The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1915-03-26
CHAPTER xl-continued.


Madam, we have said our say on
ehis subject. If you have come to see
the matter as see it, can but con-
graduate you upon your good sense.
and express the hope that it will con-
tinue to prevail. Reuther is worthy
OF the best" he stopped abruptly.
"Reuther Is girl after my own heart"
ne gently supplemented, with a glance
toward his papers lying in a bundle at
his elbow, 'and she shall not suffer
because of this disappointment to her
giriish hopes. Tell her SO with my
love"
1t was q plain dismissal. Mrs. SEQ
vile took it as such, and quietly left
the room. AS she did so she was an
preached by Reuther. who handed her
letter which had just been delivered.
It was from Mr.. Black, and read thus:
We have found the rogue and have sue
ceeded In inducing him to leave town.
Hes man in the bili-sticlzing business
and he owns to a grievance against the
person we know.
Deborah's sleep that night was with
out dreams.
-
About this time the restless pacing
Of the Judge in his study at nights
became more frequent and lasted
longer. In vain Reuther played her
most cheerful airs and sang her sweet
est songs, the monotonous tramp kept
up with a regularity nothing could
break.
He's worried by the big case now
being tried before him. Deborah
would say. when Reuther's eyes grew
wide and misty in her sympathetic
trouble. And there was no improb-
ability in the plea. for it was a case
Of much moment. and Of great local
interest. A man was on trial for his
life and the circumstances of the case
were such that the feeling called forth
was unusually bitter; so much so. in
deed. that every word uttered by the
counsel and every decision made by
\ the judge were discussed from one
end of the county to the other, and in
Shelby, If nowhere else. took prece-
dence of all other topics, though it
vas presidential year and party
sympathies ran high.
The more thoughtful spirits we're in
clined to believe In the innocence Of
the prisoner; but the lower elements
0f the town, moved by class prejudice,
were bitterly antagonistic to his cause
and loud for his conviction.
The time of Judge Ostrander's Office
was nearly up. and his future continu-
ance on the bench might very easily
depend upon his attitude at the pres
ent hearing. Yet he, without apparent
recognition of this fact, showed with.
out any hesitancy or possibly without
self-consciousness the sympathy he
felt for the man at the bar, and ruled
accordingly almost without variation.
A week passed, and the community
was all agog. in anticipation Of the
Judges charge in the case just men
toned. 1t was to be given at noon,
and Mrs. Scoville, conscious that he
had not slept an hour the night be-
fore (having crept down more than
once to listen If his step had ceased).
approached him as he prepared to
leave for the courtroom and anxiously
asked II he were quite WELL
''Oh, yes, I'm WE'LL" he responded
sharply, looking about for Reuther.
The young girl was standing little
behind him, with his gloves in her
hand--a custom she had fallen info
10 her desire to have his last look and
fond good morning.
Come here. child" said he. in a
way to make her heart beat; and.
as he took the gloves from her hand.
he stopped and kissed her on the fore
head--something he had never done
before LET me see you SMILE" said
he. -It's memory like to take with
ne into the courtroom"
But when in her pure delight at his
oareas and the fatherly feeling which
gave a tremor to his simple request.
she lifted her face with that angelic
look of hers which was far sweeter
and Tar more moving than any smile,
he turned away abruptly, as though
he had been more hurt than comfort
ed. and strobe out Of the house with
ont another word.