“I know it is; but how can that be made to appear?  Men will believe it, if it is false!”

“Never!  No one will ever believe evil of him.  He is now surrounded by the best and truest of men; and when this wretched Myers is tried, everything will be made clear.  I knew you would see this paper, and I came at once to tell you what I know of Barton’s connection with Greer.  Please listen;” and she told her of the old rumor about them, and of her journey to Ravenna, to see the latter, and showed her his note, addressed to her father.

The quick mind of the elder lady appreciated it as it was stated to her; and another thing, new and sudden as a revelation, came to her; and with tears in her eyes, and a softened and illuminated face, she turned to Julia, a moment since so proud and defiant, and now so humble and subdued, with averted eyes and crimsoned face:  “Oh, Julia!” and passed one arm around the slender girl.

“Please! please!” cried her pleading voice, with her face still away.  “This is my secret—­you will not tell—­let him find it out for himself—­please!”

“Certainly; I will leave to him the joy of hearing it from you,” said the elder, in her inmost soul sympathizing with the younger.

What a deep and tranquil joy possessed the heart of the mother, and with what wonder she contemplated the now conscious maiden! and how she wondered at her own blindness!  And so the threatening cloud broke for her:  broke into not only a serene peace, but a heartfelt joy and gratitude; and she parted with Julia with the first kiss she had ever bestowed upon her.

At the ensuing fall term of the Geauga Common Pleas, Myers was indicted for horse-stealing.  The prosecuting officer refused to make terms with him, and permit him to escape, on condition of furnishing evidence against others, as he had hoped when he made his confession; and when arraigned, he plead not guilty, and upon proper showing, his case was continued to the next term, in January.

A great crowd from all parts of the adjacent country, and many from a distance, had assembled to witness the trial of Myers.  The region of Eastern Ohio had, like many new and exposed communities, suffered for years from the occasional depredations of horse thieves.  It was supposed that an organization existed, extending into Pennsylvania.  The horses taken were traced to the mountain region in that State, where they disappeared; and although Greer and Brown were never before connected with this branch of industry, it was thought that the horses in question, which had been intercepted, were in the regular channels of the trade, which it was hoped, would now be broken up.  One noticeable thing at the court was the presence of Greer, who apparently came and went at pleasure.  He was cool and elegant as usual, and seemingly unconcerned and a little more exclusive.  His being at large was much at variance with the understood programme, and necessitated its reconstruction.  Little was said about Bart, and it was apparent that the public mind had returned to a more favorable tone towards him.