Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-22

Was the nurs" or tho attending physician
ana shows every s,cn 81 terror
Continued from rr.day.)
Il object" cried the district attor.
| ncy.
Objection oycrruled.r decided tho
Judge. after moments consideration
Go on, Mr. Davenport
me district attorney took cxcen.
uon' The exception was noted. Day
/ export resumed:
Mrs Mason. YOU have testified to
| makinS "a certain entry in your family
| bip!e You We're not under oath when
YOU wrote tina; entry. You are ,u,der.
oa'h now. Do lou solcmnly swear i'm
the presence Of Almighty God. thar
rose Mason was horn on September
II don't know" WHISPERED Me-
Mason greenish white and painting
mink, madam urged Davenpor,
Win fearful earncstncss. think no.
1o'c YOU answer. When you sneak
":iue' oath IL Is not to a mere LAWYER
you are speaking. nor even to The
court hut 10 YOUR Creator-to the
creator In whom YOU must ono A.,
CIV" account Of that solemn o,,h,s
shhc'lty or violation. ] ask Won again
5. lSoS"" Der
Memo" Whispered the CHASTITY and
gasp ran through the courtroo,,
l ne district attorney lurched to his
:.et, but sat down again.
inc records-on June l. 1895"
u !moied the witness
Gentlemen OF the jury" proclaimed
.'Eehpoft, MS voice ringing with glad
excitement You have seen tho MAJ
rage record. It is dated June .. 1916
~ me time Of her marriage Rose
Mason was eighteen wears and ono dov
OLD She was Of Legal ago 10 marry
ne charge OF abduction falls to pieces.
Il object" bawlcd tho dumfounded
district attorney. The witness has
become confused and"
It's true. It's true" went Mrs
Mason all At once breaking into
SpaSm Of hysteria, and springinr up
from inc witness chair. 1T is true.
] can, lie 20 the Almighty. Rose was
eighteen las; month. Nnd-nmd sSc
ism, my child at all! We had been
married seven Years Hiram and I
We mad no children lie !ongcd for
child And We were drawing apart.
because We had none. He was get
,!MG tired OF me. thought | could
mold his love II We had a child While
he was in Europe I went 10 tho foun-
ding asylum at Rultcr. and-adoptcd
Rose. Sh" was so little and punl that
could tell him she was three months
younger than she really was And
wrote IL that way In our Bible She
Wasn't my baby at all don't know
whose she was. Her mother died a.
the hospital when she was horn Sh.
WAS stranger in the town. They gave
mo tho records Of Roses birth at tho
asylum and
She sank back in nor chair. cry
ING and writing in helpless ahan-
comment
t'ufi he ;,h
Gavcl failed 10 check. Tom Fletcher
for the first time let his eyes res, on
Roses TO the Mortified girl his look
OF stark amaze was one Of disgust
she covered before it and pressed her
hands over her eyes.
Let him take her" snarled Ma
sons stridcnt voice. above the dir.
! founding brat is fit wife for a son
ri stephen Fletcher"
Fit for my SOM" shouted Flcch-
or in a gush of contempt "Wc don't
marry nameless foundlinGs. we Fetch
crs' r.! have the marriage annulled
and
order" screechcd the clerk. while
tn" gavcl pounded splintcrs from the
Rose waited to hear no more with
The rasping moan of a hurt animal.
she ran from the room.
Tom, getting q glimpse Of her face.
spranS after her. But the attendant
thrust him back.
cd, youngster:" Erow!cd a policeman.
They'll turn you loose plenty soon.
now"
out into tho street rushed tho ter
rincd girl. In her ears rang the bit
Ter insults OF Mason and Fletcher.
Stamped deep into her tortured mem
"ry was the supposed disgust she had
read in TOMS eyes
She was namcIcss. outcaYt loathcd,
And the burden was greater Than she
could bear.
On she ran withou, definite aim or
purpose, knowing only tina: 4 curse
mad fallen upon her and mat her
loved ones had thrust her from them.
Presently she came 10 q halt She
had strayed TO the very brink of the
lake. at the towns edge. BEFORE her.
r!pplcd the blue waters. And hcnca,h
thos" waters lay-forge,fulncss and
peace.
The horror-spasm was smoothcd
from the white young face. The agony
no Longer raeked her tormcnted soul
Here was refuge from everything
slowly, but az calmly and ioyously
as "a maid TO her bridal. shc stepped
forth into the sparklingly inviting rip
pies.
The water carcssinglv Tapped her
tired feet Now it cncirClcd the slcn
uer waist. and now II had risen to the
white young throat.
Onward she went. bravely. eagerly.
And tho plying waves closed above
her.
While the doom OF the young bride
troubled the conscienccs Of those en-
acting various roles in the tragedy
the greater question was left unan-
swered-the question. Who's Guilty.
tEnd of Tenth Story.)
Novelty I'm rnsoJs