At about that hour, a boy from Parker's brought her the following note:
"THURSDAY EVENING.
"Miss Markham:—Pardon, if you can, my rudeness of this afternoon. Kindly remember the severity of my punishment. Believe me capable of appreciating a heroic act; and the womanly devotion that can alone reward it. From my heart, I congratulate you.
"With the profoundest respect.
"W. THORNDYKE."
As she read, a softer light, almost a mist, came into the eyes of the young girl.
"I fear I have done this man a real injustice."
CHAPTER XLVII.
THE TRIAL
The March term of the Court at Chardon was at the beginning of its third and last week. The important case in ejectment of Fisk vs. Cole, was reached at the commencement of the second, and laid over for the absence of defendant's counsel. This directly involved the title of Cole to his land; a title that had been loosely talked about, and generally supposed to be bad.