The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-06-09

back Of the palms james came to hunt
for Mary. and she didn't want him to
see she had been crying, so she went
out ana Mr. Langdon stood waiting tor
James. He told my brother that Mary
was very unhappy in her engagement,
but felt that she was in honor botnd
togo through with it. and ne urged
James to set her free.
What did your brother say"
We'll. he was-very angry, she an
swered. derTeratingly. "I-l-know he
thought it was just interference. and
he said. i suppose YOU want her set
free so YOU can marry her. And Mr.
Langdon said. 1 want her set free be
cause she doesn't love you and Is
breaking her heart over her promise
to marry YOU What is that TO you:
asked james. Do you think she is Ill
love with you?' And Mr.. Langdon
said -angrily. i know she is. but that
has nothing to do with the matter
Can't YOU be decent for once anI sci
a girl free when she doesn't want to
marry you?' That made James even
more furious. and be fairly shouted,
Mary will learn to love me fast enough.
once we're married. and | shall never
set her free. She has promised ana
I'm going to see that she keeps that
promise. Besides. do you think ~
going to let everybody say she Jllted
me. after we've announced our engage
ment this way? should say not
Did Mr.. Langdon reply:
NO. He just turned round with a
shrug and walked away. and came
out and joined my brother
Did he ask if you had overheard!
Yes
Did you tell him Of the conversation
between Miss Page and Mr.. Langdon?'
Yes. felt that he ought to know
You-you see. he was my brother, even
though Mary was my friend"
did your brother make any com
ment?"
NO he Just flushed up a little; then
he laughed and said they'd have to get
over it, and he was going to marry
Mary anyway.
Did Mr.. Langdon ever make any
other plea to your brother. or see Miss
Page again?"
Not then, but Mr.. Brandon told
me-"
"Your Honor!'' broke in Langdon.
leaping to his feet. II object!
1.-The court will sustain that objec.
ton" said the Judge. promptly. Miss
Pollock. you must not repeat what you
have simply heard from others, only
what you saw and heard yourself"
May it please the court cried the
prosecutor. quickly, Il shall be glad to
have all of the answer Of the witness
with the exception Of the words not
then stricken out. for what Mr.. Bran
don said he will tell the court him
self
Brandon. Langdon WINGED at the
name, and Mary. lifting her head.
turned a pair of despairing eyes upon
HIN that seemed to ask if all their
friends were to De leagued against
+ them in this fight for life and liberty.
He could object-could fight to have
the witness kept out of the stand-but
in the end he knew that he would lose
and perhaps lend added weight to the
testimony. He fancied he knew what
THAT would be. and his teeth clench-
ed in an agony of longing and rage
against the futility of that desire to
spare Mary the raking up oiE these
old memories-memories that brought
a throbbing ache to his own heart that
was only balanced by the bitter ex-
ultation Of the thought that at least
Pollock was DEAD now. And he VOW
ed to himself that Mary should soon
be free of the law as well as Of James;
but he did not face the feeting thought
Of the price that might have to be paid
for that freedom of Mary Page.
AS for Mary herself, after that one
heeting glance at Langdon she dropped
again like flower cut off from rain
and sunlight and air.
She would not look at Brandon when
he took the stand. though his eyes as
he glanced from her to Langdon We're
full Of mute appeal as if he wanted
somehow to explain that it was not
by choice that he stood there; and
there was an aggressive, almost a
hostile note in his voice, as he an