Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-01-21
CHAPTER IV-continued.

But she would not be denied. She
thrust it upon him and nee his eyes
had fallen up it, they chung there,
though evidently against his will. All,
she knew that Reuther's exquisite
countenance would plead for itself!
God seldom grants to such beauty so
lovely a spirit. Ii the features them
selves failed to appeal, certainly he
must feel the charm of an expression
which had already netted so many
hearts. Breathlessly she watched him,
and, as she watched, she noted the
heavy lines carved in his face by
thought and possibly by sorrow,
slowly relax and his eyes fill with a
wistful tenderness.
Parents must learn to endure bit
terness. | have not been exempt my
self from such. Your child will not
die. You have years of mutual com
panionship before you, while have
nothing. And now let us end this in
terview, so painful to us both. You
have said" !
No. she broke in with sudden
vehemence, all the more startling from
the restraint in which she had held
herself up to this moment, Il have
not said have not begun to say
what seethes like a consuming fire in
MY breast. | spoke of a miracle-will
you not listen, judge? | am not wild;
l am not unconscious of presumption
| am only in earnest, in deadly ear.
nest. A miracle is possible. The guilt
between these two may yet be
spanned. l see a way"
What change was this to which she
had suddenly become witness? The
face which had not lost ell its underly
ing benignancy even when it looked
its coolest, had now become settled
and hard. His manner was absolutely
repelIent as he broke in with the quick
disclaimer:
But there is no way. What mir
acIe could ever make your daughter
lovely as she undoubtedly is, a fitting
match for my son! None, madam, alb
solutely none. Such an alliance woulc
he monstrous; unnatural" "
"Why? The word came out boldly
BECAUSE her father died the dealt
of a criminal?"
The answer was equally blunt,
Yes; a criminal over whose tria
his father presided as judge"
Quick as a flash; however, came thu
retort,
"A judge, however, who showed hin
every consideration possible. / wa
told at the time and [ have been as
sured by many since that you wer,
more than Just to him in your rulings
Judge 0strander'-he had taken
step toward the hall door; but h
paused at this utterance of his name
answer me this one question. Wn.
did you do this? You must have hate,
him d~eeply--your feeling for Mr., It'll
eridge was well known. Then %n
such magnanimity toward the ma
who stood on trial for killing hialY'
Unaccustomed to be questioned
though living in an atmosphere Of cor
tinuaI yes and no, lie stared as th
yelled features of one who so dared. 4
if he found it hard to excuse such pr
sumption. But he answered hex ia,
ertheless, and with decided empnnaig
Possibly because his victim wa
MY friend and lifelong companions.
judge fears his own prejudieea."
Possibly; but you had another re,
son, Judge; a reason which ~justiiie
you in your own eyes at the time an
which justities you in mine now an
always. Am ! not right? This is L
courtroom; the case is one of the pas
1t can meyer be r%eopened; the pri
oner il dead. Answer me, then, as Of
sorrowing mortal replies to anothe
hadn't you another reason?"
The Judge, p~anoplied though be W;
or thought he was, against all concei
able attack, WINGED at this repetttic
of a question he had hoped to ignor
and in his anxiety to hide this inyeln
.ary betrayal Of weaknesSNallowed b
anger to have full vent, as he cried D
in no measured terms: