River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-05-01

the magnificent ball and drew in SOM
ton and despair Of proud and sensi-
tive man made desperate By want and
ruin, the man who had given his blood
to his country and bis daily life in an
unselfish ministry to the homeless and
friendless
Il do not ask of your honor" he
cried in ringing tones, 1.-The repeal. Of
the law against theft-thou shalt not
steal, l only ask the suspension of
Its penalty on this heartbroken- man
until we can extend it to his oppressors
as well, until its thunder shall also
echo through the palaces Of the rich
thou shalt not steal!
The man who has fallen was weak
and poor. The man who demands his
| life is ricn and powerful l ask for a
heartbroken man another chance. l
ask this court to suspend all sentence
against the poor bruised and bleeding
spirit that lies in tears at our feet
today"
The judge wheeled in his armchair,
cleared his throat and looked out of the
window to hide from the crowd q
tear that had stolen down his furrowed
cheek
He turned at length to Bivens' law
yers and quietly asked:
1.-The state insists on the enforcement
Of sentence without mercy?'
absolutely" was the sharp answer.
'"This is your desire, Mr. Bivens|
the judge asked with some severity.
YES" the financier fiercely replied.
"And yet you say that you are a
Christian. Well, see to it. Your Mas
ter says:
CHE that saith / love God and
nateth his brother is a liar Henry
Woodman, stand up! The judgment
IF this court is that sentence in your
case be suspended so long as you obey
he law.
"And l may say to you, Henry
Woodman, that my faith is profound
that you will never appear in this
court again. And if you ever need the
help of friend you'll find one if you
.ome to me. You are free man."
Stuart hurried the doctor out of the
.rowd. He had important work yet
20 do. He determined that no story
IF the scene should ever be printed in
New York paper. He would save
Harriet that too.
AS the court adjourned Bivens ours
I'd his lawyers in a paroxysm of help
hn nd
ais hand to his forehead, staggered
Ind sank to the floor.
A doctor who was near rushed to his
side and lifted his head into his wife's
IrmS
"What is it? Has he tainted, doc
orr" she whispered, glancing toward
he door through which Stuart had
lust passed.
''He has had a stroke of paralysis,
madam, fear" was the answer.
Stuart's appeal to the New York pa
pers in behalf of Harriet was success
,ul For a week he bought every
morning and evening edition and read
hem eagerly. Not a line appeared to
iarken the life of his little pal.
Bivens' illness shook the financial
world. The men who had professed
heir friendship most loudly to his face
aOw sharpened their knives for his
wounded body. Every stock with
which his name was linked was the
;arget of the most savage attacks.
The tumbling of values in his securi
ies carried down the whole market
from five to six points in single day.
The great palace that had a few
nights before blaZed with lights and
echoed with music, laughter, song
and dance and clinking glasses, stood
IRON fence.
Within the darkened palace the
doctors were supreme. In his great
library they held consultation after
consultation and secretly smiled when
they thought of the figures they would
write on his bills They disagreed in
"details, but all agreed on the main
.onclusion-that the only hope was
that he should quit work and play for
several years.
When they made this solemn an
nouncement to Bivens, he smiled for
the first time 1t was too good a
Joke. How could he play? He knew
but one game, the big game of the
man hunt! He told his doctors ne
would go to Europe and see if there
were doctors over there who knew
anything.
The shaking, miserable little figure
staggered up the gangplank Of a
steamer. He made brave show Of
strength to the reporters who
swarmed about him for an interview
and collapsed in the arms of his wife
on reaching his staterooms.
He had forgotten his, resentment on
account of Woodman III the presence
Of the Great Terror, whose shadow
had suddenly darkened the world.
The young lawyer had said goodby
to Nan with a sense Of profound re-
lief. From the bottom of his soul he
thanked God she was going away.