Year: 1869

rect with his story.


Inns testimony was given with great
eiaooranteness, but condense it for the
sake OF saving the readers patience.


Inc evidence was deemed sufficient to
warrant Doane's arrest, and after this had
taken place there were score of items
brought up by as many different persons
10 corroborate Cushman's testimony.


The web Of circumstances was very
strong around the accused, and full half
the town believed in his guilt.


They thought they need not look far for
motive. Miss Atherton-piqued no
doubt by Doane's cool blooded and pruden-
tial way of regarding their love affair
had been more than usually gracious to
Mr. Kirby, and it was well known that the
Major favored Kirby, and looked upon
Doane as daring young villain whom he
would be glad to squelch" if it we're pos
sble.


People soon fixed out the story to their
eminent satisfaction. Doane was jealous
Kirby had taunted him with his father S
sin-and Doane had taken his revenge.


Among other witnesses called to the
stand were Miss. Atherton and myself.
went unwlllingly, for conceived strong
feeling of interest in the young man, and
| knew that the little I could tell in re-
gard to his movements on that fateful
tweEtieth, would only make matters worse
for him.


went upon the stand fully determined
that | would not tell anything whatever
beyond the fact that had seen the prison
er down town that evening, but the counsel
for the State was a shrewd old fellow with
keen eye to business, and before [ was
set down he had wormed all | knew out of
me.


Miss Atherton gave her evidence with
quiet tlrmness, but | could see that it was
a terrible trial to her Notwithstanding she
went through with it so bravely.


During the whole time she was speaking,
the dark eyes of Doane never wandered
from her face, and when she had finished
he smiled on her, and continued regarding
her with looks of tenderest affection.


Her evidence was very little in itself,
but that sapient old attorney made it very
telling when he summed up.


She and Doane half quarreled within a
week-she had demonstrated with him for
being so proud, and he had maintained his
ground that it was impolitic to marry un-
til he had a reliable income of his own
Then she had told him that he surely did
not love her, and Doane, instead of taking
her in his arms and swearing that he
adored her, as he ought to have done, took
refuge in haughtiness, and was cold and
distant as herself Elizabeth had been
frigid as an icicle for the rest of the time
they were together, and she had refused
to let him kiss her when he went away,
which was serving him right according to
my way of thinking. And she had en-
couraged Kirby just to tease Doane, and
she blamed herself severely for indulging
in any such coquetry But we all know
that she did just right. A fellow who
would refuse the love of woman after he
had sought it-refuse it because he didn't
happen to be as rich as he would like to be
You see | am candid enough to want JUS



more than can be said of most of us.


All this evidence was given at the trial
before magistrate, and it was quite suf-
fcient to send Doane to Jail to await his
final trial before the next session of the
court, for the county, which occurred in
February.


did not visit the accused in prison,
much as l desired to do so, for [ knew how
proud he was, and was fearful that he
might not think such an acquaintance as
ours warranted my doing so.


I was told that Miss .Atherton went to
see him frequently, in spite of her fathers
commands to the contrary, and that she
and the Major had very high words about
the matter, which had ended in the Majors
threatening to disinherit her if she per-
sisted " in running after that low born
criminal p


Dark as matters looked for Matthew, 1
could not resign myself to believe in his
guilt, and all my spare time was spent in
searching with almost childish eagerness
for some little clue that might avert sus-
picion from him.


But my efforts met with no return.


The court commenced its session, and
when Doane's trial came on, the court room,
as might have been expected, was packed
to sutfocation.


Matthew was pale and thin from con-
finement, but his eye was as bright and
unshrinking as ever, and looking at him as
l would, could not see anything of the
conscience smitten criminal in his manly,
fearless bearing.


Miss Atherton was there, pallid and worn,
but her self possession was perfect; and it
was out of the power of the old rat who
conducted the cross examination to make
her contradict herself, though he tried
hard enough.


How pityingly Matthew regarded her !
How the indignant blood burned in his
cheek when for an instant the attorney was
inclined to be insolent I could see that
IT Matthew had been at liberty, old Squire
Converse would have had the pleasure Of
being compelled to eat his own words.


Matthew was handsome fellow, there
was no disputing that, and as | glanced
from his face to that of the principal wit.