The Eagle's Heart

onger from the alluring lands to the West. His father called often to see him, but the boy remained inexorably silent in all these meetings, and the minister went away white with pain. E

ven to him he would not utter the words young Slocum had flung at him. Lawyer Talcott had a

yard with the sheriff he looked around at the maple leaves, just touched with crimson and gold and russet, and

path-eager to share

ff, let me wal

people Jack alone associated himself with the prisoner. Up the stairs wher

d yet all were now alien-no one recognized him by a frank and friendly nod, and he moved past his old compani

filled. The members of the First Church were present in mass to se

was only a case. He had grown gray in dealing with infractions of the law, and though kindly disposed he had grown indifferent-use had dulled

reat deal of Harold's bad character, drawing from ready witnesses the story of his misdeeds. To do this was easy, for the current

s where Harold had been accused. He produced Jack Burns and several others to prove that Harold liked fun, but that

knew the words of insult which Slocum had used. "I

prosecution, as if tou

Talcott. He had become inte

across the table and shook his lean, big-jointed finger in Jack's face. "We don't want what y

," replied Jack,

rney, leaning back in his ch

n rose to say that the testimony was competent; that it was designed to show the dangerous character of the prisoner. "He is no gentle and guileless youth, y'r Honor, but a

was unshaken by Bradley's cross-examination

a powerful, f

d at Harold.

shrieked the

bjection," s

d Bradley sternly. "I wan

lossomed with smiles. Harold looked very pale and delicate beside

the pusillanimity of Slocum's story. This was the position of the defense. Harold was a boy, the hostler had insulted him, had i

with death. These facts must stand. The State is willing to admit the disparity of strength, so artfully set forth by the defense, but it must not be forgotten that the boy was known to carry deadly weapons, and that he was subject to blind rages

of a big wad of tobacco. He was the old-fashioned lawyer, formal, deliberate; and though everybody enjoyed Bradley Talcott's powerful speech, they looked for drama from Brown. The judge

he elopement of Dorothy Burland is at the bottom of this affair, everyone but yourself, judge. This lad was the accepted sweetheart of that wayward miss. This man Slocum is one of the rough, loud-spoken men of the village, schooled in vice and fisticuffery. You can well imagine, gentlemen of the jury," he turned to them abruptly, "you can well imagine the kind of a greeting this town loafer would give this high-spirited boy on that morning after the night when his inamorata disappeared with a

the spirit that is in that; we all had a hand in such business once, every man Jack of us. The boy is no more culpable now than you were then. Moreover, Excell has

take another look at that pale, handsome, poetic youth and then at that burly bully, and consider the folly, the idiocy, and the cowardice of the charge brought against our client.

deserved their sentences. I have seen innocent men unable to prove their freedom from guilt, and I have known men who are grossly criminal, because of lack of evidence-these things are beyond our cure. We are old, yo

his brain was alive. Then Mrs. Excell burst into sobbing. The judge looked away into space, his dim eyes seeing nothing that was near, his face an impassive mask of colorless flesh. The old l

man older and stronger than himself naturally militates in his favor, but the next question is upon the boy's previous character. Did he carry deadly weapons? Is he at heart dangerous to his fellows? His youth should

permit, and his homely, good face, and the face of the judge were to Harold the only spots of light in the otherwise dark room. Outside the voices of children could be heard and the sound of the rising wind in the rustling trees. Once a breeze sent a shower of yellow and crimson leaves flu

ment for dinner was ordered. Harold was about to

to have your mother and

ubborn frown on his face the b

r's face. "Very well," he said, an

young men were accompanied by their girls, as if the trial were a dramatic entertainment. Those who failed of regaining their seats were much annoyed; others, more thrifty, had hired boys to k

ss haggard. He was not afraid of sentence; on

he said to Jack. "I'll pound rock or live in a dungeon if it will only shorten

nd set. He paid no heed to his parishioners, but made his way to the side of Lawy

low voice. He was informed that they were agreed. After the jury had taken thei

eaking appalled, and who stammered badly as he read from a little slip of paper: "Guilty of assault with intent to commit great bodily injury, but r

nge of tone, and some of the young people

ore like a mask than ever. When he began to speak it was as though

r oversteps the law that he appears before a jury. It seems to the Court necessary, for this young man's own good, that he feel the harsh hand of the law. According to the evidence adduced here to-day, he has been for years beyond the control of his parents, and must now know the inflexible purpose of law. I h

ault committed upon the person of one Clinton Slocum, I now sentence you, Harold Excell, to one year

ll form of Mr. Excell a

otioned him

l not refuse to hear the father of the

ick. He spoke like the big man he was, firm an

him in my arms if I could, but he has too much of my own spirit. He literally can not meet me as an affectionate son, for I sacrificed his good-will by harsh measures while he was yet a babe. I make this confession in order that the Court may understand my relation to my son. He was born with my own temper mingled with the poetic nature of his mother. While he was yet a lad I beat him till he was discolored by bruises. Twice I would have killed him only for the intervention of my wife. I have tried to live down my infirmity, your Honor, and I have at last secured control of myself, and I believe this boy will do th

into life. He turned to the minister, who still stood before him with hand

r dry legal formalities stand between me and the doing of justice. The jury has decided that the boy is guilty, but has recommended him to the mercy of the Court. The plea of the father has enlightened the Court on one or two most vital points. Nothing is further from the mind of the Court than the desire to do injury to a handsome and talented boy. Believing that the father