Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 4, Number 48, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 30 May 1874 — Page 1

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Vol. 4.—No. 48.

S,'M-

MPPMWWM

TI-IE MAIL

A PAPER

FOR rtm

JE.

BETTER THINGS, BY OKOBQjg M*PPSAU».

Better to mwa\ih« vSEt, Una 4p «***!ow lU'tt "r*l« h*rk a bidden brook, than w*teb diaiuond *him»Better the love of ft heart, Uian Iwa-

xy'n

fcvor proud

Better the rosea* IHrtag ased, than ran* in a crowd. Better to love in kmeUnw*,tha» bank tulove Bettor thg Wttaftn la tlu- htart, than the fountain bjr the way. Better bs fed by a mother's hand, than alone#* wfll ._ Better to it" «n ia c*o4 than nay, "My got*™ mjr «ton*sOftstt IIU." Better to be ft little

WIM

than ln^knowledgo

Betterto'trtwlJ ft cblUl, tha* toll to HI! JX'*rfeetlon'n round. Better to nit at mtwtfrt feet, than thrill a Better iMi*ject that thoa art proud, than lw ware Uiat thou art great. Better to walk tb*reaUnutmw, than watch the Itottr's fvetrt Better the "wall done at the last, than the iitr with ahoutinffs rent," Better to have a quiet grief, than a hurrying Ik'ttM^fhi 'twilight of the dawn, than the noonday burning bright Better a death when work la done, than earth'* m«*t favored birth Better a cl »n».»i reatboose, than the ktogo: I thl r" i:,

A Life in the Balance.

BY CH !'-US» \tOr:T:lS,

Author of the "V imond f-: ve Button.

CHAPTER XX. [coNTunerEP.]

It was mid-October before the multifarious cngap'rrirnta of Mr. Josephs permitted hi* pi i!' iuPhlladelj lu In fact tlfis but a flying vi-it. The ti dof Doctor Wllmer was ii^od for the ucxt day bat one, and his presence was imperative!v needed of u! Home. Probably, fear that the pub: i-lted news of the trial and of his activity In procuring a condemnation, rs^ht attract the attention of Miss Kov Ids and prejudice her against him, induced him to attempt to set himself H»ht with her in advance. Not that he 1 any sense of guilt in his action a rainst his rival. The cumulating pr I against Doctor Wllmer seemed such positive evidence of murder, that he had grown to believe the accused really guilty, and to imagine that his duty to society and to his slain relative demanded the utmost rigor on his part. It is well when private vengeance has public duty for its excuse, and particularly when it serves as a warrant to the mind of the individual as well as to satisfy his neighbors of the integrity of his action.

Yet women nge creatures, and take most mi r•. i- l« prriudtaw, even where their reason should be engaged on the other side, and he was too shrewd to trust to any dangerous contingency where a prior explanation might guard against it.

It was evening, after her office-hours, vet Mi- Reynolds sat still absorbed in the pa or a ponderous volume, seeking authority for her treatment of a case which had just fkllen under her care. A rap at the office door Ailed to attract her attention, and the door

was

wl.!*•»-

hatws-i, ntww 1 *Moc

partly open

ed bv a half-grown girl. «&iss Clara, there's a gentleman wishes to see you."

She pushed the book aside and would haverinen, but her visitor pressed past the servant and entered the apartment. With surprise she recognised the features of Mr, Josephs.

After offtoe-honrR.. I feat/' he said* cheerfully "but aa I come as a friond, not as a patient, I hope to be excused/'

Pray be seated, Mr. Josephs. You arc indeed a stranger." Mare ao than I dreamed of being when I saw yam laat. Bal aa yon have not been h^em, and business wonld not let me out of it, we haw naturally failed to meat."

Both business and inclination have kept me oet of it," aba replied. "Bat I am not altogether polite. I haw true friends there, I acknowledge, yet the piaoe ean «*ever a^aln be attraetive to m#."

Yon haw, lwlewl, true friends there. One, Rt least—I cannot speak for the -other*,"

She bowwr her thanks ftr his pr friendship rrt a shsde of unjMeasattt freling {Mtssed her fiwe.

We am not 1!" In

"-R

snbject,

Mr J—-phs. It u**j *^i.sh in me, y«tt with thi 1 rt which makpaU thought of it dt .ralterwe. Do yon desig^ttayini '.»isir in Philadelphia

j*o I relitm towKmmr.

need rtottdl y*u tlie Impoftsmtbusinew •thatci' n.ands my wmsoc* there, aa I vuan?w«a»wareof It." "I aw nothing of It," AewpBfti, hope you will t»lH» salLu Iv'i* me in mem peremptory, i--.t«j'" w. like taste*ami -odtort bit km «r-lna«ai»4 toon*

.,f« •:Mnrh-:f:gabl«l«iu)-

r-lM,! l. a

then, aboutyourt -iw**. at«yoal«v.n.- mm W T).r" hm 1 «xpeet«d, or titan .1. I. .jha u'" "i

Ht4 *r\n ^n'i» »iv «v1 OtfiiJ «|i-,. ,n t!n*: H.iHt, :u i| llhH not a

TNR^T RR-.V,7+,

bland**' *u-'

tn*eqamc

r-!-

W& Of WJ l-.ot Uav but that I aetnatv -r. for the tortnnat*effw* of my tw*.1.» I,

!»y

BVT*

*-i4J

not

'vbnt wtil, for my ».» lann^ed me t*p«n the hi^k lida. profitable practice." unto to yoonrif. 'harft«I»m tbatltts taJesitand (tan ehaaoe that has 1 Allow to tfiisoch pwgreas in a prwi- lready ovwfilted. Ab iiorfiiHfui loet has no mow c^ant* ntanrinr ^'Taadtng." "Your tr** not apply»o a "I am a wo-

V? S "J*1 #«!-#. *4§& ,, J! *R

J•! M« lana.Ti^ i« \:r9 nf •nil ',.r i'.'itate to •jii'i ii in in* r«.la --wjaL-u erof woman doc-

with temi is r^1 Wli-1 h.« tn.an v. tur»Wu in nu tow." "The future la we! pn-^-at, Wi#

No fevor," ho repliod. "It was the simple office of friendship. Nor can I accept thanks as for a disinterested action where I was controlled only by selfish motives."

She looked at him in surprise, less at the words than at the tone in which they were spoken! She had remarked, all through this conversation, an unusual Huency of speech in her visitor, who was ordinarilv drv and precise in his manner of speaking. As for herself, her remarks were simply those of the polite hostess, and he could not help perceiving occasional traces of uneasiness in her deportment, which she seemed striving to conceal.

Selfish she replied, with a forced laugh. "What possible selfish aim could you have had "Perhaps to win your good opinion," was the reply. "You may not appreciate the value of this you cannot understand how important it has grown to me."

My good opinion, sir! Surely there iB nothing mercenary in desiring anything so useless

Good opinion, perhaps, does not ex-

Eis

ress my meaning," he replied, drawing chair nearer hers, and involuntarily assuming his usual attitude when he was prepared to make a profitable bargain. "Nor is selfishness the proper

He leaned forward in his chair, with both elbows on his knees, looking into her fkee with an expression whose earnestness alone prevented her from laughing.

That Iter interview with Mr. Josephs wan so rapidly approaching this climax she had not dreamed. Two persons less assimilated in tastes, characters, or dispositions, conld not easily have been choaeaand though sho dW-foel grateful to him for his services, It was a gratitude without a tincture of affection.

A man'# mind is a locked chest, with the key usually in his own possession. Indications of its contents do, it is true, appear through the pores and crevices of the chest, but each one has some treasure which he seek* to jealously guard from the eyes of the world, locked safely within his own brain. Her Salem friend lad at last unfolded his long-kept cret, and swpriaod i»er with thc r«velation. ,. _•

A long pause ensued before she replied. When she spoke, the feeling that animated oar was a wish not to wound his teelings, coupled with an Intention to plainly express her sentiments in reference to hi* declaration. 1 hope, sir, you will make no substitutioiv^ she said, "Adrogation itself Is a stronger word than I desire to hear again—not from youlnperti«!ar, tm* ftww any man. I did not inutgine that yon were cherishing such feelings. I am too weU aware of my unworthin to bolleve that the afifectlon to which allnde can be more than a

Excuse me for Interrupting you, Mr. Daephs. Thi* subject 1* painful to me, ^ml as I assure rmi I have qs fooling rtrotigerr tfcan lrt lshlp for you, ana never am haw, yon mtnrt petwivo the naeleesn itf jmnteUmoe. I do not wi»h to appear -old or disdainful of yourdeqiaw^ry^bui^^^rely to exprtm my

I* not this ha^y, MiW Reynolds? I beg yon t» defer Mils answer till you Sve bad time for refleetW' There wasaWter dl«a|»iw]ntmeiit ltti*lng in the deep lines of f»s ft»e. She had without meray destroyed his most cherished rrr^'^t, one for which be had rained his min her eattisatkHDb m4 had caused all u, cuhaeqtient mlafortunee of Dr. Wllrii r. 1 n^i no air. My an-n^---r niiai," she replied, riali#

WKK«*

i..,v• I wl*h not to

J**-*#

the 1'ie

answered "not y^-

wl)*

vince me that it te vour sex rather than 'ir ability that Kidedyou,1

Thanks for your^« op at,"-be said, "thc 1b ^!«*te your plimcnt. 1 have bstu'^ut, am wt wi u^-u ... st In th.- miinau-'-iiwut -f a !utlcnt, \s-.:Unut j^!-tivnfc in the MM'lf.:} js

You see I aia«i!!ii!^ to: ik© such credit as ilunk U1longs to ine. But when I have tbi-' lit:?--. I I-tv© said a'l i. uid iiu tviujdin tit can gi vi me nndue f'lish in myself."

You have said quite enough to warrast my pr.11»., If I needed wtmmt foa ii? and I am not in- Uned to Wl'i it."

I 0 vou thanks, at all events, for former favors. My first and beet patients came to me through your kiiHiueae, and I could not thank you properly sooner, as I was not awaro of the extent of the iavor."

It was moro than

She had maintained an uneasv, listening attitude during this speech, an apparent attention to something without, that prevented her gaining the full purport of his remarks. She now looked up, questionlngly. ,r.

since first I knew you, Miss Reynolds," he continued, "a feeling has been growing within me which I beg leave now to express. At its origin it was admiration only. Now shall I not substitute for admiration the word love

wom"'

-CHAPTER XXI. XH*IHrr TO MES. WILMElt.

Miss Reynolds, despite her refusal to hear her visitor's story, passed 110 very pleasant night. What he referred to she could

Mot

conjecture, yet It was impos

sible to avoid both thinking and dreaming ol some dreadful meaning behind his words. Was it only a threat, a falsehood coined to blacken Dr. Wllmer still more in her memory Yot tho previous accusation of her lover had beon made good by undeniable proof. Would these dark words be also proven Sho strove not to lelieve, yet the fear of some dreadful truth haunted her. And as people will who refuse to hear unpleasant truth when It is offered to tbom, yet cannot rest till they have sought it out

much of the next day in striving to learn what she had so lately declined to

Crime had been hinted at—crime doep and dark. The newspapers would chronicle such an event, glad as they were to gain any circumstance to feed the hunger for the horrible in society. She felt that she had boon remiss In reading the events of the day, and was blindly ignorant of all that was goi«g on In the world outside her Inimediato round of labors and responsibilities. Yet if there were any warrant for such a charge, it must be In print, and it was not too late yet to discover it.

Tho thought occurred, to her that ho on# would be more likely to poMeas the desired information than tho descrtod wiffe even if she had ikiled to observe it herself, she would havo friends who read tha/a^mlnal department ot the panud would bo glad of the op-

Enitywhosupplyhearing

But I ean never low again. "Or rather, yon haw not MWWil to kn hi man win deeeiwdl yoa," he a* v' with a touch of anger, riring a «dconflrontiiw her.

Yon have no rigkt to speak so to me. ha?* listened to yonr repreaentatlona. aim! #mlased hun Anally. I do not know that anything further la required of me." "Ttwro is mndb n»ore requ^ed." "How, drt I do not «mpnto-u\ inn

to her omissions. It easy to avoid unpleasant tiding* concerning our solves. One of IIk» prim# duties of acquaintanceship la to not lei us rest in happy ignorance of the fact Uiat It is incumbent upon nato

^f^sJ^dcot seen thia person since vi»Itlng hef in company with Mr. Josephs. There bad been no further occasion to call upon her, and she .was not willing to renew the distressing associations of that visit without pressing occasion.

Mr*. Wilmer lived In a imall, down town street, a not wry savorv locality, though her own house waa kept clean and neat. It was evidently poverty mora than Inclination that had forced tear into such an undesirable neighbor* hood.

She at once recognised Miss Reynolds and invited her into her best room. It was near owning, and the poor woman waa attired in a cheap but dean and tasteful wrapper, than itaelf teatt^d to a d^rmmation not to sink to the level of her surroundings. Straws ahow which way the wind blows. Thaw cirbad had their share in oon^ngMtaa Reynolds of tho truth of her former relation.

f*.' I

TERRE HAUTE, IND./SATURD A EVENING, MAY 30, 1874

»IT IS BETTER THAT THIS INTERVIEW KND,"

"You are required to abhor the man whom vou otieu listened to with thoughtless ears, to deem his every touch a eontaininntion to your soul. From your remarks this evening you appear to le strangely ignorant of what the whole world knows, that this Robert Wilmer has surpassed his turpitirl" to his wife bv a crime'so deep and dar,.—"

Hold she cried, "1 will hoar no more! I believe no word you say: and in my house you shall not so traduce a man whom I have loved. If I have dismissed him, I will not hear him maligned. It is botfcer for us both that this interview end."

She led tho wav resolutely to the door. This rather impolite dismissal seemed not alone the effect of her indignation. The anxious listening that had effected her the whole evening nad some part in it. He had noticed this, though without detecting its cause. But, as lie stood on the outer step, he was astonished to hear a loud, fiercely threatening voice, apparently proceeding from the rear rooms of the nouse. lie failed to catch the words, though uncourteous

word for my motive, waa umiv mim good opinion, more than friendship^ 11 enough to listen for .^at purp^.^JThe

desired it was more than a feeling for self that impelled me. Need I proceed Can you not conoelve my meaning?"

voice was loud, bnt its tones were indis tinct, and liis fancy that he heard an oath was founded more on conjecture than on reliable evidence.

Miss Reynolds grew pale and bade him good-bye with some abruptness, apparently in nervous basic to close the door.

So this is the skeleton in my proud lady's house 1" he said to himself as he walked toward his hotel. "There is, as they say in Salem, a secret which she will not or dare not reveal. I have heard its voice I will see its face yet, and perhaps then I may have a stronger argument than that of love to win nor with

:^v 4

Xmffei/fT^

"Pray bo seated, Mix!*:' I am happy to see you again." said the bustling little woman, involuntarily setting the chnirs to rights in the room.

You recollect me, then, Mrs. Wilmer?" Why, surely. I would have a poor memory indeetl if I had forgotten you already."

Then you remember also what brought nio here on that occasion "Remember! Indeed I do. And isn't this a dreadful business that's in all the newspapers?"

Iler visitor started with surprise, and a quick, painful ilntter tit the heart, at this unlooked for and alarming •statement. For a moment she could not speak, but sat looking in dismay at her unconscious hostess.

But I can't believeit's my husband," the latter continued. "He treated me badlv, but he wasn't a bad man at heart, and I'm sure it's some niistuke, or that somebody has taken his name. The idea of Robert Wilmer committing murder I'll not believe "Murder!" the words came with a long-drawn wailing accent that stopped the loquacity of tho hostess, and forced the latter to turn to her visitor with alarm and concern. "Why, what'3 the matter, Miss? You're "not taken sick, I hope." "No, no!" vet her appearance belied her words. She was deathly pale, and trembling like an aspen. "It is too horrible J" she said shading her eyes, as if to close out some dreadful vision.

Why, it isn't possible that you have not heard of it! And it has beeu talked of right and lolt. A poor old woman poisoned for her monev, and a man that calls himself Robert Wilmer arrested, and thoy say he's sure to be hung. But It's not my husband, I'm settled on that! Why, they even tried to lynch him."

The visitor sat silent. Sho could not speak. But ono word vibrated in her brain—that fearful tsrord, murder! To havo spoken it with all tho agony of pain and fear that filled her, would have affrighted her hostess as though tho word" ad been shouted under her window at dead of night.

If my Robert had done such a thing, I wouldn't euro what the law did," continued the Irrepressible hostess "andI liked him, too, right well. But to poison an old ladv, and for her money, and ongagod to be married to her thoy say! it f'm But settled now that it's not my Robert that goes about engaging himself to every body. How could he? He's married now% and he couldn't marry another woman. The law wouldn't al-

Mfrtvttu*to low that!" And the simple-minded

woman—who evidently like« her husband only, sho could nat have loved him—spoke triumphantly, as though alio had enunciated an unanswerable syllogism.

Miss Reynolds lose, holding the arm of her chair for support aa she did so. You look faint, Miss. Shan't I give yon something?"

No, no!" The words came in a half whisper. "Do yon know anything more? What was thls woman's name?" It was with great effort that alio commanded her v)leo sufficiently to speak.

I forget now something commencing with O." "Gordon?" gapped tho visitor, treti) bllng from head to foot. "That's It now. Why,you must have rend something about tne matter, it will soon be settled oneway or another, for the trial comes off to-morrow." "To-morrow!" The words acted like a spur to the flagging energies of Mips

sure it Is to-morrowr*

Yes. Here's the paper. You can read it for yotrtfeelf." And have yon had no inclination to convince yourself whether ft la your husband or not? Have you been satisfied with the bare conjecture that he could not commit crime? And what authority li thcfe for believing him guilty? Accusation is not proof. Ho la to be tried yet, and may como off triumphantly Innocent, For me, I know him to be incapable of such a crime,and were he convicted to-morrow, he would still haw my woman's ftith in his inno-

oh! there's no doubt of ft. The papent say It's a clear case." And if they do, it would not be the first man the papers haw houned to his death."

Miss Reynolds bad regained her composure in a degree, and indignation was strengthening her against the heartsinking that had ao overcome her. "They may Ha that's a foot. But thay tell a good bit of truth." "And areyou satisfied with their

i'£

I* _.. .«*i."»f. A"\"

N-j"*

telling? Would yon leave your husband to suffer without a word or a hand stretched toward him?"

It's not my Robert—that T'tn settled on. And anyhow 1 haven't seen him for years and years, and there never was mncn love lost between us. And am I, who have to work hard to set money to buy bread, going to beggar nvfself to try and aee a man who is nothing to me, and wouldn't own me I suppose if it was my Robert himself? No, Miss, Micro's none but $mvs*»lf to look out fr my-

l*aclt"

S Without another word. Miss Reynolds turned and left the bouse. The selfishness which this woman manifested seemed so little in accordance With her apparently kind disposition that it affected her with tho forco of another disenchantment. We can only know people's ftill characters after seeing them under all circumstances. In ftiet, our own characters are only revealed piecemeal to us as the events of life bring ono phase after another to the light. And there was nothing in tho woman's action in contradiction to a general kindliness. She was evidently of small mental vision, and of slight retention of her ^motions. She may have been strongly drawn toward her husband w'-iu living with him, though »-ould never have felt love

i-'T

him in its full sense. But years of separation, with such a nature, become lakes of oblivion. into which memory

and feeling are thrown. She had retained some of the old words of affection, but the sentiment itself had vaaished from her mind. Her former husband was to her now the most Indifferent of men, and her alleged disbelief in this accused person being tho Robert Wllmer to whom she had been married,, was simply a salvo for her conscience, or porhaps an assumed belief to satisfy gossiping acquaintance with her inertness.

So Miss Reynolds argued to herself, aa what at first seomed to her the strange, behavior of tho woman presented itself in clearer light to her mind. She may have been right she may have been mistaken in licr deductions. It la often difficult to follow tho movements of small minds. We are apt to imagine depth where all is surface. There was nothing in the facts to show that the woman's professed doubt was not a real disbelief 111 the identity of this person with her husband. She might have convinced herself of this, and yielded to a conviction the product of desire, as more inquiring minds yield only to tho teachings of ascertained fact.

Miss Reynolds gained more respect for her discarded lover as one result of this interview. The idea of such a nature as his being tied to this woman, whose mind seemed but an overflowing vase of words, which dripped out constantly in a meaningless and exasperating tlow, was abhorrent to her. As falling water wears awav a rock, so would such a constant fret wear awav affection, tin til the man might be forced to fly from tho constant misery of such an unendurable union.

Of course, the question of duty to one's marriage vows should be a strong bar to such a dosertion but

from

what

she knew of Dr. Wilmer's hasty disposition, she felt that bo was one wno might in a sudden mood of overflowing anger or dislike, break looso ft-om the bonds of matrimony and fly from that which had grown past endurance.

Tho war, too, had taken many men from their fiimilios, who chose the field of battle as the least of two evils. Death was not the only cause of tlie failure of sohttcrstcrrct urn htrnw. Long immunity from unpleasant matrimonial conditions, and the weakening of the sense of duty which results Cram separation, "had disinclined many to return and Robert Wilmer might nave been among tl)686«

True. it was not impossible that tho wife was right that there ware two Robert Wilmers. A feeling of the impossibility of the man she knew ever bringing mm»elf to marry this woman for a moment inclined her to that view. But there is nt telling what induces very young men and women to marry. Single points of attraction often draw them together, when in most particulars they are utterly unsuited to each other. Blind Ignorance of each other's real character is a frequent constituent of these marriages of the unfledged, and It Is a strong chance if misery does not take the place of tho fondly-anticipated

Fn vabfsho sought^ to "lay a flatting unction to her aoul." The praofe seemed irresistibly in favor ef her Robert Wilmer the truant husband.

But ahe burned to learn the full particulars of this aocusation. The throb of pain and horror which had filled

everv

vein of her system on hearing the dreadful crime of murder imputed to one whom she had loved, still throbbed in subdued agony throughout hor framo Back files ol tho_ newspapers were procurable at the libraries. Sho hastened to the Mercantile, succeeded In obtaining the dewired numbers of one of the Philadelphia dailies, and there found, in its condensed accounts, enough to convince hpr of the full truthfulness of the woman's statement, and of the gravity and dangerous probability of the oharoea asainit Dr. Wllmer.

Utterly overcome with the new horror that filled her soul, ahe reached home in an almost feinting, condition, for that hour tho moat unhappy, woman in all tho great city.

CHAPTER XXtl. TBXKD FOR HIS LIFE,

Ail day long an intense excitement had pervaded the town ot Salem. In or, workshop alike a general oenterof interest In one point waa manl—this point the court house of the town. Business moved its wheels with unwonted sluggishness, or stood still, while ttsagenta crowded the hall of justice. in which Robert Wilmer was on trial for his lifb for the reputed murder of the lady to whom he had been betrothed.

1 rt

"W1

m^rn^m Price Five Cents.

Newr before had any sensation so moved the town to its wry basis. Tho whole country, in fitet, was intonated In the unfolding of the mysterious murder ease and this interest in Salem became a general nervous excitement that pervaded every portion of the community. All tho previous circumstances had tended to excite attention toward this accusation, till the inhabitants had grown to feel a personal interest in the raw, and, in the majority of the popular', a bitter partisanship in flivor of the deceased lady waa manifested. Tho moral atmosphere of the town was decidedly inimical to the prisoner, and waa likely to produce a bias to his dis&vor in the minds of those on whom bis life immediately depended.

The afternoon stage dashed up to the front of the lied lion inn, unseen by the group of idlers who usually made that event one of their daily landmarks. They had now matter of more moment to engage their attention. Thus tho deeply-veiled lady who left the stage and walked slowly up the street of tuo town, escaped notice from tho "committee on strangers," who would otherwiso have found much pleasant occupation in conjectures as to who she might be.

She walked on with the assured step of ono who perfectly knew the locality, avoiding the main street of the town, and proceeding by byways toward its northern limit. It was lata In the afternoon when ahe reached tho cottage of Mrs. May, and walked in without knocking, with tho familiar air of one who was certain of a welcome.

That good lady met her visitor in tho hall, with a surprise that changed to concern when the latter threw back her yell and revealed the face of Miss Reynolds, but so pale and care-worn, that her bootees could scarce recognize hor as the healthy, self-poasessd young lady whom she had formerly known. "Miss Reynolds, I declare! Well, this is a surprise," she cried, warmly kissing her "but my dear child, you are sick, or are going to bo sick. Como in hero this instant you must havo some rest."

She led the way to the room formerly occupied by her visitor, which appeared now to be Mrs. May's own sitting-room, and bustled nervously about her, removing her bonnet and cloak, and carefully seating her In the depths of an easy chair, aa though the young lady were a weary ehild returned to her maternal care.

Why, Miss Clara, you are as weak as a baby. You must be tired out with traveling. Or have you been through a spell of sickness?" she asked, tenderly stroking tho soft brown hair of her visitor, as the latter sank back In her chair, as if in momentary relief from a sense of complete sickness. "Excuse me, Mrs. May,' she said, speaking feebly. "I was Indeed overcomo with weakness. I will be myself again after a few moments' rest."

You must take something to strengthen you. You know I haw tho best cordial for the nerves of anybody in the town."

Thank you but it is not necessary." Yes it is," replied her hostess, bustling to tho closet, and returning with a formidable-looking flask, from which she forced her visitor to drink a wineglassful of an amber-colored fluid.

There, that is just what you wanted. I never kuew any tirednoss to stand out long against that tonic. You havo chosen a busy day to come to town, Miss Clara. We are having a dreadful excitement."

Either the tonic or the words of her hostess produced a sudden change in Miss Reynolds' demeanor. She sat up nervously in her chair, a slight flush tinting the marble paleness of her cheek.

What has happened?" she asked, hurriedly. "I know it is the trial of Doctor Wilmer. But the result? Is the trial over Is the verdict rendered

Tho last words were spoken with a sinking of the voice, that told how deeply she was concerned in the answer.

Mrs. May looked at her with a sudden remembrance of a suspicion sho had formerly entertained, that tho relations between Doctor Wilmer and hor young lady boarder were more than those of mere friendship. She hesitated a moment before answering.

Miss Reynolds laid a hand nervously on her arm, and looked up in her face with a glance so full of beseeching inquiry, that no words could have expressed half its force. "Bo calm, now, my dear girl. You can't lo much Interested In this. Tho trial is over, but there is no verdict yet. My boy waa just in, and says the jury is out."

But how has it gone? What is tho opinion of the people Have you heard anything of it?" she earnestly inquired, her foco mil of suspense.

I can't say, indeed. I believe, though there's an extra out of the Salem Herald, that tells all abont it, up to the close of the trial." "Please get it for me Immediately. Excuse me for troubling you, Mrs. May, but 1 am very anxious to learn tho re•ult."

My boy has just gone out to get a copy. He will be back in a minute. There he is now!" as the front door closed with a boy* inevitable slam. "I will bring it in to you right awav."

Rerynolda foil back In her chair ^iiwu. ...

with all hor former lassitude, as her hostess left the room. Her cheek, though, bore the Jiush of suppressed excitement or of returning vigor. Mrs. May's tonic may have been at work, giving force to the native energies of her frame.

Here is the paper," said her hostess, returning. "Don't worry too much over what it says. Yon want rest more than worriment, just now. I hope you will excuse me a while. Miss Clara. I have got some things to 'tend to. I will see that nobody disturbs you." "Certainly, Mrs. May. And I am greatly obliged to you for your kindness," she replied,

hastily

clutching the

paper, as if ft contained matter of life and death to her. Mrs. May retired, doubtfully shaking her head, and fearing that it was dangerous to leave so incendiary a document in the bands of her pallid visitor.

Tho editors of the Salem Herald had shrewdly calculated on an extensive sale when undertaking this enterprise, which was without parallel in the history of the town, of procuring a short-hand reporter to take aown the main features of the trial, and of publishing an "extra" within two hours after its close.

It bad a highly sensational heading, and entered into details of the preceding [cojrrmrxn or nxxt pao*.]

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