Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-03-08
CHAPTER III.

JOhn w eStmacOtC. there was Il SOOO
reason to believe, had been murdered.
and By Thomas Mildmay, The two
young men had quilted the rectory
together, each bound for the village.
Only one, however, Thomas Mildmay,
had arrived at the inn, his clothes in
disorder, his manner agitated. his
shirt.front blood-stained. The next
morning John Westmacott was miss.
ing.
Search was made, and not only indi-
cations of severe struggle were dis
covered on the left bank Of the river,
but also the impress Of a mans body
III the snow, and sprig of holly, a
gold seal, and cane, all of which
were John Westmacott's property.
But the body of John Westmacott was
absent.
On being arrested, Thomas Mildmay
confessed that he and John Westma.
colt had fought by the dge,--upon
what matter he refused to state. But
he declared that the impress on the
snow was his own that he had been
struck down insensible by his oppo-
nent; that, on recovering, he had
found himself alone, and, fearing to
alarm the inmates of the rectory. had
gone to the inn.
Some believed this story. May did
from her heart. Nevertheless, cir.
cumstantial evidence was against him.
On such night, the body of man
thrown into the river would have
been whirled down to and lost in the
ocean like a whisp Of straw.
"Still, as no body could be found,
the direct proof of murder was want
ing, the Scotch jury brought in mot
Proven" and, with the brand of Cain
on his forehead, which only the ap.
pearance of John Westmacott in life
could remove, the accused was
released, condemned mutely, if not
openly, by the public voice.
"Then what do you think has be-
come Of him!" asked the Rector, sad.
ly, after hearing Thomas Alildmay's
recital Of the quarrel.
81 cannot imagine, sir, unless he
committed suicide,'' was the rejoind-
er. <'He was mad at the moment. His
accusation, his language, showed it.
He was capable of anything
"What do you intend doing, my poor
boy!"
Il shall go abroad" said the young
man, gloomily. 'What becomes of me
there is of small consequence
''Save to me, dear Tom,'' said May,
Moving near to him, and lifting her
brave eyes to his.
"1f you go, it shall not be alone.
do not think you guilty. Ibelieve all
you have said. l have promised to be
your wife, and l will be so now as ev,
er, dear"
For some moments his emotion was
too great for words. Then, embracing
her tenderly. he exclaimed:
"Heaven bless you for those COM
forting words, my darling. But no;
you shall not make this sacrifice; you
shall not bear q name Swallowed by
such verdict which implies my guilt
not sufficiently proved for the law to
punish, but equally guilty.
Two years had elapsed, during which
no intelligence had been heard of
John Westmacott, were he living, nor
lately of Thomas Mildmay. when one
stormy night, the anniversary of John
Westmac0tt's disappearance, the in.
mates of the rectory were aroused by
the deep, melancholy boom of the
minute-gun. It was sound unfortu.
nately too often heard on that wild,
rugged north coast; but its frequency
did not deter the inhabitants from
quittingtheirbeds, anxious torenderaid.
The Rector was ever among. the first
to encourage the reward. On this
night, despite his persuasions, for she
had grown very delicate, May, her
plaid wrapped around her, accompani-
ed him.
The beach, crowded with men, pre-.
sented an animated scene. Beyond
tossed the stormy sea, as black as the
sky above, except, when the white
crests Of the waves flashed out, before
they broke with q. deafening crash upon
the shore. Among those waves, gor.
ed by the hidden reefs. was tho i'll.