The state herald., 1916-01-14

ISOLATED with this crime. Had ne been
guilty-had our separation come
through his crime and not through
my own. I should have been prepared
for such contingency, and not over
whelmed by It,"
And were you not prepared?"
mo, before &c IL
The gesture accompanying this oath
was q grand one, convincing in its
fervor. Its majesty and power.
But facts are stubborn things. and
while most Of those present were still
thrilling under the effect OF this oath.
the dry voice of District Attorney An
drews was heard for the first time. In
these words:
Why. then, did you, on the night OF
Bela's death. stop on your way across
the bridge to look back upon Dark
Hollow and cry in the bitterest tones
which escape human lips. oliver! OIL
ver! You were heard to speak
this name. Judge ostrander," he
hastily put It. as the miserable father
raised his hand In ineffctual protest.
"A man was lurking In the darkness
behind you. who both saw and heard
you. He may not be the most pre-
possessing Of witness, but we cannot
dlscredlt his etory."
"Mr. Andrews. you have no children.
To the man who has. make my last
appeal Mr.. Renfrew. you know the
human heart both I'll father and q
pastor. Do you find anything unnatural
in guilty soul bemoaning its loss
rather than Its sin. in the spot which
recalled both to his overburdened
spirit?"
mo"
The word came sharply. and 1t
sounded decisive: but the ones which
followed from Mr. Andrews were no
less So
That is not enough. We want evi.
dence, actual evidence. that you are
not playing the part your son ascribes
to you"
The judges eyes glared. then sud.
denly and incomprehensively softened
till the quick fear that his mind as well
as his memory had gone astray. van.
ished in feeling none of them could
have characterized. but which gave to
them all an expression Of awe.
Il have such evidence" announced
the Judge. Come"
Turning. he stepped into the hall.
Oliver. with bended head and a dis
couraged mien. quickly followed.
Alanson Black and the others. cast
ing startled and inquiring looks at
each other. brought up the rear. Deb
orah Scoville was nowhere to be seen.
At the door of his own room. the
judge paused. and with his hand on
the curtain. remarked with unexpected
composure: You have all wondered.
and others with you. why for the last
ten years have kept the gates Of my
house shut against every conner.
am going to show you.
And with no further word or look.
scarcely even giving attention to OIL.
ver's anguished presence. he led them
into the study and from there on to
that inner door known and talked Of
through the town us tho door OF mys.
terry. This he slowly opened with the
key he took from his pocket: then.
pausing with the knob In his hand. he
said:
In the years which are past. but
two persons beside myself have
crossed this threshold. and these only
under my eye. Its secret was for my
own breast. Judge what my remorse
has been; Judge the power Of my own
secret self-condemnation. by what you
see here"
And, entering. he reached up. and
pulled aside the carpet he had strung
up over one end OF the room. disclosing
amid number OF ioosened boards. the
barred cell Of condemned convict
This was my bed. gentlemen. TIL
. stranger coming into my home. made
such an acknowledgment Of my sin I'm.
possiblel"