Williams news., 1915-05-20

| ited him in the prison, with his arms pressed tight about me and his eye looking straight into mine as you are looking now, that he never struck that blow. did not believe him then; there were too many dark spots in my memory of old lies premeditated ana destructive of my happiness; but believed him later, and I believe him now"
 Madam, this is quite unproftable. A jury of his peers condemned nlm as guilty and the law compelled me to pass sentence upon him. The neV- itable must be accepted. l have salo my last word"
 "But not heard mine," she panteo. "For me to acknowledge the lnevltaple where my daughters life and happl- 1 ness are concerned would make me seem coward in my own eyes. Helped or unhelped, with the sympathy or without the sympathy of one who hoped would show himself my friend, shall proceed with the task to which I have dedicated myself. You Will forgive me, judge. You see that Jonns last declaration of innocence goes fur- ther with me than your belief, backed as it is by the full weight of the law"
 Gazing at her as at one gone sud denly demented, he said:
 "I fail to understand you, Mrs.| will call you Mrs. Averill. You speak
 of a task What task?"
 '"The only one I have heart for
 the proving that Reuther is not the
 child of a willful murderer; that an
 other man did the deed for which he
 suffered. I can do it. I feel confident that I can do it; and if you will not help me"
 Help you! After what I have said l, 1 and reiterated that he is guilty, guilty, guilty?"
 Advancing upon her with each repe-
 tion of the word, he lowered before , her, an imposing, almost formidable , figure. She faced again his anger,
 which might well be righteous, and
 with almost preternatural insight bold Q ly declared: s,->: tsf't r. "You are too vehement to quite con d vince me. Judge Ostrander. Acknowl' d edge it or not, there is more doubt v than certainty in your mind; doubt ik which ultimately will lead you to help
 me. Then my way should broaden a way, at the end of which see 8 P united couple-my daughter and youl Q son. Oh, she is worthy of him." the !, woman broke forth, as he made an d other repellent and imperative ges
 ture, task anyone in the town where " we have lived"
 h Abruptly and without apology fo
 his rudeness, Judge Ostrander turned
 his back, then with quick whirl abou a, which brought him face to face witt
 her once more, he impetuously asked ,e Madam, you were in my house thi
 morning You came in through tn m gate which Bela had left unlocked .. Will you explain how you came to d s. this? Did you know that he was goin TO doen street, leaving the way open b. .. I hind him? Was there collision bt a tween you?" he Her eyes looked clearly into hi . She felt that she had nothing to di hy guise or conceal
 ed 'T had urged him to do this, Judg th- Ostrander. had met him more tha
 
 an to do your errands, and I used all n persuasion to induce him to give n ed. this one opportunity of pleading n on. cause with you. He was your devote he servant, he showed it in his death b. as he never got over his affection f. re- Oliver I had listened to what foll ey- said. had heard that you would recei is: nobody; talk to nobody. Bella was n VAS only resource"
 A He was scrutinizing her keenly, al
 for the first time understanding ..- Whatever her station, past or presel aod she was certainly no ordinary woma ,na nor was her face without beauty, and as it was by passion and every ard m of which a loving woman is capab ,st. No man would be likely to resist it l ris- less his armor were thrice forg ono Would he himself be able to? He her gan to experience a cold fear-a dre
 which drew black veil over the r,.s ture; a blacker veil than that wh oiv. had hitherto rested upon it. tion But his face showed nothing. ore. proceeded, with a piercing intens lun- not to be withstood: his When you entered my house out morning did you come directly to
 room?"
 his? "Yes. Bela told me just how you reach it.
 only And when you saw me 1ndlspose fairs unable, in fact. to greet you-what liver you do then?"
 noes With the force and meaning of can who takes an oath, she brought Sco- hand, palm downward on the table see fore her, as she steadily replied:
 q flew back into the room thro d to which had come, undecided whet lould to fly the house or wait for what m l,oo,o,, +o ,,o,, did mt doro fr