The Detroit times., 1916-07-15
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A TRIAL OF SOULS.

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Mason, ell at once breaking into a
spasm OF hysterta. and sprinsing up
from the witness chair. 1T is true!
can't lie to the Almighty. Rose
was eighteen last month. And-ani
she isn't my child at all. We had
been married seven years. Hiram
and I. We had no children. He
longed for child. And we were
drawing apart, because we had none.
He was getting tired of me.
thought | could hold his love II we
had q child. While he was In Eu-
rope I went to the Founding asylum
At Butler, and--adopted Rose. She
was so little and puny. that I could
tell him she was three months
Younger than she really was, And ]
wrote II that way in our Bible. She
wasn't my baby at all. don't
know whose she was. Her mother
died at the hospital when she was
born. She WAS a stranger In the
town. They gave me the records Of
Roses birth at the asylum and"
She sank back In her chair. cry
Ing and writhing In helpless aban-
donment
| Amid The uproar which the
judges gavel failed to check, Tom
Fletcher for the fret time let his
eyes rest on Roses. To the horrt.
fed girl bis look of stark amaze was
one OF disgust. She covered before
II and pressed her hands over eyes.
Let him take her." snsried Ma
sons sirident voice. above the din.
"A founding brat is fit wife for a
son Of Stephen Fletcher"
"Fit for my SOM" shouted fetch
er. In n eush OF contempt. I'VE don't
marry nameless fourdlings. we
Fletchers. I'll have the marriage
annulled and"
Order" screeched the clerk.
while the gavel pounded splinters
from the desk.
Rose waited TO hear no more.
With the gasping moan OF a hurt
animal, she ran from the room.
Tom. getting a glimpse OF her
face. sprang after her. But the at
! tendant thrust him back.
Wait till you're formally dis
charged. youngster!" growled a po-
liceman. They'll turn you loose
plenty soon. now"
Out into the street rushed the ter.
rifed girl. In her ears rang the
bitter insults Of Mason and Fletcher.
Stamped deep into her tortured
memory was the supposed disgust
she had read in Toms eyes.
She was nameless. outcast. loath.
] ed! And the burden WAS greater
than she could bear.
On she ran without definite sim or
! purpose. knowing only that a curse
had fallen upon her ami that her
loved ones had thrust her from
them.
Presently she came TO q halt She
had strsyed 70 the very brink of the
lake. at The towns edge. Before her.
rippled the blue waters. And be-
meath those waters lay-forgetful-
ness and peace.
The horror-spasm was smoothed
from the white young face. The
agony no longer racker her torment
ed soul. Here was refuge from
everything.
Slowly. but as calmly and joyous
ly as a maid TO her bridal, she step
ped forth into the sparkingly invit-
ing ripples.
The water caressingly Tapped her
tired feet. Now 1t encircled the
slender waist. and now II had risen
TO the white young throat.
Onward she went. bravely. eagerly.
And the plying waves closed above
her.
While the doom OF the young bride
| troubled the consciences Of those en-.
acting various roles In the tragedy.
the greater question was left unan-
swered--the question OF Who's
Guilty?"
END OF Tenth Story