The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-01-22
IDELE'S TRIAL.

A party Of three were walking in the
garden. Madame Fanshawe came first
She was very little old lady, and would
have made you think Of fairy, with
her gold.headed cane, her glittering
puffs of white hair, her black eyes,
bright as diamonds. her long hooked
nose, her sharp curving chin.
The young lady with her had face
ike some rich-hurd tropical flower ;
me lits scarlet and white; the lovely
dark eyes shining. She lad yellow
rose in her black hair and another at
her belt.
The third person was gentleman
about twenty-eight, rather pale, but very
handsome aud naughty looking.
The three had just left the breakfast
tublc, ard came out together for stro.!
in madane's lovely rose garden.
The young gentleman was madame's
sop the young lady was her adopted
daughter. The son BY blood, and the
daughter by adoption, were to be mar
RED in few weeks.
Madame was not pleased that it should
be so, but her son was his own master /;
and, after all, though she did not know
who her parents were, ldele was girl
20 be proud of. So she submitted with
seeming good grace
Madame was the first TO discover
something unusual and strange in the
T.ath ahead of them, and fastening on
with the aid of her gold headed staff,
she reached it before the others. who
were gazing into each others eyes, came
up.
What madame had discovered was the
body Of youth Of perhaps fourteen,
terribly deformed but having heauti-
ful face and fair, curling hair. lie was
clothed iu a gay velvet suit, trimmed
with Ice, and wore scarlet hose and
handsome shoes with shining buckles.
He lay upon his side, and a knife
was sticking in his back, whose carved
handle of silver proclaimed it to be no
common weapon.
Close by was summer house over
grown BY roscs, honoysuckle aud sweet
briar.
Madame bent down to look closer
then she uttered q scream and started
back.
"philipw she cried. "Philip, come
here. 1t is Cock Robin some one has
killed him. Look ut the knife in his
side"
Philip Fanshawe stepped quickly be-
tween the girl he loved and that ghastly
sight.
But some fascination drew Idele for
ward She looked once. 1t was enough
With stealthy, shudderiag movement
her white hand crept, first to the flower
in her hair, then to the one at her bolt
and tearing both out, she dropped them
crushed, in the path.
The real name Of the murdered boy
was Bobby Reese; but some one had
dubbed him Cock Robin one day, and
the name had stuck TO him.
He was what is called half witted
and was the only child Of a favorite SER
want of Madame Fanshswe's. He wa'
sort Of pet Of madame, one Of whose
whinls it had been to deck him in such
fupry as he wore now.
you had better 60 into the house,
mother" said Philip; "you and ldclr
and send Biddie to me. This is no place
for you"
"Who is to tell his mother ?" cried
madame shrilly. "Nora'll 90 mad
Tell her yourself Wait-here she is
now. She has missed him.
A woman was coming towards them
with her apron to her eyes. She vii!
crying
IL can't fud my little lad, madame,
she said, as soon as she was near enough
"IIis beds not been slept in all night
I'm sore troubled for the boy"
Aud then, as both Philip and Madame
Fanshawo had stepped between her ant
Door slain Cock Robin, she caught 1
glimpse of his blue velvet jacket, anC
flung herself past them like mad crea
turc
Idele turned and ran suddenly from
the sound Of those frighful screams
going straight to her own room an'
locking herself in. She had not bce'
there long when Madame Fanshaw
came.
"Let mo in quickly, ldele," she said
in an imperative tone. 81 must spen
with you instantly-iustantly, do 20
Lear?'
Ilele opened the door. Her hal
was tumbled, her eyes were rcd. Sh
was trembling.
Did you wish to speak t" me Mad
amc p she asked, looking down.
And then Madame Faushawe pulle
.n,,,b;,o out of her mock Of and hashe