Charlevoix county herald., 1916-12-22

Max Did Not Turn His Head.
whelming odds and never yielded a
single step without fierce opposition.
Yet the trials result was a fore
gone conclusion.
On the very last day of the trial,
Mrs Travis created a painful scene by
rushing into court and throwing her
arms around June, weepingly declar-
ing herself a wicked old woman for
having turned her back on the girl,
and vowing that never again would
she forsake her.
Mrs. Travis cher family pride and
resentment swept away by sudden
impulse of love toward the stricken
girl she had abandoned) held June
close pressed to her heart and cried
out sobbingly to the Judge:
"She is mine! She is my own little
girl! And you shan't send her to
prison!"
The jury was out less than half an
hour and returned grimly to the box
with the unanimous verdict OF
"GUlLTYl"
June did not finch as she heard the
word; the most terrible word in all
our language. The same strange light
that had come into her face on the
night when she had refused to es--
cape, still glowed there. Calm, un-
afraid, she listened to the verdict.
With the same calmness, she rose
and stood facing the Judge, to receive
her sentence.
The Judge was an old man. He had
known June from babyhood. He had
been a close friend of Mrs. Travis
husband, in the early days; and was
still constant visitor at the Travis
home. June pitied him for the grim
task that was now his.
Prisoner at the bar" said the
judge, his deep voice untinged by any
emotion. "a jury Of your peers has
found you guilty on every count of
the various indictments against you.
1t is a just verdict. In view of the
evidence, 1t was the only verdict the
jury could honestly have agreed upon.
My own duty Is equally clear" he
went on. The law, through it's admin
istrators, must protect the public. BY
virtue OF my office, it is my preroga-
tive to decide to what extent you are
a menace to the public; and to act ac-
cordingly. While there can be no
reasonable doubt that you committed
the crimes wherewith you were
charged, yet 1t has also been estab-
lished-to the courts satisfaction, at
least-that those crimes were COM
mitted under the stress Of a certain
psychic influence. The court Is also
convinced that that evil influence no
longer exists. 1t is the courts belief
that the influence will not return, and
that you will thus be no longer a men,
ace to society.
Therefore, hereby release you, on
parole-in the custody of Mrs. Travis.
l."
The remainder of his speech was
drowned in tumult of applause that
the court made no imperative effort
to check.
year dragged Dy. A long, Dltter
year to Max Lamar, who had found
himself unable to shake June's re-
solve, and who, to keep his promise,
had forced himself to remain at a dis
lance from her.
One early spring day he sat In his
private office, listlessly going over
some papers in a case he was prepar-
ing. The warmth and beauty Of the
day called to him, through ne open
window. But he>gave It no heed and
worked on, with heavy heart.
The Office door opened, slowly, as IL
pushed by timid fingers. Max did not
turn his head.
Suddenly, two soft hands were
pressed across his eyes; and his head
was gently drawn back against wom-
ans breast. With an unbelieving cry
of utter Joy he sprang to his feet.
The next instant, June Travis was
in his arms.
Max" she faltered, when at last
he let her speak. Twelve come
as promised-to tell you the Red
Circle is gone and that IL will never
come back. And-and to ask you IL
youd--if you'd care to replace IT.
with another circle? A gold one, this
time, dear-with-with a diamond In
I'll"