The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-10-14
MI nh IN
I'LL I'LL LII

arm linked with that of his companion.
From the porch of the house they had
just left, Joan waved to them as they
turned to look back from the corner
below where the hedges grew high and
wall-like.
If l should happen to wake up right
now" said Eric, a trifle unsteady,
I'm afraid the disappointment would
kill me. OF course, it's only n dream"
The judge smiled. You've just come
out of a dream-and q very bad one
at that. A nightmare six years long!
Good heaven, what an e! l shudder
to think of what 1t has been to poor
old Horace and Mrs. Blagden."
They We're on their way to the Of
flce of a lawyer in Bank street, pur-
suant to n plan of action advanced by
Joan's father, after he had recovered
sufficiently from the effect of the two
shocks-for it Is always a shock to a
father, eve though he may have sus-
pected his daughters secret all along.
He agreed with Eric that 1t was best to
put himself in the hands of the law
without delay, and to go through the
form of being legally relieved Of the
charge of m~anslaughter.
But III can't ask Joan to be my
wife, Judge Bright, ever though / am
discharged Eric had started to say
back there in the house, only to be
stopped by the girl.
you've already asked me-" she had
said, and i Will not release YOU"
Whereupon Judge Bright had grave
ly said. laying his hands on the young
mans shoulders.
"We have only the law to consider,
Eric. If the law puts no barrier be-
tween YOU and Joan, l shall not do so.
You understand"
You mean. If h law says I am in
%nocent?"
That's 1t. my lad"
81 understand. Judge Bright"
They had considered the designs of
Horace Blagden, who, for reasons best
known to himself. had carefully avoid
ed Eric since that narrowing scene IN
the library. In order to anticipate any
inimical move OF the part of Chef
| wynd's father. Judge Bright volun-
teered to go at once to the house on
the hill for the purpose of arguing the
case before the real Judge, the real
! prosecutor. He tried to share with Eric
the belief that Mr.. Blagden would re-
fuse to prosecute. But he was not yet
able to view Horace B~lagden in the
aspect OF humility that Eric described.
he had known The great man OF Cor
NTH all his life. He was not so sure
that he could change his spots.
As a matter OF fact, neither MI.
Blagden nor his wife left the room dur
ing the remainder of that awful Sab
bath, nor did they appear for break
fast the next morning. Eric and Mary
/ had sat up half the night. waiting in
suspense an dread for the library door
to open to admit b gaunt figure of
their uncle AS friend or foe 1t mat
tered little toward the end of their Wig
IL, SO eager were they TO have the or
| deal over with. They could hear the
tread of footsteps overhead, and the
occasional mnrmur OF voices through
light in the room was extinguished and
the two who waited stole off to bed,
q verdict hanging over
them
Tneg silent not Long after the clock
Elrnek @nQI the Old clock in the hall.
2 1ae rev IN the court house
Gorne-thsS hearu a door open stealth
~ aIu men the SON shuttle OF feet
"a ZEE haANay BOARD In the floor
erased near Erses door He lii not
move: put ne pic perspiration crept
OUT al over MS body
someone $1,000 outside \ door,
assseIalng. SHARP ears might have heard
1he oea.snE OF the heart that drunmed
nl-a,.aS the snostiy
creams OF the board again. and the
snntfiing 81 those stealthy feet A dis
49,. nninsa soltly ana a lock
ao1s iHsn 1ls mouse was Still once
-
~. "a uL oeu q opened
$50 a rre r. Vas 10 hsht In the
I az scwn Ine naI.
ahu Mfy pIsahLasseu togetner:
m.aI more tnsstinso tnan had
FER ossn IN y hef NE, informed them
nna. me master ano Mrs. Biagden
"ouu nave .heir eoiiee upstairs
Eric a hurried off Immediately
after that dismal meal. He was bare
~ out OF sight beyond the hedge at the
bottom of the yard. when Horace came
down the stairs, meeting Mary In the
hall.
Where has Eric one Z" he demand
ed, visibly agitated. His manner was
SO strange that the girl involuntarily
drew back against the stair rail.
"He-he has" she stammered.
Speak! Where has he gone?' in
| terrupted her uncle sharnlv
"He has gone to the-the court house.
Uncle Horace, to give himself-"
He did not walt for her to COM
plete the sentence, but turned and as
cended the stairs with unusual swirt-
1 nGSHs "A Few nfnItaa lGfaY. hn Nd ~ a