The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-05-30

An officer was at once notified, and
started in pursuit; and just down the /
sands, they came upon Luke Hartly,
looking wild and disheveled like crazy
man. Lord Hildric caused him to be
searched, and the stolen articles were |
found upon his person.
To all questions, whether put by friend
or foe, he kept most perfect silence.
He was not guilty, he went to St. Hlldric |
Court that night. but he did not commit |
the robbery. Farther than that he had |
nothing to say. In vain his friends urged |
| upon him the insane folly Of such course.
| Nothing moved him-not even the old
rector's remonstrances, or his widowed
mothers tears. He did not steal the
| diamonds, but how he came by them he
was not at liberty to say. 'He was
fool, said the lawyer who conducted his
case, and who had known him from his
boyhood up. But Luke smiled quietly
and said nothing.
The day of trial brought large crowd
to the Hartlepool Court House. Crime
was something new to the simple fisher
folks, and they focked In from miles and
miles to see the prisoner, and form their
own opinions concerning him.
He stood up proudly enough in the
prisoners box that day, his arms folded
across his brawny chest, and something
in his gray eye that gave lie to any accu-
sation that might be brought against
him. Lord Hildric paled, aad grew
nervous at sight of him.
The Wallets evidence was brief. He
heard some person entering the library,
only one instant after the turret clock
struck twelve, and reached the room only
in time to zee the thief escape. He did
net recognize, and could not identify
! him but there was another witness, in
the person of the old lodge-keeper, who
testified to having seen Luke Hartly
hanging about the court IN the same
night, and at about the same hour.
After him, Berenice, the ole rector 8
daughter, was called to the stand. White
as winter snow. her pretty curls pushed
back in disorder, her brown eyes strained
upon the prisoners face with wild and
piteous gaze, she stood there awaiting
, their cruel questions.
! Was the prisoner at her fathers house
on The night of the robbery? He was.
At what time? Nearly all the evening,
he came early. But at what hour did he
E leave? Could she remember? All, she
could indeed, but she would not tell.
, They stood together on the porch of
the old rectory, watching the fash of the
distant waves, and the yellow moonlight
GROWING the brown Durham hills
f Berenice was awaiting her father COM
ing, who was out with some poor dying
sinner, and her lover kept lingering from
hour to hour. He was absent and gloomy
and often sighed heavily like one in deep
distress. Berry did her best to comfort
him, and begged to know the cause of his
trouble; but he answered her almost
savagely, that it was something she could
not know.
A minute later, Lord Hildric came
galloping by On his way to the court, and
the young sailor grew fairly livid at sight
Of him.
Course him." he calculated, with
blazing eyes and clenched fists. I'm
afraid I shall murder him yet" Then
turning suddenly to the afrighted girl,
Berry" he said, Il want you to prom
Use me something-neve 70 speak to
yon fair-taced villain. Will you?''
"Why, Luke" she expostulated, chow
very absurd [ never do speak to Lord
st. Hildric except about the parish af-
, fairs and I'm sure he's a nice, fa;r-spok-
en- gentleman.
ooh, yes, too fair-spoken by great
deal, but as black a villain at heart as
ever lived-and, Berry. I've heard your
name coupled with his more than once
they say he loves you; but if you don t
want to make me a murderer, you never
must speak to him again. He's a bad
? man"
Then [ never viii. Lake." she said,
submissivcly; I'm willing to do any
thing In the world you wish me to do"
Il know it, my darling" he cried,
clasping and kissing her; land It's be-
cause you are SO pure, and love you SO,
that | require this
just then, standing side by side, they
heard the turret clock at St Hidric strike
eleven, and away down the lane came
the sober tramp of the rector's cab.
There's papa at last" cried Berence
ran away now Luke, and let me 60 in :;
he ii scold to find us out so late.''
And Luke kissed her good night and
strobe away through the spring moon
light, not in the direction of his mother
cottage and Carlow Head, but up the
open highway that led to ST. Hildric
Court.
She remembered it all, but she could
not answer; no word of hers should con-
Wet Luke. The counsel repeated the
question, but she turned from him with
white, sealed lips. Luke watched her
keenly for an instant, and then rose to
his feet.
Let me answer for her, he said, his
gray eyes cleaning, his plain face grand
and touching; don't worry the poor
child. | left the rectory at eleven o clock
and went straight to St. Hildric Court.
L wanted to see his lordshin." he contin-