Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-04-22
CHAPTER Xl-Continued.

Madam, we have said our say on
this subject. If you have come to see
the matter as I see it, can but con-
graduate you upon your good sense,
and express the hope that 1t will con-
tinue to prevail Reuther is worthy
OF the best" he stopped abruptly.
Reuther is girl after my own heart"
he 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
girlish hopes. Tell her so with my
love-"
1t was plain dismissal Mrs. SEQ
vile took it as such, and quietly left
the room. AS she did so she was ap-
preached by Reuther, who handed her
a 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.
He's man in the bilI-sticking 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 Beuther'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
was a presidential year and party
sympathies ran high.
The more thoughtful spirits were in
clined to believe in the innocence of
the prisoner; but the lower elements
Of 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
seIfconsciousness 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. Scoyille, conscious that he
had not slept an hour the night be-
fore (having crept down more than
once to listen IL his step had ceased),
approached him as he prepared to
leave for the courtroom and anxiously
asked if he were quite well.
"Oh. yes, I'm WELL" 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 into
in her desire to have his last look and
fond gOod morning.
Come here, child" said he, in
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 q memory like to take with
me into the courtroom"
But when in her pure delight at his
caress 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 far 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
out another word.