The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-04-23
CHAPTER IV-Continued.

But she would not be denied. She
thrust 1t upon him and once his eyes
had fallen up il, they clung 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. If 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
2anionship before you, while | have
nothing. And now let us end this in
serview, 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-I 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;
I am not unconscious of presumption.
! am only in earnest. in deadly ear
nest. A miracle is possible. THE gulf
between these two may yet be
spanned. see a way"
What change was this to which she
bad suddenly become witness? The
face which had not lost all it's underly-
ing benignancy even when it looked
its coldest, had now become settled
and hard. His manner was absolutely
repellent as he broke in with the quick
disclaimer:
But there is no way. What mir.
Acle could ever make your daughter.
lovely as she undoubtedly is, fitting
match for my son! None, madam, alb
solutely none Such an alliance would
he monstrous; unnatural"
"Why?" The word came out boldly.
Because her father died the death
OF a criminal?"
The answer was equally blunt.
Yes; a criminal over whose trial
ais father presided as Judge"
Quick as a fash, however, came the
retort
"A judge, however, who showed him
every consideration possible. | was
told at the time and have been as
sured by many since that you were
more than just to him in your rulings.
Judge Ostrander"-he had taken a
step toward the hall door; but he
paused at this utterance of his name-
answer me this one question. Why
did you do this? You must have hated
nim deeply-your feeling for Mr. Eth
eridge was well known. Then why
such magnanimity toward the man
who stood on trial for killing him."
Unaccustomed to be questioned,
though living in an atmosphere of con.
tinual yes and no. he stared at the
veiled features Of one who so dared. as
if he found it hard to excuse such pre-
sumption. But he 3nsfered her new
ertheless. and with decided emphasis:
Possibly because his victim was
my friend and lifelong companion. A
Judge fears his own prejudices."
Possibly; but you had another rea.
son, Judge; a reason which justified
you in your own eyes at the time and
which justifles you in mine now and
elways Am ! not right? This is no
courtroom; the case is one of the past; !;
n can never be reopened; the pris-
oner is dead. Answer me. then, as one
borrowing mortal replies TO another.
hadn't you another reason?"
The Judge, panoplied though he was
sr thought he was, against all conceiv.
sble attack, WINGED at this repetition
OF a question he had hoped to ignore
and I'm his anxiety to hide this involun-
tary betrayal of weakness allowed his
anger to have full vent. as he cried out
IN no measured terms:
What is the meaning Of ell this?
What are you after? Why are you
raking up these bygones. which only
make the present condition of affairs
darker and more hopeless? Oliver
Ostrander under no circumstances
and by means OF no sophistries. can
ever marry the daughter OF John SEQ
vile. should think you Xould see
that for yourself"
But II John should be proved to
have suffered wrongfully? If he should
be shown TO have been innocent?"
His rebuke was quick instant. With
\ force and earnestness which recalled
Me courtroom he replied: