The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-10-07
CHAPTER Iv-continusd.

CHAPTER iv-continusd.
But she would not be denied. She
thrust It upon him and once his eyes
had fallen up 1t. they clung there,
though evidently against his will. All,
she knew that Reuthers exquisite
countenance would plead for itself!
God seldom grants to such beauty so
lovely spirit. II the features them.
selves failed to appeal. certainly he
must feal the charm of an expression
which had already netted SO many
hearts. Breathlessly she watched him
and. ~ she watched. she noted the
heavy lines carved In his face by
thought sud possibly by sorrow,
slowly relax and his eyes all with q
wistful tenderness
Parents must learn to endure bit.
terness. ! have not been exempt my.
self from euch. Your child will not
die. You have years OF mutual com.
panionship before you, while have
nothing. And now let US end this in.
terview. So painful to us both. You
have said--"
mo-" she broke In with sudden
vehemence. all the more startling from
the restraint in which she had held
herself up to this moment. 81 have
not said--I have not begun to say
what seethes like a consuming fire in
my breast. l spoke of a miracle-will
you not listen, Judge! am not wild |:
am not unconscious Of presumption.
l am oaly in earnest. in deadly ear.
nest. A miracle is possible. The gull
between these two may yet be
spanned see way"
What change was this to which she
had suddenly become witness! The
face which had not lost ali its underly
Ing benignancy even when it looked
it, coolest, 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, a fitting
match for my son! None, madam. alb.
solutely none. Such an alliance would
be monstrous; unnatural"
"Why?" The word came out BOLDLY
Because her father died the death
Of criminal?"
The answer was equally blunt.
yes; a criminal over whose trial
his father presided as Judge"
Quick as a flash, however. came the
retort.
"A Judge. however, who showed him
every consideration possible. was
told at the time and l have been as
sured by many since that you were
more than just to him in your rulings
Judge Ostrander'-he had taken q
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 hatet
him deeply-your feeling for Mr. Eth
eridge was we'll known. Then VIII,
such magnanimity toward the mar
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 tn,
yelled features Of one who go dared, a.
II he found it hard to excuse such pre
sumption. But he answered her nev
erthelees, and with decided emphasis
Possibly because his victim wa
my friend and lifelong companion.
Judge fears his own prejudices."
Possibly; but you had apother rea
son. Judge: a reason which justine,
you in your own eyes at the time an,
which justifies you in mine now an,
always. Am not right? This is n,
courtroom: the case is one of the past
It can never be reopened: the pris
oner Is dead. Answer me. then, as on
Borrowing mortal replies to another
hadn't you another reason?"
The judge, panoplied though he wa
or thought he was, against all conceiv
able attack. WINGED at this repetitiol
OF a question he had hoped to ignore
and in his anxiety to hide this involun
tary betrayal OF weakness allowed hi
anger to have full vent, as he cried ou
Ia no measured terms:
What is the meaning Of all this
What are you after? Why are yo,
raking up these bygones. which onl,
make the present condition of affair
darker and more hopeless? Olive
Ostrander. under no circumstance
and by means of no sophistries. cal
ever marry the daughter OF John SEQ
vile. should think you would SCI
that for yourself"
But If John should be proved t,
have suffered wrongfully? If he shoul,
be shown t. have been Innocent"
His rebIke was quick, instant. Witt
force and earnestness which .ecallsl
The cor rtreou he replied: