The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-05-28

~ could not have been Scoyille. since
IN the short time which had passed he
could not have fled from the point
where ! heard him last into the rayine
below ostrander lane. But, II not he,
who was Ii? Or II Ii was he. and
some other hand threw his stick
across my path. whose was this hand
and why have we never heard any.
thing about it2 II Is question which
sometimes floats through my mind.
out ! did not give 1t a thought then
was within sight OF home and OH
! ver's possible presence; and all other
dread was as nothing in comparison
70 what ! felt at the prospect of meet
ing my boys eye. My boys eyel my
greatest dread then, and my greatest
dread still. In my terror of 1t walked
as to my doom.
The house, which had left empty.
found empty; Oliver had not yet re.
turned. The absolute stiffness Of the
rooms seemed appalling. Instructive
~ ] looked at the clock. 1t had
stopped. Not at the minute--I do not
say II was at the minute--but near,
very near the time when from an
innocent man became a guilty one.
Appalled, at the discovery. | fled to
the front. Opening the door, looked
out. Not creature In sight, and not
sound to be heard. The road was
as lonely and seemingly as forsaken
as the house. Had time stopped here,
too? Were the world ard Its inter
ests at pause in horror OF my deed?
For moment believed it: then more
natural sensations interviewed. and. re-
1oicing at this lack of disturbance
where disturbance meant discovery,
stepped inside again, rewound the
clock, and sat down In my own room.
My own room Was 1t mine any
longer? Its walls looked strange; the
petty objects of my daily handling,
unfamiliar. The change In myself In
fected everything saw. might have
been in another mans house for all
connection these things seemed to
have with me or my life. Like one
set apart on an unapproachable shore,
! stretched hands In vain toward all
that | had known and all that had
been OF value to me-
But as the minutes passed began
TO lose this feeling. Hope, which /
thought quite dead. slowly revived.
Nothing had happened. and perhaps
nothing would.
Men had been killed before. and the
slayer passed unrecognized. Why
might II not be so in my case? IL the
woman continued to remain silent. n
for any reason she had not witnessed
the blow or the striker. who else was |
mere to connect me with an assault |
committed quarter OF mile awayY
No one knew OF the quarrel; and If
they did, who could be SO daring as
to associate one OF my name with an
action SO brutal? A Judge Stay his
friend! It would take evidence of a
very marked character to make even
my political enemies believe that
AS the twilight deepened rose from
my seat and III the gas. must NOT
be found skulking in the dark. Then
! began to count the ticks measuring
of the hour. II thirty minutes more
passed without rush from without
might hope II twenty?--if ten?-then
II was FIVE! then IL was
Ali The gate had changed to. Thew
were coming. | could hear steps-
voices-a loud ring at the bell,
moved slowly toward the front. III
feared the betrayal which my ashy
lace and trembling hands might make.
Agitation after the news was to be II
expected, but not before! So / left
he hall dark when opened the door.
And thus decided my future.
For in the faces OF the small crowd ,
which blocked the doorway ] detected
Nothing but confederation and when
voice spoke and | heard divers ac.
sents surcharged with sothing more /
srievous than pity, ] realized that my ,
secret was as yet unshared, and, see ,
ng that no man suspected me, fore. ,
bore to declare my guilt to anyone.
This sudden restoration from sound.
ess depths into the pure air OF respect /
Ind sympathy confused me; and be. ,
'ond the words Killed. Struck down :
'y the bridget" | heard little, till /
'lowly. duly. like the call Of bell
ssuing from a smothering mist, :
taught the sound OF name. II struck !
ny ear and gradually 1t dawned upon 1
NY consciousness that another man :
lad been arrested for my crime and /
hat the safety. the reverence and the ,
that were SO dear to 3
ne had been bought at price no man /
u honor might pay. Ia
But was no longer man or honor. /
was wretched criminal swaying ,
lboSe gulf OF infamy 3. which / had
seen others swallowed but had never
ireamed OF being engulfed myself. ] Z
lever thought OF letting myself go /
1ot at this crisis-not while my heart /
vas warm with its resurgence into the {
Did life.
And so let pass this opportunity I
or confession. Afterwards II was too /
ate-or seemed too late to my demon i
Allied judgment I
MY hrst real awakening to the ex !