She started as though she had received a blow, and instinctively threw aside her veil.
And the beautiful, pale, agonized young face was revealed to the whole assembly.
A murmur of compassion moved, breeze-like, through the hitherto pitiless crowd, and a single half-suppressed cry was heard from the Anchorage party.
That cry came from Annella Wilder, who then for the first time discovered the identity between her friend Miss Miller and the accused Eudora Leaton.
“Attend to the reading of the indictment,” continued the clerk, addressing the prisoner.
Eudora obeyed by lifting her frightened eyes to the cold, business-like face of the speaker, who commenced reading the formidable document he held in his hand, setting forth in successive counts how the prisoner, Eudora Leaton, being impelled by satanic agency, with malice prepense, at certain times and places therein specified, by the administration of certain poisonous and deadly drugs, did feloniously procure and effect the death of the Honorable Agatha Leaton, &c., &c., &c.
“Prisoner at the bar, arise, and hold up your right hand,” ordered the clerk, when the reading was finished.
Eudora, pale, faint and trembling, obeyed.
“Prisoner, you have heard the charge against you. Are you guilty or not guilty of the felonies with which you are accused?”
“Not guilty, as I shall answer at the last day before the awful bar of God,” said Eudora, in a low, sweet, solemn voice, that thrilled through the hearts of that whole assembly, as she sank again into her seat.