Year: 1878

Monday previous the doctors thought the
attempt might be made. 1t was done;
and the patient bore it much better than
was expected but the result could not be
known all at once, as he was, Of course,
greatly prostrated During the whole of
Tuesday and Wednesday he was in very
critical state; but on Thursday the danger
was considered past, and on that evening,
as Rose was sitting at his bedside, she
heard his voice calling feebly: Rose,
Rosep The tone was so natural that she
was at once convinced that he knew her.
depressing with great effort the violent
desire she felt TO throw her arms round
his neck, she answered; Here | am,
papa.


How quiet the ship ISL he muir
INJURED, I cannot feel hei roll at all I
wish the breeze would come, so that we
might get home.


'Rose hardly knew what to make of
this or what to answer; at first she
thought his mind was still affected, but
the clear, intelligent look of his eye con-
vinced her that he was sane. AS gently
as possible she soothed him, and he soon
fell off to sleep again. When DR.. Bailey,
coming in soon after, was told of the sue
cess of the operation, he was much pleased;
but he enjoined the greatest quietude,
especially that all topics should be avoided
likely to excite the patients mind.


''From this time the General improved
very rapidly, so much so as to be able to
take little walk in the garden on Sun
day. Following the instructions of the
doctor, Rose conversed only Of common
place and present matters, although of
course to some extent the past must have
been alluded to, in explanation of her
fathers change of position, that is from
shipboard to London. At the same time
she was burning to question him as to
what he remembered of that terrible
night"


''On Monday morning when she went
into his bedroom, he said: My dear child,
you look very i'll and careworn;' and them
receiving no answer, he continued I
have been thinking about that Lieut.
Stevenson; what has become of him?
This was more than Rose could bear, so
falling on her knees at his bedside
she-with many sob and tear-told him
all'


II pass on now to the trial of the
prisoner. 1t happened that this was the
first case on the list, so it was still early
when the trial commenced. / should like
to describe to you the scene in court, did
time permit, but | must ask you to imagine
it. Capt. Bowlby proved the finding of
Stevenson in the Generals cabin, and de-
scribed the state in which he appeared
Col. Morton proved the fact Of the will
having been made and deposited in the
box, and told how it was against Steven
son interests, which fact was known to
Rose, and therefore presumably to Steven
son also. Others proved the finding Of
the box, hidden away behind the prison.
er's bed; and last Of all the paper written
by the General was brought forward, CON
taining the first three letters of Steven
sons name. The counsel for the defense
did all that could be done, but was quite
unable to dispute the facts or break down
the evidence. Then came the Judge S
summing up. He pointed out that
although the evidence was clear, yet it
was in a measure what is termed circum-
stantial; on the other hand it must neces-
sarily be so, as many murders were com
mitted with no actual eyewitness. Much
more he said fairly and pointedly. and
then the jury retired. You might have
heard pm drop when they returned,





word guilty in a low tone, it seemed
to sound and re-echo through the whole
court.


@ Prisoner at the BAR said the Judge
in a solemn voice, "a jury Of your fellow
countrymen have found you guilty of a
dreadful crime, and | am bound to say
that | agree with the verdict am quite
willing 10 believe that you did it under a
sudden impulse, hardly knowing what
you did; nay, | may believe that in the
first instance your only object was to get
possession Of the will; but finding yourself
discovered either by the servant or the
General, you committed the greater crime
to conceal the less. 1t therefore only re-
mains to me, he continued, assuming the
black cap, while visible shudder trem-
bled through the room, to pass sentence
upon you, which is


But just at that moment there was a
disturbance near the door, and female
voice was heard imploring: For mercy's
sake let us pass. 1t is Gen. Paige The
prisoner is Innocent All eyes turned to
the spot; and Rose, in a state of great ex-
citement, was seen leading her father for
ward.


"The counsel for the defense immedi-
ately obtained permission to place the
General in the witness-b box, where, on ac-
count of his great feebleness, he was
accommodated with chair. After the
usual preliminaries, the question was
asked, DO you know the prisoner at the
bar?'


Yes; it is Lieut.. Stevenson


"tDid he enter your cabin the night
your servant was murdered?'


"'Not that | am aware Of


But you wrote a portion of his name
on piece of paper. See; here it is.'


Yes; but it appears | did not finish
it. Give it me, and l will do SO now
Handing back the paper, he continued:
There; that is the man who attacked me-


"The mystery was all explained now
the completed word was-STEWARD;
and all this misery had been caused by
the want of the four little letters-ward.
The steward then was actually the man.
No one had thought ofhim, and yet what
more easy2 He was always in and out
Of the cabins, and would be sure to notice
the box; and evidently thinking it con
tanned valuables, had stolen it. Having
done so, and finding suspicion already
| fallen uDOn Stevenson nOfhinU was more