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

ISOLATED with this crime. Had he been
guiIty-had ou- separation come
through his crime and not through
my own. | should have been prepared
for such contingency. ard not over.
whelmed hy IT,
AID were you not prepared?"
No. before Gcii@
The gesture accompanying this oath
was a grand one. convincing in its
fervor. its najesiy and power.
But facts are stubborn things. and
while most Of those present were stilI
thrilling under the effect OF this oath.
the dry voice OF District Attorney An
drews was heard for the first time. in
these words:
Why. then. did you. on the night Of
Belas death. stop on your way across
the bridge to look back upon Dark
Hollow and CRY in the bitterest tones
which escape human lips. oliver. oil.
yer! You we're heard to speak
this mama. Judge ostrander," he
hastily put il. as the miserable father
raised his hand In ineffctual protest
a man was lurking in the darkness
behind you. who both saw and heard
you. He may not be the most pre-
possessing OF witness. but we cannot
discredit his story"
Mr.. Andrews. you have no children.
To the man who has. | make my last
appeal Mr.. Renfrew. you know the
human heart both - father and a
pastor Do you lnd anything unnatural
In guilty soul bemoaning its loss
rather than its sin. in the spot which
recalled both to his overburdened
spirit?"
NO
The word came sharply. and II
sounded decisive; but the ones which
followed from Mr.. Andrews we're no
less so.
That is not enough. We want evi.
dence. actual evidence, that you are
not playing the part your son ascribes
TO you"
The judges eyes gIared. then sud
denly and incomprehensiveiy softened
TIL the quick fear that his mind as well
as his memory had gone asfray. van
ished In feeling none OF them could
have characterized. but which gave to
them all an expression OF awe.
I have such evidence" announced
the Judge. Come"
Turning. he stepped into the hall.
oliver. with Bonded head and a dis
couraged mien. quickly followed.
Aianson Black and the others. cast
Ing startled and inquiring looks at
each other, brought up the rear. Deb |
orah Scoyille was nowhere to be seen. |
AT the door Of his own room, the !
Judge paused. and with his hand on
me curtain, remarked with unexpected |
You have all wondered, |
ana others with you, why for the last |
ZEN years have kept the gates OF my
house shut against every conner.
Am going to show you"
And with no further word or look,
scarcely even giving attention TO OIL
fer's anguished presence, he led them
INTO the study and from there on to
hat inner door known and talked OF
through the town as the door OF mys-
cry. This he slowly opened with the
Key he took from his pocket; then,
'ansing with the knob in his hand. he
aid;
In the years which are past. but
wo persons beside myself have
'rossed this threshold. and these only
lnder my eye. Its secret was for my
'wn breast Judge what my remorse
las been; Judge the power OF my own
eeret seit-eondemnation. by what you
zee here"
And. entering. he reached up, and
'ulled aside the carpet he had strung
Up over one end OF the room. disclosing
mid a number OF loosened boards, the
'arred cell OF condemned convict.
This was my bed. gentlemen. tin
stranger coming into my home, made
UGH an acknowledgment OF my sin i'm
Iossible."