Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1915-02-06

what are you after! why are you
raking up these bygones, which only
make the present condition Of affairs
darker and more hopeless? Oliver
Ostrander, under no circumstances
and by means OF no sophistries, can
ever marry the daughter of John SEQ
vile. | should think you would see
that for yourself"
"But If John should be proved to
have suffered wrongfully? If he should
be shown to have been inuocent?"
His rebuke was quick, instant. With
a force and earnestness which recalled
the courtroom he replied;
Madam, your hopes and wishes
have misled you. Your husband was
a guilty man; as guilty a man as any
judge ever passed sentence upon"
But he swore the day l last WIS.,
tied 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. l did not believe him then;
there were too many dark spots in my
memory of old lies premeditated and
destructive of my happiness; but I
believed him later, and l believe him
now"
Madam, this is quite improbable.
A jury of his peers condemned him as
guilty and the law compelled me to
pass sentence upon him. The inev-
table must be accepted. have said
my last word"
But not heard mine," she painted.
For me to acknowledge the inevitable
where my daughters life and happi-
ness are concerned would make me
seem a coward in my own eyes. Helped
or unhelped, with the sympathy or
without the sympathy of one who l
hoped would show himself my friend, l
shall proceed with the task to which
| l have dedicated myself. You will
forgive me, judge. You see that Johns
last declaration of innocence goes fur
Their 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:
81 fail to understand you, MRS.
will call you Mrs. Averill You speak
of task. What task?"
THE only one have a heart for
the proving that Reuther is not the
child of willful murderer; that an
other man did the deed for which he
suffered. l can do it. l feel confident
that can do it; and if you will not
help me-"
Help you! After what l have said
and reiterated that he is guilty, guilty,
guilty?"
Advancing upon her with each repe-
ton Of the word, he lowered before
her, an imposing, almost formidable
figure. She faced again his anger,
which might we'll be righteous, and
with almost preternatural insight bold
ly declared:
"You are too vehement to quite con-
vince me, Judge Ostrander. Acknowi-
edge it or not, there is more doubt
than certainty in your mind; a doubt
which ultimately will lead you to help
me. Then my way should broaden
a way, at the end of which l see a
united couple-my daughter and your
! son. oh, she is worthy of him." the
woman broke forth, as he made an
other repellent and imperative GEES
ture, TASK anyone in the town where
we have lived"
Abruptly and without apology for
his rudeness, Judge Ostrander turned
his back, then with quick whirl about
which brought him face to face with
her once more, he impetuously asked:
Madam, you were in my house this
morning. You came in through the
gate which Bella had left unlocked
Will you explain how you came to do
this? Did you know that he was going
down street, leaving the way open be.
hind him? Was there collision be-
tween your"
Her eyes looked clearly into his
She felt that she had nothing to dis
guise or conceal.
Il had urged him to do this, Judge
Ostrander. had met him more than
once in the street when he went out
to do your errands, and l used all my
persuasion to induce him to give me
this one opportunity of pleading my
cause with you. He was your devoted
servant he showed it in his death, but
he never got over his affection for
Oliver. l had listened to what folks
said. ! had heard that you would receive
nobody; talk to nobody. Bella was my
only resource"
He was scrutinizing her keenly, and
for the first time understandingly
Whatever her station, past or present
she was certainly no ordinary woman