HEARTS OF GOLD

25. AT THE TRIBUNE OF JUSTICE.

221 AT THE TRIBUNE OF JUSTICE. Chapter XXV. When the mob which murdered poor Harvey Meeks left the jail, the night of the lynching, Lotus Stone was so shocked at the fate of his friend that it never occurred to him to walk out of the open doors and make his escape. For two hours the egress from his place of confinement was unguarded. The sheriff, the jailor and everybody else were having a two hours’ respite. They had gone to see the hanging, which if they had not aided openly, in their hearts they had connived at the work the mob had so easily accomplished. In the early hours of the morning the jailor returned. He visited the cell inhabited by Dr. Stone and having satisfied himself that the prisoner had not taken “French leave,” fastened up the main entrance as securely as he could and went to bed. Lotus Stone did not sleep a wink that night. Whenever he closed his eyes he could hear the wild yells of the infuriated mob ringing in his ears and see the firm, resigned face of Harvey Meeks calmly awaiting the worst. All through the weary hours of that long night he sat on his iron couch, his head buried in his hands, fearfully, if impatiently, awaiting the dawn of the morrow. What a change a few hours can make in the life of a human being! Verily, existence is as the days of a hireling; life is but a tale that is told. One short day and the self-admitted “happiest man in the world” is as ready to confess that Misery claims him for her own. When the first red rays of the rising sun fell through the iron lattice of the only window in the room, Dr. Lotus Stone was hardly less unwilling to believe, than had been his sad companion the morning before, that perhaps it would never again rise in all its glory to shine for him. One thought alone beat in upon the discouraged condition of Lotus with the 222 j. mchenry jones certainty of fate: “Whatever the accusation against him, Regenia would never believe it true.” His faith in her love was an impregnable barrier against the dashing waves of despair. Let all the world be false, Regenia, at least, would be as true as gold. It remains to be seen whether the faith, which he believed on that morning to be as fixed as the eternal certitudes, will be shaken by the trials awaiting him. There was a marked difference between the man that the officer led out to the preliminary trial and the one he brought to jail two evenings previous . Haggard, his eyes sunken, his face bristling with a beard of two days’ growth, halting steps, untidy in appearance, the elegant Dr. Stone staggered into the presence of the justice and took his seat on the prisoner’s bench. The accusation was read and the hearing was begun. Lotus looked around for his accuser. He was not left long in ignorance. Abe Johnsing, whose acquaintance the reader has made in another chapter, seated himself in the witnesses’ chair. This indolent rascal, who by a strange mischance, had broken his leg instead of his worthless neck, brought suit for mal-practice. He told his story, a web of well-woven lies, concocted of course, by the chicanery of Dr. Leighton. Abe Johnsing would never have dreamed of prosecuting Dr. Stone had not the blandishment of Dr. Leighton excited his cupidity. Dr. Leighton knew that Lotus Stone had no money to pay damages, but he persuaded Abe Johnsing that he had, well knowing that with a few dollars in sight the ignorant loafer could be induced to swear away the life of his own sister. Abe Johnsing was one of those traitorous Afro-Americans who for a few paltry dollars and the deceptive smiles of such as Dr. Leighton, would sell the fee simple of their soul’s salvation. “May their tribe wither and die under the righteous hate of all true men.” Dr. Leighton followed Abe Johnsing. While professing the greatest esteem for Dr. Stone, candor and professional pride compelled him to make an unbiased statement of the case of the case of Abe Johnsing as he found it. The justice stopped him. “The court,” he said, “has already heard testimony enough to hold the prisoner.” Dr. Stone asked to make a statement. “It is entirely unnecessary,” was the reply. “You are...