The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-01-29
DODD TENp q COMPANY

a guilty man; as guilty a man as any
Judge ever passed sentence upon"
But he swore the day I 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;
tnere were too many dark spots in my
memory of old lies premeditated and
destructive of my happiness; but I
believed him later. and 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-
liable 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
hoped would show himself my friend,
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 1t Is by the full weight of the law"
Gazing at her as at one gone sud.
denly demented. he said:
Il fail to understand you, MRS.
will call you Mrs. Averill. You speak
of task. What task?'
THE only one / have heart for
the proving that Reuther Is not the
child Of willful murderer; that an.
other man did the deed for which he
suffered. can do 1t. feel confident
that can do It; and II you will not
help me-"
Help you! After what 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 well be righteous, and
with almost preternatural insight bold.
ly declared:
"You are too vehement to quite con-
vince me. Judge Ostrander. Acknowl-
edge it OF 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
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 ges-
ture, TASK anyone In the town where
we have lived"
Abruptly and without apology for
his rudeness, Judge Ostrander turned
his back. then with a 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.
VIII 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 you?"
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 I 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 1t in his death. but
he never got over his affection for
Oliver. ] 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 understandable.
Whatever her station. past or present,
she was certainly no ordinary woman,
nor was her face without beauty. lit
as it was by passion and every ardor
of which a loving woman Is capable.
No man would be likely to resist II un.
less his armor were thrice forged.
Would he himself be able to? He be-
gan to experience cold fear-a dread
which drew black veil over the fu-
ture; a blacker veil than that which
had hitherto rested upon it.
But his face showed nothing. He
proceeded. with piercing intensity
not to be withstood:
When you entered my house this
morning did you come directly to my
room?'
Yes. Bella told me just how to
reach it."
And when you saw me indisposed-
unable. in fact, to greet you-what did
you do then?"
With the force and meaning OF one
49,