evil
dence tends to prove that"
But the decision was never finished;
for the girl drew a short small pistol
and aimed at him. We were frozen In
horror. Judge Worthington looked un-
waveringly into the muzzle.
Roberta" said he.
then saw a rush by Captain Win
field to strike her arm; the pistol
roared out In the court room like a
cannon; and as Miss Frayn sank back
into my mothers arms. Judge Worth
ington stepped down with rent across
his shoulder, from which he withdrew
his fingers stained red. From under
| the table, where irresistible force had
thrown me. | saw him take an unre-
sisting hand. and heard him whisper
to her.
Darling" said he. You don't un-
derstand! Let me explain, sweetheart,
and then if you want the pistol back,
I'll give 1t to you, loaded"
Then he stood up and took COM
mand.
"The bailiff." said he, will remove
the defendant ard Mrs. Boggs to my
chambers. I shall investigate this In
camera. l am not hurt. gentlemen.
more than a pins prick, and am able
to go on and take such measures as
are necessary to protect, the court.
Remain here until resume the trial.
81 can tell you." said Middlekauff,
well crawl out where We went In.
Nobody can stand ag'in her at clus
range like that"
Captain Winfield's face bore puz-
zled and mysterious smile as he
emerged from the chambers.
You can't subdue these southern
ers, Oc," said he.
THE verdict OF history" said I. "is
otherwise"
1--WE Just reconstructed and abb
sorbed EN-" said he. 81 was there. an
know. The Judge thinks we've got
to handle this Frayn invasion the
same way"
81 fail to get your meaning" said l.
"The way to absorb this rebel host,
said the captain, ''is to marry 1t. It's
the only way to ground her wire and
demagnetize her / can't undertake
the lob, for reasons known to all.
You're sort of responsible for her de-
yastatin' course, an l think it'll cipher
itself down to Oscar Boggs as
bridegroom for the good of Teal Lake
Township and the welfare OF the
Boggs School"
My emotions were tumultuous. No
such marriage could be forced on me
of course; but duty, duty!
"On the main point" said the cap
tain. "the court had its mind made up
when I came out This marryin' has
got to be did. Who's to do it is what
they're figgerin' on"
Captain Winfield" said I. III the
public interests require 1t, II my con
stituents demand it, l will make the
sacrifice!
"Oc." said the captain. In properly
serious manner, though some Uttered
: you're a livin' marvel! I'll go bach
and report"
/ Almost Immediately. as my heart
beats stifled me, they emerged IRON
the chamber. My mother was In tears
: Worthington bore Miss Frayn on hi
, arm, and both looked exaltedly happy
; Roberta, as called her In m!
thoughts. shrank back bashfully. NOR
beautiful than had ever seen her. l
| fNrV VrnQ