The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-08-13

mOtl0uleSS inquire ne cOuld no longer
ignore.
"You want to know what has hap
pened here? If you mean lately, |
shall have to explain that anything
which has lately occurred to distress
your father or make your presence
here desirable has its birth in events
which date back to days when this
was your home and the bond between
yourself and father the usual and nat.
ural one"
Silence in that shadowy corner! But
this the speaker had expected, and
must have exacted even if Oliver had
shown the least intention of speaking.
"a man was killed here In the old
days-pardon me if am too abrupt
and another man was executed for this
crime You were a boy-but you must
remember"
He paused One must breathe be-
tween the blows he infliCts. even If
one is lawyer.
THAT was twelve years ago Not
so long a time as has elapsed since
you met a Waif of the streets and
chastised him for some petty annoy
ance. But both events, the great and
the little, have been well remembered
here in Shelby; and when Mrs. Sco'
vile came amongst US month or SO
ago, with her late but substantial
proofs of her husbands innocence in
the matter of Etheridge's death. there
came to her aid a man, who not only
remembered the beating he had re-
ceived as child, but certain facts
which led him to denounce by name,
the party destined to bear at this late
day the onus of the crime heretofore
ascribed to Scoville. That name he
wrote on briLTes and walls; and one
day, when your father left the court.
house a mob followed him, shouting
loud words which | will not repeat, but
which you must understand were such
as must be met and answered when
the man so assaulted is Judge Ostran-
der. Have said enough? If so, raise
your hand and l will desist for to-
night"
But no movement took place In the
shadow cast by divers figure on the
wall before which Mr.. Black had
paused, and presently voice was
heard from where he sat, saying
you are too merciful | do not
want generalities but the naked truth.
What did the men shout?"
you have asked for fact, and that
feel free to give you, They shouted
Where is Oliver, your guilty son. OH
yer? You saved him at poor man
expense, but we'll have him yet You
asked me for the words. Mr.. Ostran
der"
Eyes" The pause was long, but the
Eyes" came at last. Then another 81
lence, and then this peremptory de
, mand: But we cannot stop here, Mr.
Black. If am to meet my fathers
wishes tomorrow, must know the
ground upon which stand What evi
. dence lies back of these shouts? i
you are my friend-and you have
. shown yourself to be such-you vii
tell me the whole story. | shall say
nothing more"
Mr.. Black was not walking now; ht
was standing stock-still and in thu
:, shadow also. And with this space ant
= the double shadow between them. Alan
son Black told Oliver Ostrander VIII!
the people had shouted: I'VE will hav'
. him yet"
g When he had quite finished, he CANE
!. into the light.
+ When he had quite finished he came
into the light. He did not look in tn
;. direction he had avoided from tn
first. but his voice had diffeTen
q note as he remarked:
d 81 am your fathers friend, and
:. have promised to be yours, You ma
expect me here in the morning, as
v am one of the few persons your fathe
e has asked to be present at your frs
q interview. If after this interview yo
o wish anything more from me you hav
only to signify it. am blunt, but no
unfeeling, Mr.. Ostrander."
h A slight lift of the hand, visible no.
s. In the shadow, and with a silent boz
S. he left the room.
1t In the passage-way he met Deborah
is Leave him to himself" said h
20 Later, perhaps. you can do somethin
n for him."
n But she found this quite impossible
Oliver would neither eat nor sleel
'e When the early morning light CAM
to he was sitting there still.
* 4
N Ten o'clock! and one of the fiv
n listed to be present had arrived-tt
lie rector of the church which the O
e. tranders had formerly attended.
TX He was ushered into the parlor b
Id Deborah, where he found himself r
lg ceiyed not by the Judge in whose nan
lie he had been invited, but by Mr.. Blac
IN the lawyer, who rendered him a simp
| n,,4 oh t