Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-01-21
DarkfIoNOV
RAuva Kat1annpG Green
Illustrations e CD Rhodes
1919 ~ poDR NEAD q COMPANY

what are you atterE why are you
raking up these bygones, switch only
make the present condition of affairs
darker and more hopeless? Oliver
Ostrander, under nc circumstances
and by means of no sophistries, al
ever marry the daughter of John SEQ
vile. | should think you would see
that for yourself"
But if John should be proved to
have suffered w~rongfully? If he should
be shown to have been innocent?"
His rebuke was quick, instant. With
a force and ~earnestness which recalled
the courtroom he replied:
Madam. your hopes and wishes
have misled you. Your husband was
a guilty man; as guilty a man as any
judge eve passed sentence upon"
But he swore the day | last Wis
tied him in the prison, with his arms
pressed tight about me and his eye
looking straight into mine as you are
looking now, that he never struck that
blow. l did not believe him then;
there were too many dark spots in my
memory of old lies p~remeditated and
destructive of my happiness; but
believed him later, and l believe him
now"
Madam, this is quite improbable.
A jury of his peers condemned him as
guilty and the law compelled me to
pass sentence upon him. The inev-
table must be accepted. l have said
my last word"
But not heard mine," she painted.
For me to acknowledge the inevitable
where my daughters life and happi-
ness are concerned would make me
seem a coward in my own eyes. Helped
or unhelped, with the sympathy or
without the sympathy of one who /
hoped would show himself my friend, l
shall proceed with the task to which
| have dedicated myself. You will
forgive me, judge. You e that Johns
last declaration of innocence goes fur
Their with me than your belief, backed
as it is by the full weight of the law"
Gazing at her as at one gone sud
denly demented, he said;
81 fail to understand you, MRS.
will call you Mrs. Averill. You speak
of a task. What task?"
THE only one l have a heart for
the proving that Reuther is not the
child of a willful murderer; that an
other man did the deed for which he
suffered. l a do it. feel confident
that l can do it; and if you will not
help me"
Help you! After what / have said
and reiterated that he is guilty, guilty.
guilty?'
Advancing upon her with each repe-
ton of the word, he lowered before
her, an imposing, almost formidable
figure. She faced again his anger,
which might well be righteous, and
with almost preternatural insight bold
ly declared:
you are too vehement to quite con-
vince me, Judge O~strander. Acknowl-
edge it or not, there is more doubt
than certainty in your mind; a doubt
which ultimately will lead you to help
me. Then my way should broaden
a way, at the end of which l see a
united couple-my daughter and your
son. Oh, she is worthy of him." the
woman broke forth, as he made an.
other repellent and imperative ges.
ture, TASK anyone in the town where
We have lived"
Abruptly and without apology fol-
his rudeness, Judge Ostrander turned
his back, then with a quick whirl about
which brought him face to face witt
her once more, he impetuously asked
Madam, you were in my house this
morning. You came in through tht
; gate which Bella had left unlocked
J win you explain how you came to DE-
this? Did you know that he was goinI
: down street, leaving the way open be
hind him? Was there collision be
tween your"
Her eyes looked clearly into his
She felt that she had nothing to dis
. guise or conceal.
! q had urged him to do this, Judg
Ostrander. | had met him more tina
once in the street when he went GU
Q to do your errands, and l used all m
; persuasion to induce him to give m
this n opportunity of pleading NJ
e cause with you. He was your devote
servant, he showed it in his death, bu
he never got over his affection fo
s Oliver. had listened to what folk
said. had heard that you would receiv
n nobody; talk to nobody. Bella wal m
only resource"
He was scrutinizing her keenly, an
for the first time UNDERSTANDING
It Whatever her station, past or presen
she was certainly no ordinary womal