Billy realized that it had been these lessons that had
spurred him on to the mad scheme that was to end now with
the verdict of "Guilty"--he had wished to vindicate his honor.
A hard laugh broke from his lips; but instantly he sobered
and his face softened.
It had been for her sake after all, and what mattered it if
they did send him to the gallows? He had not sacrificed his
honor--he had done his best to assert it. He was innocent.
They could kill him but they couldn't make him guilty. A
thousand juries pronouncing him so could not make it true
that he had killed Schneider.
But it would be hard, after all his hopes, after all the plans
he had made to live square, to SHOW THEM. His eyes still
boring through the paper suddenly found themselves attracted
by something in the text before them--a name, Harding.
Billy Byrne shook himself and commenced to read:
The marriage of Barbara, daughter of Anthony Harding,
the multimillionaire, to William Mallory will take place on the
twenty-fifth of June.
The article was dated New York. There was more, but Billy
did not read it. He had read enough. It is true that he had
urged her to marry Mallory; but now, in his lonesomeness and
friendlessness, he felt almost as though she had been untrue to
him.
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