No, she had
no suspicion that the young man might not be in a position
to make such payments. She understood that Mr Ormiston's
family was wealthy, and never thought twice about it.
She spoke with a hard dignity, the lady, and a great
effect of doing business, a kind of assertion of the
legitimate. The farmers of Fox County told each other in
chapfallen appreciation that she was about as level-headed
as they make them. Lawyer Cruickshank, as they called
him, brought forth from her detail after detail, and
every detail fitted damningly with the last. The effect
upon young Ormiston was so painful that many looked
another way. His jaw was set and his features contorted
to hold himself from the disgrace of tears. He was
generally acknowledged to be overwhelmed by the unexpected
demonstration of his guilt, but distress was so plain in
him that there was not a soul in the place that was not
sorry for him. In one or two resolute faces hope still
glimmered, but it hardly survived the cross-examination
of the Crown's chief witness by the counsel for the
defence which, as far as it went, had a perfunctory air
and contributed little to the evidence before the Court.
It did not go all the way, however. The case having opened
late, the defence was reserved till the following day,
when proceedings would be resumed with the further
cross-examination of Miss Belton.
Pages:
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139