Year: 1877

DIR. Lennox came over one day to the Es-
peranza ranch in great tribulation. He told
Major Lyndhurst that his daughter, Annie,
had been summoned to appear as witness at
the trial, and that her nerves we're so COM
pletely shaken by this occurrence, that he
feared serious illness would be the result.


II believe she hopes and prays that she will
fall sick, so that she may be unable to attend" i"
he said "but of course if it is practicable she
will have to answer the summons. Her chief
distress, poor girl, arises from the thought of
being in any way instrumental in bringing
fresh trouble upon you and yours" .


THAT is no fault of hers" said the Major,
"and can make no difference whatever in
the friendly relations existing between US.
Through whose suggestion has she been called
as a witnessf"


"That we cannot form any idea Of" replied
the doctor. "How any one could discover
that she had seen Morville's face on that un-
happy night, and was therefore able to iden-
tify him, remains mystery to US BOTH


The fifteenth of October drew near. 1t had
been arranged that Major Lyndhurst's whole
household should leave the ranch during the
first week in the month, and take up their
quarters temporarily in the town where the
trial was to take place. They were not will
ling to be separated during that melancholy
time, and Evelyn's father and sister felt, be-.
sides, that she would need all the support
their presence could afford her. They arrived
at their destination on the eighth, and settled
themselves in lodgings not more than square
distant from the court house, and within view
of the Jail, the walls of which could be seen
distinctly from the bedroom window of the
two sisters, towering above the smaller build
ings which surrounded it.


Here poor Evelyn would sit, her eyes rivet-
ed on the pile of brick which contained, with
in its bounds, the dearest object in life which
earth still held for her; sometimes remaining
there motionless for hours, until Rose, through
urgent entreaty and persuasion, would draw
her away and induce her to walk little in
the garden, or take up some occupation to d.
vert her mind. As the n,omentous day ap.
preached, feverish restlessness took posses.
sion of her. Her whole mind now was filled
with the anticipation of once more seeing her
husband, almost to the exclusion Of all other
thoughts To look on his face once more,
even though she we're not permitted to speak
to him, would, in itself, she felt, be some CON-
pensation to her for the long suspense she had
endured.


The morning of the fifteenth dawned, and
the courtroom was filled at an early hour, for
this trial, invested, as was with so many cir
cumstances of interest, had largely excited the
attention of the population, and every one
who had it in their power to be an eyewitness
of it was anxious to be present.


A little before the appointed hour, the
Lyndhurst party came in, and were shown
into seats set apart for their use. Both the
girls wore wells. Roses was transparent, but
the thick folds of her sisters entirely conceal
ed her face, and public curiosity could only
crafty itself with the sight of her bent head
and motionless figure, presenting, as she sat
with hands folded on her lap, an appearance
of detection so touching as to arouse the sym
pathy of all who looked at her.


In spite of her dropping attitude, Evelyn,
in state of intense excitement, was watching
every movement in the neighborhood of the
door through which Julian would have to en-
ter, just opposite to which were the seats oc-
cupied by her family and herself. Her heart
was throbbing violently, and every nerve was
strained to its utmost tension, as outwardly
calm, but in state of agitation impossible to
describe, she thus awaited the appearance Of
her husband.


"Let the prisoner be brought in."


There was a stir, and universal observation
was directed toward the door. Almost imme-
diately afterward, Julian entered between
two officers, and with quiet and firm step
advanced to his place. Evelyn bent forward
she could not restrain the impulse-and re-
gardless of notice, hastily pushed aside her
veil. At that moment he turned toward her,
and their eyes met. A flush of surprise, of
Joy, kinded on his face. He gave her one
smile, one glance of inefable tenderness, that
spoke volumes to her yearning heart-then
directed his attention to the judge, who had
cleared his throat in preparation for speech.
Major Lyndhurst gently pressed his daugh'
ter's arm, and she sank back upon her seat,
nearly overpowered by the rush of emotion
that moment of silent recognition had called
forth. So confused and excited did she feel,
that for some moments she could hardly con-
centrate her attention on what was going on.
She did not see the jndge, she did not see the
jury, the spectators, no. her friends, but only
Julian. His figure was to her the central
point ia the assemblage, and on it alone her
eyes were riveted, as if by fascination. How
beautiful, how noble he looked, standing there
Surely, she thought, no man could look in his
face and condemn him


The charge (of murder) was read, and the
prisoner pleaded "Lot guilty"


(This had not been his original intention !;
but he acted on the advice Of the counsel en-.
gagged in his defence.)


The witnesses for the prosecution were call
| al The Grst uas q man named William