Weaker than a Woman — page 156: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘ aod ~~ . he _ - ey Bree, tape. Neeegey, PINES Sy “7 vO EE ae = aie ita * a ¢ ‘> ‘ .- » . > - ° ™ - . . 4 > Se ee tS - ~~ “. ~~ - - ~—* =“ sw* < Saf Fay 4 ha” am ~~ ws > - . e er tee it fe . = gee hk ats “= . ~¥ * ~ . . << a * + tee” — “— -* < > : - 5 . x : * WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. 147 to leave him her money. Gentlemen, the judge who gave sentence against him was a stranger to him, and the jury who decided in favor of the heir-at-law did not know him. _ But you know him; he has lived among you all his life, he has served you to the best of his knowledge, and not one among you, man, woman, or child, can say that he has ever spoken a false word or done a mean or underhand deed. He has always been industrious, honest, and. gener- ous—one of those men who make the very backbone of Old Kngland—a loyal subject, a spirited townsman, a true | friend, a devoted husband, a kind father. He has spent his life among you, and not one of you can say that you have ever known him to do wrong. If you can, speak.” There was a dead silence which lasted for some moments, and then a voice said : “You are right, my lord. Not one among us has ever known him to do wrong.” “Tam sure not,” declared the earl. ‘Now mind what I say. With the jury and the judge who thought James . Hardman entitled to Elizabeth Hardman’s money, and who really believed that Darcy Lonsdale had wrongfully used his great influence with her, I have nothing to do. They did their duty honestly, even if mistakenly. To you who constituted yourselves judge and jury—to you who, know- ing the man and his character, judged him yourselves as guilty—to you 1 wish to speak. I believe him to be inno- cent. I have read carefully since my return every word of the trial, and I say before you all, in the most emphatic words that I can use, that I believe him to be innocent, and, what is more, to be a deeply injured man.” He was obliged to stop, for there rose from the lips of the men who had misjudged Darcy Lonsdale, who had shunned him, who had withdrawn their business from him, who had half broken his honest heart by their conduct, a cheer such as had never been heard in Lilford. Perhaps in their hearts they had never quite believed him guilty. Perhaps the earl’s noble words touched them with com- punction and regret. Something appealed to them, and they cheered until the walls of the “ Bramber Arms’’ shook again. “We are agreed, then, gentlemen,” said the earl. “Our old friend and fellow-townsman is an _ honest, honorable gentleman.” They cheered again and again. It was with some diffi- culty that the earl could make himself heard. At last si- lence was restored, and then he continued : Eomicbooks (e{6) mn