The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-07-13

WlQG pool or mellow llSnt over
the scattered papers on the ia
= BILE and brought out boyish
glints in Langdon's dark head as it lay
on his folded arms, sunk in ineffable
weariness
All through the long hours Of the
mig ht he had kept his lonely vigil-now
porting over the legal documents on the
table, now pacing the floor in frenzy
of anxiety, or making his way down
the echoing corridors to look in with
mute suffering at the room where DR..
Foster and Nurse Walton watched so
silently beside a moaning, twitching
figure on narrow prison bed. But
when the scanty furniture of the office
was gradually emerging from the en-
veloping cloak Of night into visible ug-
liness he had at last sunk into doze
of complete exhaustion. Miss Walton,
coming to the door. an eager message
Oh her lips, turned silently and plying
~ away. Some betraying sound reach
ed him, however. and he lifted his head
with start, blinking to find the lamp
light paling before the gray OF morn
ing.
Yawning, he got to his feet and
crossed to the window He flung it
wide and drew in great breaths of the
chill air.
For the first time since Mary's at
tack Of madness in the courtroom he
realized fully how tremendous an as
set the tragedy was to the defense, and
In spite Of his grief. az lover, over
her suffering. the lawyer in him ex-
ulted in the episode which cemented
Into place the cornerstone Of his case.
The thought of this lent hint of
buoyancy to his tired body as he made
another trip to the cell where, at Dr.
Fosters orders. they had carried Mary,
still screaming with my
Mary herself was sleeping soundly
when he glanced into the cell. and DR.
Foster was on his feet. frankly stretch
ing. while Miss Walton was bathing her
tired eyes at the basin in the corner.
Both greeted him with a smile, and.
answering the question in his eyes
rather than the one he huskily whis-
pered with his lips, DIR. Poster said:
"She will be all right now She
woke. conscious. just after your last
visit and Is now sleeping soundly.
There's nothing to worry about-at
least. not just at present"
"Thank God"' Langdon's voice broke
on the words. and DR.. Foster put out
his hand and patted the shoulder Of
the younger man reassuringly. saying: 3.
1--WE all say that. but you'd better go
get some rest now: you look done up"
"Oh, I'm all right" said Langdon
But. Doctor. is she-is it going to be
possible to go on with this trial? Can
Mary bear it?'
II think So" The answer came slow
~. "Of course yesterdays scene was
bad. very bad. But you must realize
that the attack, while it was plainly
due to the whiskey thrust upon her.
was only to some extent brought about
by the fact that the liquor was hand
ed her at time when she was hys-
terical and had been re -enacting events
that kept her earlier experiences con-
stantly in her mind. Given healthy
surroundings and happiness. wouldn't
worry about attacks in the future"
LanSuon nOuued aOSently. Tor his
heart was echoing the earlier words of
the great alienist: Given healthy sur
rOundings and happiness | wouldn't
worry about attacks i'll the future"
and he was vowing to himself that.
cost what it might, he would yet win
freedom and happiness for her
He had not dared hope that she |
would be well enough for the trial to
continue for some days at least. but |
when she woke few hours later she |
vowed she was perfectly able to go |
INTO court even then. And SO, no more |
than an hour late. the proceedings |
were continued.
That hour had seemed a very short
time to Mary and to LangGon, but /:
was a very long one TO the excited
spectators who crowded the rooms to
the doors, whispering excited reminis-
cences OF the day before