The objection was overruled, and the
bold but trembling girl was called upon for her testimony.
A new hope had been breathed into the bosoms of the parties most
concerned, on the appearance of this interruption to the headlong and
impelling force of the circumstances so fatally arrayed against the
prisoner. The pedler was overjoyed, and concluded that the danger was
now safely over. The youth himself felt his spirit much lighter in his
bosom, although he himself knew not the extent of that testimony in his
favor which Lucy was enabled to give. He only knew that she could
account for his sudden flight on the night of the murder, leading to a
fair presumption that he had not premeditated such an act; and knew not
that it was in her power to overthrow the only fact, among the
circumstances arrayed against him, by which they had been so connected
as to make out his supposed guilt.
Sanguine, herself, that the power was in her to effect the safety of the
accused, Lucy had not for a moment considered the effect upon others,
more nearly connected with her than the youth, of the development which
she was prepared to make.
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