Middletown transcript., 1915-05-08

ulu OI cOuHQ6uCe. Dul ne gave no
proof of this in voice or manner, as
pacing the floor in alternate approach
and retreat, he finally addressed the
mOtionless figure he could no longer
ignore.
you want to know what has hap
pened here? II you mean lately.
shall have to explain that anything
which has lately occurred to distress
your father or make your presence
here desirable has Ns 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 infiicts. even II
one is a lawyer.
THAT was twelve years ago. Not
so long q time as has elapsed since
you met q waif of the streets and
chastised him for some petty annoy
ance. But both events, the great and
the little, have been we'll remembered
here in Shelby; and when Mrs. SEQ
vile came amongst US q 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
ceived as a 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 BRIGGS 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 assailed is Judge Ostran-
der. Have / said enough? If so, raise
your hand and / 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 a voice was
heard from where he sat, saying:
tTXnu ora ton DO moi
want generalities but the naked truth.
What did the men shout?"
You have asked for a fact, and that
I feel free to give you. They shouted
Where is Oliver, your guilty son. OH.
yer? You saved him at q poor mans
expense, but well have him yet You
asked me for the words, Mr. Ostran.
der"
YES" The pause was long, but the
yes" 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? II
you are my friend-and you have
shown yourself to be such--you will
tell me the whole story. l shall say
nothing more"
Mr.. Black was not walking now; he
was standing stock-still and in the
shadow also. And with this space and
the double shadow between them. Alan.
son Black told Oliver Ostrander why
the people had shouted: I'VE will have
him yet"
When he had quite finished, he came
into the light.
When he had quite finished he came
into the light. He did not look in the
direction he had avoided from the
first, but his voice had a different
note as he remarked:
II am your fathers friend, and I
have promised to be yours. You may
expect me here in the morning, as
am one Of the few persons your father
has asked to be present at your first
interview. If after this interview you
wish anything more from me you have
only to signify it. am blunt, but not
unfeeling, Mr.. Ostrander."
A slight lift of the hand, visible now
in the shadow. and with a SILENT bow
he left the room.
In the passage-way he met Deborah.
Leave him to himself" said he.
Later, perhaps, you can do something
for him."
But she found this quite impossible
Oliver would neither eat nor sleep,
When the early morning light came,
he was sitting there still.
Ten o'clock! and one Of the five
listed to be present had arrived-tho
rector Of the church which the Or.
tranders had formerly attended.
He was ushered into the parlor by
Deborah, where he found himself re-
ceived not by the judge in whose name
he had been invited, but by Mr.. Black,
the lawyer, who rendered him a simple
good morning and pointed out a chair.
There was another person in the
room-a young man who stood in one
of the windows, gazing abstractedly
out at the line of gloomy fence rising
between him and the street. He had
not turned at the rector's approach,
and the latter had failed to recognize
him.