The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-07-05

body. The question still remained un-
answered-the question on which Ark
wright's life hangs: "Where is Har-
wood %
"I don't know, mamma, the girl an
swered. &C pretend to no second sight
wright never committed that murder
no, never"
And to this Virginia Wilde clung alike
through evil reports and good.
OF course Charles was not convicted.
The day is past when mere circumstan-
tial evidence can rivet the hangman's S
moose around a.man's 'nao1-
The mere fact that he and HarwOOd
had been quarreling violently in the
river cove that afternoon, and that Har-
wood had never been seen from that
time to this, was not enough to justify
verdict of Z" Guilty"
The additional link of evidence, sup
piled by the CHASTITY remains discovered
ten days afterwards in the cleft of the
rocks called the "Gypsy's Cave, was
not enough. They were past identifca-
ton; although everybody believed them
to be the remains of the murdered man,
the law impartially stood aloof and SO,
after a weary formula of legal minutia
and delays past reckoning, Arkwright
was acquitted and released once more
from his prison dungeon.
How strange it seemed, to be free to
go and come whittier he would-to regu-
late his own occupation and escape
from the incubus of those four brood
ing walls (! But how stranger far the
altered mein of those who had once
called HIM their friend
His old medical preceptor turned
frigidly down a street corner to avoid
meeting him-a knot of careless young
students, coming toward Gatesly Hospi-
tai suddenly became absorbed in the
shop windows. Miss Pocklington stared
him direct in the face, without sign of
recognition, and Miss Elton, to whom
he ventured, unthinkingly, to raise his
hat, took her companions arm and hur-
ried past, muttering something about
''the presumption of jail-birds daring
to bow to herl''
Arkwright's heart sank within him.
After all. was such a life as this worth
striving for? People believed him a
murderer-why had he endeavored to
nccana q ,,,,1r1 arar'c Ioo,,
Suddenly Miss Wilde came out of a
store near by. Arkwright involuntarily
recoiled. He felt instinctively that a
cold glance from her eyes would be the
last bitter drop beyond endurance in his
cup.
But before he could retreat, Virginia
hurried up to him, with crimsoned
cheeks, and eyes swelling over with
tears, while she held out both her
hands.
"Oh, Charley Dear Charlie p
"My Virginia, he uttered, fairly un-
manned, "you believe in me still,
then?"
"I believe you now, Charley" she
answered. 81 shall believe you al
ways r'
"You do not suppose, dearest, that I
shall hold you to your troth?" he said,
almost bitterly.
"I don't know whether you will OF
not" said Virginia Wilde, half-laugh-
ing, half-sobbing, as she clung to his
arm. But I shall hold you, dear, to
yours"
And to this Virginia adhered through
all opposition and remonstrance.
Mrs. Gen. Wilde WAS shocked the
world in general was scandalized. Peo-
pie were hardly willing to believe that
the beautiful Virginia Wilde was actual
ly willing to cast in her lot with that of
the imputed murderer.
81 love him." said Virginia, "and
that is enough %
s'And [ love her," said Mr.. Arkwright,
=" and that is the reason [ will not marry
her."
In vain were Miss Wildes pleadings.
because [ do love you that am unwil-
ling to unite your fate with mine. Some
day, perhaps, when the world believes
in my innocence as firmly as you do
"In that case," said Mrs. Wilde,
tauntingly, "my daughter is safe
enough"
"I think she is, madam" answered
Arkwright calmly.
-Four years passed away. Silver
threads began to glisten in Arkwright's s
raven hair, although he was not yet 30
And Virginia Wide lost some of her
fresh brightness and elasticity, but she
never for moment wavered in her lov-
ing allegiance.
81 Will wait for him, though it be a
lifetime" said She
One day a gentleman called at the
Court to see its gloomy and self-con-
tanned master.
sDid he send up a card ?" asked Ark
wright.
"No, sir, answered the man, who had
lately entered service at Arkwright
Court.
"Then tell him I see no visitors
=" But, sir" pleaded the man, che said
his business was of special urgency
Arkwright hesitated Il moment; then
he went down stairs, slowly and r1nwill-
ingly.
'Great heavens p he exclaimed.
starting back. ''Adrian Harwood?"
"Yes, old fellow, it is l." said Har-