The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-07-05
CIRCUIST4NTIAL ETT-
DENCE.

l.
like best" said Virginia Wilde, laugh
ingly, ''and will not be prosecuted by
Adrian Harwood's attention any longer. ,
"Poor, dear creature" said old Miss
Pocklington, taking off her spectacles
and polishing them as though she meant
to wipe through the glasses entirely
"she amt heard p
"Heard what ?" said Virginia, still in
tent on her stitching.
"How should she % interposed Mrs.
Taper; "she only came back from Bos-
ton last night, and it's full fortnight
since it happened.
"Since what happened ?" questioned
Virginia, at last looking up, with the
crimson banners of suspense futtering
on her cheeks, and restless, feverish
light in her eyes. "You are talking in
riddles. I don't comprehend you"
"Adrian Harwood is dead" eroaked
Miss Pocklington
"Dead?" vaguely repeated Virginia.
"Do you mean-dead2"
Murdered said Miss Poel5lington,
with a smack of her lips, as if, ghoul-
like, she enjoyed the evil tidings.
But she did not. She was a good
Christian woman in her way, only she
was carried away sometimes by the in
tense flavor of gossip.
Virginia dropped her work and turned
pale as death.
"Ah, you may well slliver p cried
Mrs. Taper, eager to have her finger in
the conversational pie. "And it was
Charley Arkwright that murdered him
so there, now. Down in hollow by
the river bank, just where they moored
their boats last summer and the re-
mains were found hidden away in the
Gypsy's cave, close by, tied up in a bag
Folks are dreadful sorry for Charley, but
dear heart alivel Ideclare if she amt
tainted"
"People do say that she thought a
heap of Charley Arkwright," said Miss
Pocklington, feeling in her dress pocket
or her camphor bottle. ''And of all
proud folks, Virginia Wilde is the
proudest. This'll be a dreadful humilia-
ton to her, to be sure. Open window
just little bit. There, she will be all
right again in few minutes now."
Poor Virginia! floating slowly back
into the region of life, she felt horrible
weight pressing down her heart as with
ton of ice.
Adrian Harwood lying in bloody
grave, consigned thither by the Cain
like man she had taught herself to love
best in the world. Could it be true :?
Or was it portion of the hideous dream
and circling around her brain with end
less repetition.
She had gone away from Rivershield
in the full, bright happiness of Is; she
came back to the consciousness of this
horrid tragedy lying like scarlet stain
across the horizon of her life.
"You'H give him up, of course" said
Mrs. Wilde to her daughter.
Give him up, mamma? ? why2"
And Virginia fixed her large, serious
eyes ON her mothers face.
81 should think the reason was suffi-
GENTLY apparent" said Mrs. Wilde,
slightly drawing herself up. ''Gen.
Ponsonby Wilde's daughter is hardly
the person to allow herself to be inter-
ested IN man who is likely to be con-
victed as a murderer p
Mamma said Virginia, "Charles
Arkwright never did that deed"
''Circumstantial evidence is very strong
against him, my dear
"But he denies it." protested Vir-
ginia.
GA man may make almost any asser-
ion to save himself from the gallows,
Virginia. And these wretched remains
do they bear no bloodstained testi-
mony?"
"They are accounted for easily enough,
mamma, said Virginia, talking hurried
ly with an effort. TIT was subject
or dissection which Adrian and Charley
had brought down in box from the
Gatesly Hospital. They were surprised
before they could land it at Arkwright
Court. They were obliged to hide it
as well as they could from the men
who were out spearing salmon at night
They intended to return for it in a few
days, but
"AIl this is very plausible, interrupt