The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-03-02
CHAPTER xVll-Continued.

aeither turned nor moved at any ones
entrance. but left it to MIR. Black to do
the honors and make the best OF sit.
uation, difficult. If not inexpicabIe to
all Of them. Nor could it be seen that
any OF these men-city officials. promi-
nent citizens and old friends. recog-
niZed his figure or suspected his
identity. Beyond passing glance his
way, they betrayed neither curiosity
nor interest. being probably sufficient
ly occupied In accounting for their
own presence in the home OF their
once revered and now greatly ma
ligned compeer. Judge Ostrander, at.
tackled through his son, was about to
say or do something which each and
every one OF them secretly thought
had better be left unsaid or undone.
yet none showed any disposition to
leave the place; and when. after a
short, uneasy pause during which all
attempts at conversation failed, they
heard slow and weighty step ap.
preaching down the hall. the suspense
was such that no one but Mr.. Black
hoticed the quick whirl with which
olver turned himself about. nor the
LOOK or mortal anguish with which he
awaited the opening Of the door and
MS fathers entrance among them. No
one noticed. say. until, simultaneous.
~ with the appearance Of Judge Os.
'rahder on the threshold, loud cry
swept through the room OF Don't!
aont!" and the man they had barely
noticed, flashed by them all, and fell
az me judges feet with smothered
repetition OF his appeal: Don't. fa.
fher, DON'T"
lhen, each mar knew why he had
'oeen summoned there. and knowing,
'eazed earnestly at these two faces
l"elVe years OF unappeased longing,
VI smothered love. rising above doubts.
perslsting In spite OF doubts, we're con.
cehtrated into that ono instant OF mu.
lua' recognition Dhc eye of the fa.
sher was upon that of the son and that
oi 1he son upon that Of the father and
ior them, ct least in this first instant
OF reunion. the years were forgotten
ana sin, sorrow and on-coming doom
efaced from their mutual conscious
ness.
lhen the tide Of life flowed back into
the present. and the judge, motionlne
20 MS son to rise. observed very dis
tinctly:
Don't ts an ambiguous word, my
'son, and on your lips. Mt this juncture
may mis>ead those whom have called
here to hear the truth from us end the
truth only. You have heard what hap
pened here a few days ago. How a
iong-guarded, iong.suppressed suspi.
cion--so guarded and so suppressed
tha! ! had no intimation of its ex.
istence eyen, found vent at moment
Of public indignation. and heard you,
youS oliver Ostrander, accused TO my
face Of having in some boyish fit OF
rage struck down the man for whose
death another has long since paid the
penalty. This you have already been
told"
Yes" The word cut sharply
through the silence: but the fire with
which the young man rose and faced
them all showed him at his best. but
surely. no person present believes it.
No one can who knows you and the
principles In which have been raised.
This fellow whom beat as a boy has
waited long to start this damnable re.
port, Surely he will get no hearing
from unprejudiced and intelligent
men"
! THE police have listened to him
Mr.. Andrews, who Is one OF the gen.
tlemen present, has heard his story
and you see that he stands here silent,
my son, And that Is not all. Mrs.
Scoville. who has loved you like n
mother. longs to believe In your limo.
>cence. and cannot"
A low cry from the hall
1t died away unhecdcd.
''And Mr.. Black, her husband's coun.
rsel," continued the father. in the firm.
low tones OF one who for many long
days and nights had schooled himself
Tor the duty for this hour. shares her
feeling. He has tried not to; but he
does. They have found evidences-you
know them; proofs which might not
have amounted to much had 1t no,
been for the one mischievous fact
which has undermined public conf
4dence and given point to these attacks
y / refer to the life we have led and tn,
barriers we have ourselves raised
against our mutual intercourse. Thes,
have undone us. To the question, 'Wh,
4 these barriers? ! can find no answe
\ hut the one which ends this struggle
4 Succumbing myself, ask you to do g
+ also, Out Of the past comes a voice
the voice of Aigernon Etheridge. dc
lnanding vengeance for his untimel
end, 1t will not be gainsaid. Not sa
ssisfled with tho toll We have both pal
I'm these years OF suffering and repres
lsion--unmindful of the hermit's life
4 have led and of the heart disapnoin