Litchfield enquirer., 1881-05-19

rose to meet me- with outstretched hands, he came hObbling across the floor by help of stick. was more embarrassed than l had expected to feel; for before his unexpected cheerfulness, condolence seemed not only out of place, but cruela If he bore his rnisfort-. | unes so calmly, it was worse than useless to remind him of how they impressed other peo- pie. When he came te talk, however, it was clear that he was fully alive to that and if he bore up with philosophical or Christian fortitude, it was only because he had other sources of consolation. After answering some inquiries as to his accident, he went straight to the point "You are surprised to see me take all this so easily, and don't wonder, Up to only enty-fonr hours ago, when they brought me here. l was in very different frame of mind. Fortunately, never was an excitable man, or do believe should have been work ed into brain-fever. You may fancy what it was to be arrested as felon, without a word or hint by way of warning. At first was supplied: but when the stupefaction wore of, my blood seemed boiling at fever heat, and my pulse was beating time at the double. The officers were civil and considerate, but they could not soften the reality. The cruel extravaganza of the accusation made me lose all power ot self control, so far at least as my feelings were concerned-for hope showed but little of them-and the idea that I had ceased to be a free agent maddened me Reason, and ] hope religion, asserted them- selves after time; but if have an enemy, as it appears have, would never wish him to endure the half of what I suffered on that terrible journey"
 l could say pothing. I only pressed his hand.
 ''They made their arrangements to bring me here after dusk. The prison authorities were courteous, even kind, but I fancied I saw marked change in their manner They showed me into my-my cell and left me. Then had a visitor, and you can guess who it was. She had heard of my misfortune A Heaven knows, the news of it seems to have spread fast-and she hurried to Guilford, that she might be ready to console me. From that moment all was different. It. sounds con- monplace to say she brought sunshine into the cell, but that was just what it was, and she left the sunshine in my heart. Not even to you can tell what passed but 1 never knew what it was to be happy before. She will not hear for a moment of anything but speedy explanation. 1 know not how that may be, though she has strengthened my hopes that Providence will help us. But while Cecilia is what she is, l care little for the world The man who has found such treasure would be ungrateful if he grumbied at anything and with such an example of pluck in a girl 1, should feel myself a coward if I quailed,- though the thought of being separated from her in ignominy and infamy adds another hor TOT to the possibility of conviction. told her that when you came 1 should send you to see her. You will lay your heads together and talk matters over, and then come and tell me what you think best to be done. You will find her there;" and he gave me the ad- ess.
 might have fallen in love with Miss Moly- neux myself, if my fortunate friend had not anticipated me- I had seldom seen face, I had never met character. that impressed or touched me more If she had borne up nobly on her visit to her lover, it was evidently at the cost of breaking down afterwards; and it was no wonder that overstrained nature re lieved itself. Her face showed the traces of tears, and there was melancholy shadow on her delicate features. Yet the clouds light ened and lifted as she began to speak, k,-as she expressed her wemanly indignation at the atrocity of the charge, and her assurance that her betrOthed would be lighted triumphantly. Yet it was easy to see she had been schooling herself to believe in the best, and that it cost a continual effort to keep her confidence. No wonder, when SO much was at stake, and when the innocent had been convicted before on evidence that appeared far less conclusive. The imminence of danger got the better of false shame, and she spoke of her devotion to Abraham with a simple unreserve, which made we feel again that he might be more to be envied than pitied.
 Even while she spoke hopefully, and dis cussed the elucidation of the affair with an intelligence that showed full command of her faculties, the starting tear and the quivering lip would sometimes belle that brave compos- ure. Yet though 1 listened, confess I was rather distr0tt, since l had to approach a very delicate subject. Although 1 had not an iota of direct proof, could not help connecting Lurcher with the rascality. But such conduct on his part would be 30 blackly ungrateful as to raise additional 'presumptions against it's probability. Naturally she was prepossessed in favour of her 44otege; it was she who had given him in charge to Abraham, and he, ac- cording to that theory of mine, had been the innocent cause of all this complication of mis- cry. But it was no use hesitating or beating about the bush, and broke my suspicious as gently as possible.
 At first she listened incredulously, almost indignantly. That was prepared for and 1 persisted quietly Tn setting forth the grounds of my ill opinion of MT. Lurcher, reminding her that, in the course of or long Continental ties of judging him than she. Although not convinced, she was so far shaken that she heard me with more of the impartality of judge. And as my suggestions offered ray of intelligible hope, she seemed to incline to them rather against her will No doubt Abra- hams acQuittal was everything to her; but just because she desired it so ardently, she dreaded the more doing injustice to anybody.
 "Well, Mr. Hooper," she said at last. with kind expressions which 1 need not repeat II believe it will be best to act as you propose. So long as we do nothing positively wrong, we must leave no single stone unturned AS for me- 1 am afraid my wishes may blind my judgment Iwelcome anything that offers chance of clearing up tue mystery, and yet that suspicion seems too detestable. But if the business be delicately managed, Lurcher need know nothing of it. If he be what Abraham and I have believed him, he could never get over so terrible an injustice"
 Innocent or not, held to the belief that MT. Lurcher's feelings would not be grievously outraged, even by the detection of the little arrangement proposed. That he might have strong personal reasons for objectng to sur- veilance in any case, felt no doubt in the world. Naturally I hinted nothing of the kind to Miss Molyneux, but, taking leave of her as as if we had been old acquaintance, re- turned promptly to London.
 If Miss Molyneux was slow to suspect ev of her fellow creatures, that was not by any meaLs the weakness of Mir. Inspector Quick cit. happened to have transacted business with that eminent detective before, and had reason to know that he had really much of the shrewdness with which his fraternity are pop ularly credited. He threw in occasional ques- tions, and was guarded as to committing him. self but it was clear that he shared my doubts about Lurcher. This was sensational case besides, and there was credit to be won by clearing an eminent phianthropist from so damaging an accusation. When our interview was at an end, had the satisfactory assurance that the interests of my friend were in cap- able hands, and that the vanity of the detec- tive was effectually enlisted
 When saw him again certain amount of progress had been made, although not alto gether so much as could have desired. But the bent of my suspicious had been more or less confirmed, and the detective's zest in the quest had been stimulated. He was more