Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1931-06-26
CHAPTER IV-Continued

court, saying:
"William Heydon, the evidence of
grave violation of the law is conclu-
sive. You have offered no defense.
Therefore, your guilt is not in question,
although you have not as vet pleaded.
Before the court takes further action
it has decided to await the return of
material witness. Meanwhile you will
be confined in the prison house until
the court sends for you. 1 warn you
to prepare yourself to suffer the ex-
IRENE penalty of the law within a
month from this day."
Mabel Hartley was i'll in bed and
unable to stand on her feet.
Severe as were the words of the
governor, the Brades and all other
good people-save Dudley and Endi-
colt, who had voted for immediate
death-were relieved by the respite.
That evening Peggy Weld and her
lover had their first quarrel. Rose
well was young engineer who had
GUILE luul year lIOtA
gone to work in the growing colony.
He was big, brawny, handsome youth
Of twenty-three, with dark hair and
eyes. Unlike Peggy he was of
proud and serious temper. He had
Joined the church and won the respect
and confidence of all the great men.
His sense of hGmor was undeveloped.
Her free, unterrified, original opinions
often shocked him. "She is young"
he said to himself. II can change her
course with little steering" 1t was
the splendid physical endowment of
Peggy Weld that chiefly attracted him.
They had been discussing the case of
William Heydon. This was her
query:
"Do you think that anyone would
enjoy sinless world? Doctor Cotton
would have to stop preaching and you
would have no more Notifications to
build. The rich would give to the
poor and the only ones who worried
would be the men who had something.
In a little while no one would have
anything. Even virtue would be spine
less. We are human beings, and If
we were perfect we would not be
here"
would you have us wink at adul-
tery?" Roosevelt asked.
mo, but the Roundheads should be
at least as merciful as the Lord. We
are not ancient Hebrews living three
thousand years ago. l hate your court.
Those men should be left alone here
to sing psalms and preach sermons to
one another until they were dead"
you're a rebel cynic," said Rose
well with frown.
sim just an English human being
and claim the right to speak my
mind"
Your talk is indiscreet. Things are
different in New England"
With some feeling she continued:
II demand the right to be sincere even
in New England. l am as am and IL
you do not like me could be content"
Roosevelt, who was rather fond Of
himself, was out of patience. His an
swer came quickly:
II hope that you could not be con-
tent with Robert Heathers of whom
you have had so much to say"
with Robert Heathers? Indeed l
think that could. He is gentleman
and | like him in spite of all the
gossip"
In temper he picked up his hat,
bowed and left her.
Peggy and her brother went to the
Brades. While they were doing what
they could to comfort the stricken
family, Sir Harry arrived with i'm
portant news. The night of the crime
TodkilI had left the town in his canoe.
The tavern ship was in the harbor. 1t
was going out with the tide at mid
night and up the coast among the fish
ermen. Men passing the ship in pin
mace about eleven-thirty saw canoe,
with two men aboard, coming along
side the anchored ship. In the moon
light they were clearly visible.
hOUeTL I1edlHtTS anu HIS f1leUu
Todkinr' Bess exclaimed. "We must
find them and get the rope on the
right neck"
Peggy Weld went to Bess and kissed
her and said: 1--WE both have bit of
old Eve in us. Let us not say hard
things Of either boy. Whether 1t was
one or the other who did it, l have
a heart full of sympathy for him."
Bess answered: But Robert ran
away like coward and left the wom-
an and my lover to suffer disgrace and
death alone"
at is time that some one spoke up
for Robert Heathers," said Peggy "He
Is my friend and cannot any longer
be silent. II is easy to convict him
when he cannot speak for himself.
But there is not feathers weight of
evidence against him. Why did he run
away? / think that this. theory is as
reasonable as any If William had
come home in panic and confessed