Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1915-08-26
CHAPTER xVli-ContInued.

che honors and make the best OF a sit
1ation, difficult, II not ineXplicable to
ell of them. Nor could 1t be seen that
any OF these men-city officials, promi-
nent citizens and old friends, recog-
aized his figure or suspected his
sdentity Beyond passing glance his
way. they betrayed neither curiosity
aor interest, being probably sufficient
" occupied in accounting for their
Own presence in the home of their
once reyered and now greatly ma
G4ned compeer. Judge Ostrander, at
lacked through his son, was about to
say or do something which each and
svery one OF them secretly thought
cad better be left unsaid or undone
Vet none showed any disposition to
leave the place; and when after a
snort, uneasy pause during which all
attempts at conversation failed, they
heard slow and weighty step ap-
preaching down the hall, the suspense
vas such that no one but Mr.. Black
Noticed the quick whirl with which
oliver turned himself about, nor the
look OF mortal anguish with which he
awaited the opening Of the door and
Ills fathers entrance among them. No
one noticed, | say, until. simultaneous.
" with the appearance of Judge Os-
Eander on the threshold. loud cry
swept through the room of Don't!
DON'T" and the man they had barely
noticed, flashed by them all, and fell
AT the judges feet with a smothered
repetition Of his appeal Don't. ia
taer. dont!"
Then, each man knew why he had
been summoned there. and knowing,
AEszed earnestly at these two faces.
Twelve years Of unappeased longing.
e. aT sTnothered love. rising above doubts,
persisting in spite OF doubts, were con
cantrated into that one instant OF mu-
@ual recognition, The eye of the IA
sher was upon that Of the son and that
OF the son upon that Of the father and
TOR them, ct least in this first instant
OF reunion, the years were forgotten
and sin. sorrow and Uncoming doom
sfraced from their mutual conscious
ness.
Then the tide OF life flowed back into
the present and the Judge. motioning
20 his son to rise, observed very dis
Esnctly:
Don't is an ambiguous word, my
son, and on your lips, at this juncture
a1ay mis!ead those whom have called
here TO hear the truth from US and the
truth only. You have heard what hap
peDed here few days ago, How
toag guarded, loagsuppressed suspi-
ciou-so guarded and so suppressed
that | had no intimation Of its ex-
tstence even. found vent at moment
of public Indignation, and heard you.
you, Oliver Ostrander. accused 10 my
face Of having In some boyish fit OF
rage struck down the man for whose
death another has long since paid the
penalty. This you have already been
told
Yes The word cut sharply
through the silence; but the fire with
which the young man rose and faced
them all showed him at his best. But
surely, no person present believes it.
No one can who knows you and the
principles In which have been raised
This fellow whom beat as boy has
waited long to start this damnable re-
port Surely he will get no hearing
from unprejudiced and intelligent
men"
The police have listened to him,
-, l.
tlemen present, has heard his story
and you see that he stands here silent,
ny son. And that is not all. Mrs.
Scoville, who has loved you like
mother, longs to believe In your limo
sence, and cannot"
A low cry from the hall.
II died away UNDECIDED.
And Mr. Black, her husbands coun-
sell" continued the father. in the firm,
tow tones OF one who for many long
sxys and nights had schooled himself
tor the duty for this hour. shares her
feeling. He has tried not to; but he
does. They have found evidences-you
know them; proofs which might not
have amounted TO much had II not
been for the one mischievous fact
which has undermined public conf.
dencs and given point to these attacks.
refer to the life We have led and the
barriers We have ourselves raised
against our mutual intercourse, These
have undone us To the question. Why
these barriers?' can find no answer
but the one which ends this struggle
succumbing myself. ask you to do 90
also. Out OF the past comes a voice
the voice Of Algernon Etheridge. de-
alanding vengeance for his untimely
end II will not be gainsaid. Not sat
isfied with the toll We have both paid
In these years OF suffering and repres-
siou-unmindfsl Of the hermits life
have led and Of the heart disappaint-
zneuts you have borne. its cry for pun
fshment remains insistent Gentlemen
bush! Oliver. It Is for me 10 cry
R'out' now--Joha Scoville vas a |
guilty mana murderer an q thief
5Ut he did not WELD the stick which /
kilie.5 Algernon Etheriige Another