The midland journal., 1915-05-14

sociated with this crime. Had he been
guilty had on: separation come
through his crime and not through
my own, should have been prepared
for such q contingency, and not over
wheimed Ey it,
And were you not prepared?"
No. before Ge AZ
The gesture accompanying this oath
was a. grand one. convincing in its
fervor, its najesty and power
But facts are stubborn things. and
while most Of those present were still
thrilling under the effect Of this oath,
the dry voiceo District Attorney An.
drews was heard for the first time. in
these words:
Why, then, did you. on the night Of
Bela'S 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
vert You were heard to speak
this name, Judge Ostrander." he
hastily put it, as the miserable father
raised his hand in inefectual 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 tory
"Mr. Andrews. you have no children.
To the man who has, make my last
appeal. Mr. Renfrew, you know the
human heart both IS father and a
pastor. Do you find anything unnatural
in a guilty soul bemoaning it's loss
rather than its sin. in the spot which
recalled both to his overburdened
/ spirit?"
@No."
The word came sharply, and it
sounded decisive; but the ones which
| followed from Mr. Andrews were 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 incomprehensively softened
till the quick fear that his mind as well
as his memory had gone astray. van
ished in feeling none of them could
have characterized, but which gave to
them all an expression of awe.
Il have such evidence" announced
the Judge Come g
/ Turning. he stepped into the hall.
Oliver. with bended head and dis
couraged mien, quickly followed.
Alanson 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
the curtain. remarked with unexpected
i composure: you have all wondered,
and others with you. why for the last
ten years | have kept the gates Of my
house shut against every conner. I
am going to show you"
And with no further word or look.
j scarcely even giving attention to Oil.
! ver's anguished presence. he led them
into the study and from there on to
that inner door known and talked Of
| through the town as the door of mys-
terry This he slowly opened with the
key he took from his pocket; then.
pausing with the knob in his hand. he
said:
"In the years which are past. but
two persons beside myself have
crossed this threshold. and these only
under my eye Its secret was Tor my
own breast Judge what my remorse
= has been; Judge the power of my own
secret self-condemnation. by what you
see here"
And. entering. he reached up. and
pulled aside the carpet he had strung
up over one end OF the room. disclosing
amid number OF loosened boards, the
barred cell Of a condemned convict.
'This was my bed. gentlemen. till
a stranger coming into my home, made
such an acknowledgment of my sin i'm
possible!"