The state herald., 1916-01-14
CHAPTER xvil-contInued.

neither turned nor moved at any one
entrance. but left It to Mr.. Black to d,
the honors and make the best of a sit
uation. difficult. II not inexplicable t,
all Of them. Nor could 1t be seen tina
any Of these men-city officials. promi
nent citizens and old friends, recog
nized his figure or suspected hii
identity. Beyond passing glance hi
way, they betrayed neither curiosit,
nor interest, being probably sufficient
ly occupied in accounting for theil
own presence in the home OF theii
once revered and now greatly ma
ligned compeer. Judge Ostrander. at
tackled through his son, was about t.
say or do something which each ant
every one OF them secretly thought
had better be left unsaid or undone
Yet none showed any disposition tc
leave tho place; and when, after Q
short. uneasy pause during which al
attempts at conversation failed, they
heard a slow and weighty step ap
preaching down the hall. the suspense
was such that no one but Mr.. Black
noticed the quick whirl with which
Oliver turned himself about. nor the
look OF mortal anguish with which he
awaited the opening OF the door and
his fathers entrance among them. No
one noticed, say, until. simultaneous
ly with the appearance OF Judge Os.
trander on the threshold. a loud cry
swept through the room of Don't!
donti" and the man they had barely
noticed, flashed by them all. and fell
at the judges feet with smothered
repetition Of his appeal; Don't. IA
ther. dont!"
Then, each man knew why he had
been summoned there. and knowing.
gazed earnestly at these two faces.
Twelve years of unappeased longing,
of smothered love, rising above doubts,
persisting in spite OF doubts. were con.
centrated into that one instant OF mu.
iual recognition. The eye of the fa.
ther was upon that OF the son and that
OF the son upon that OF the father and
for them, st least in this first instant
OF reunion, the years were forgotten
and sin, sorrow and on-coming doom
effaced from their mutual conscious.
ness.
Then the tide OF life flowed back into
the present, and the Judge. motioning
TO his son to rise. observed very dis
tinctly:
Don't is an ambiguous word. my
son. and on your lips. at this juncture
may mislead those whom have called
here TO hear the truth from US and the
truth only. You have heard what hap
pened here few days ago. How 4
lonsguarded, long.suppressed suspi.
cion-so guarded and so suppressed
that had no intimatiop Of its ex.
Stence even. found vent at . moment
OF public Indignation. and I heard you.
you, 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"
: "fes." Tho word cut sharply
through the silence; but the nrs with
which the young man rose and faced
them all showed him at his best. "But
surely. no person present believes II.
No one can who knows you and the
principles In which ! have been raised.
This fellow whom beat as n boy has
waited long to start this damnnble re-
port. Surely he will get no hearing
from unprejudiced and intelligent
men"
The police have listened TO him
Mr.. Andrews. who is ono OF tho gen.
tlemen present. has heard his story
and you sec that he stands here silent
my son And that is not all. Mrs
scovills, who has loved you like q
mother. longs 10 believe In your limo
eoncs. and cannot"
4 low cry from the hall.
Il died away unhccded.
And Mr.. Black. her husbands coun
sel." continued the father. In the Arm
low tones OF one who for many Ion,
days and nights had schooied hImsel
for the duty for this hour. shares he
feeling. lie has tried not to: but h,
does. They have found cvidenccs-yo,
know them: proofs which might no
have amounted 10 much had Il no
been for the ono miEchicyous fac
which has undermined public conf
denco and given point TO these attacks
I refer 10 the life we have led and N
barriers We have ourselves raise
against our mutual intercourse. Thcs
have undone us, To the question. WI
chose barriorsg' can ind no anawc
but the one which ends this ntruggl,
succumbing myself. ask you to do .
also Out Of tho past comes voice
tho voice Of Algcrnon Ethcrldrc. d.
mandlng vengeance for his un,imel
end. II will not be Eainnaid Not M
tened with tho toll We have both pal
IN these yonrB OF suffering and repre-
slon-unmindful Of the hormit's life
have led and OF the heart diaaprNln
monta you have borne. ita cry for pui
ihhmcn, remains lnElntent Gontlcmo
-hushl Oliver. Il IL for me 10 or
Don't Dow--J John sooyillc was