The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-05-21
CHATTER xvll-consInvsd.


entrances. but left II 70 Mr.. Black TO Dc
the honors and make the best OF a sit
aation. difficult. IL not inexplicable Ia
all Of them. Nor could II be seen thai
any Of these men-city officials. promi
nent citizens and old friends, recog
niEed his figure OF suspected bis
Identity Beyond q passing glance bis
way. they betrayed neither curiosity
nor Interest. being probably sufficient
y occupied Ia accounting for their
osn presence in the home OF their
once reverrd and now greatly ma.
Ngned conpeer. Judge Ostrander. at.
lacked through bis son. was about 10
say or do something which each and
eserf one Of them secretly thought
had better be left unsaid or undone.
iet none showed any disposition 10
leave the place: and when. after a
snort uneasy pause during which al
attempts AZ conversation failed. they
heard slow and weighty step ap.
preaching down the hail. the suspense
vas such that no one but Mr.. Black
noticed the quick Nhiri with which
uhter turned himself about. nor the
io0k Of mortal anguish with which he
awaited the opening OF the door and
has iaihers entrance among them. No
one noticed. ! say. until. simultaneous
y with the appearance Of judge Os-
handeF on the threshold. a loud cry
swept through the room OF Don't!
den y" and The man they had barely
noticed. dashed BY them all. and fell
e the Judges feet with smothered
repetition Of his appeal: Don't "a
Their donfi-
ihsn, each man knew why be had
been summoned there. and knowing.
Eazed earnestly al these two faces.
I@eive years Of unappeased longing.
q smoshered love. rising above doubts.
perslsiing In spite OF doubts. were con.
centraied into that one instant Of mu.
tnai recognition. The eye OF the IA.
Their vas upon that OF the son and that
OF the son upon that OF the father and
Tor them. q least In this fret instant
OF reunion. the years we're forgotten
and sin. sorrow and on-coming doom
enaced from their mutual conscious.
ness
Then the tide Of life iowed back into
the present. and the Judge. mosioninR
70 his son TO rise. observed very dis
tinetly:
/. Don't Is an ambiguous word, my
son, and on your lips, at this iuncture
may nlslead those whom have called
here to hear the truth from US and the
truth only You have heard what hap
pcned here a few days ago How
long guarded, longsuppressed suspi.
cson so guarded and so suppressed
that | had no intimation OF It's ex.
tstence even, found vent al moment
OF public Indignation. and heard you.
VOC Oliver Ostrander. accused 10 mr.
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 IRE with
which the young man rose an6 faced
them all showed him at his best. "But
surely no person present believes a. !
no one can who knows you and the
principles 10 which have been raised
This fello9 whom ! beat as boy has
waited long 10 start this damnable re- |
port Surely he win get no bearing
from unpreludiced and intelligent
men
The police have listened to him /
Mr. Andrews. who Is one OF the gen. 4
tiemen present. has heard hts story
and you see that he stands here silent.
my son aud that Is not all Mrs
scoville. who has loved you Ike a
mother. longs TO believe In your limo.
renoe. and cannot
A low cry from the hall.
II died away UNDECIDED
And Mr. Black. her husbands coun.
sci. continued the father. In the Arm
low tones of one who for many long
days and nights had schooled himself
Tor the duty for this hour. shares her
feeling He has tried not to: but ~
foes They have found eyideaces-you
know them. proofs which might NOT
have amounted 10 much had Il not
beer for The one misehieyous fac,
zhich has undermined public conh.
fence and given point to these attacks
refer TO the life We have led and the
barriers re have ourselves raised
against our mutual intercourse. These
lave undone US To the question, Why
hsse barriersy can find no answer
ut tie one which ends this struggle.
suecumbing myself, ] ask you to do so
Iiso Out Of the past comes a voice
he voice OF Aigernon Etheridge. de-
handing vengeance for his untimely
nd Il wilI not be gainsaid. Not sat
shed with the toll We have both paid
n these years OF suffering and repres-
ion -unmindfuI Of the hermits life I
iaFc led and OF the heart disapDoint.
0ents you have borne. its cry for pun.
shfoent remains ihsistent GentIeme..
-hnxh. Oliver. Il is for me 70 cry
Don't eOS- John Scoyille was
flf5~r man raurdarar an a fhfaf | .