New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-06-08

my boy; and soon afterwards the child
was found drowned, with water-lily
clutched in his hand. I say before
Heaven he is guilty, and I charge him
with the willful murder of my boy!
demand that he be tried for his lifo!"
There was stir and murmur; then
a slight figure forced its way through
the crowd and came up to him-a pale,
sweet face, from which fear had driven
away all color-a slender, girlish figure;
and Lady Viola Carlien, needless Of the
wondering eyes, placed her hand on his
arm.
If all the people on earth swore that
you were guilty, I would not believe
them. I say that he is innocent. that
he is a tender-hearted English gentle
man, who would have given his own
life to save the child. Shame on those
who misjudge him because appearances
are against him.
There was murmur of admiration
at the girls courage. The Neapolitan
Prince uttered a low cry; he understood
now why no lover could win Lady
Viola. There was no mistaking the
expression of the girls face as she
stood by Ross side; she looked as if
she were ready to do battle with the
whole world for his sake. Ross, in his
wondering anguish, turned to her with
q grateful smile; then, looking at Lady
Cumnor, he said:
madam, can only repeat that am
innocent. I acknowledge that I have
had great differences with you; but
would not have hurt one hair of your
little child's head. Listen to me. {.
rowed him for some time on the water
He wanted to gather a few of the wa
TEXTILES, but 1 would not let him, poor
little fellow! Then suddenly remem-
bered that I had undertaken little
commission for my father; and rowed
back quickly to land. I took the child
from the boat, and drew the boat upon
the bank; then took him by the hand.
saw Miss Dynevor in the distance, and
said to the boy, Run to your auntie
Leam.' I deserve blame for not giving
him myself into Miss Dynevor's care.
But the distance did not seem great, and
I never dreamed of harm happening to
the little one. I intended to return, to
take him and Miss Dynevor on the lake
again; but I was prevented. That is
the whole truth, before Heaven"
81 refuse TO believe it, said Lady
Cumnor. "You were seen to take the
child on the water, and no one saw you
bring him back. All the evidence is
against you. You hated him because
he stood between you and your inherit
ance; and you have drowned him in
such manner as to give his death the
appearance Of accident. Idemand that
you be arrested for the murder of my
child!'
Ross looked round and saw that they
were all against him save Lady Viola.
who cried out in pity. Then suddenly
another young girl stepped forward,
beautiful as picture, a light on her
lovely, Southern face, her dress of am
Der and white falling in statuesque folds
around her, and amber roses nesting in
her hair. She advanced to where the
little group stood-Lady Cumnor, with
her white face full of tragic sorrow, Sir
Austen, too bewildered to speak, Ross,
half indignant, half despairing, and
Lady Viola, holding his hand, as though
she would cling to him when all hope
failed. Lean raised her face to Lady
Gunner; and those who saw it never
forgot it.
''He is innocent she said, calmly.
II did it. I will answer to Heaven and
to you for the little life lost. l swear
that he did not do it, and that didp'
They fell back from her with a cry
of horror, and left her standing alone.
The silence of unutterable horror lay
| over them all. Lady Cumnor was the
first to speak.
"Your' she cried. "What had !
done to you that you should slay my
child? You, a woman yourself, to take
my darling from mep'
Leans dark head dropped for one
moment; then she raised her pale, ago.
nized face.
II repent now," she said, "but
killed the child"
"Lcam," cried Ross, "you did not;
you could not! it is impossib!er'
''It is true,'' she declared. "Before
Heaven l say that 1t is my fault the
child is dead. l killed it!''
81 will never believe it!' cried Ross.
eft is true,' she repeated.
Then Lady Cumnor seemed to re.
cover from her shock of horror. She
looked at the girl standing before her.
II can believe it," she said. II can
sooner believe it of you even than Of
him. He is a man; he might hesitate
before he took the life of little child.
You are woman whose heart is on fire
to avenge what you consider his wrongs.
will not say, Lean Dynevor, that it is
conspiracy between you; l will not
say that between you you plotted the
death of my boy. I will not say that,
although. it may be true.''
"My dearest Hester" cried Sir Aus.
ten, whose distress of mind at the loss
of his child was SO great that he could
hardly speak, spray be calm! You
must not say such things"
INLAY I not speak the truth to the
murderess of my child? She tells you
she killed our little Hugh. believe
there is always evil lurking in the dark
face of Southern woman. demand
that she be punished! I demand that
justice be melted out to her, and that q
life be given for the life taken! Would
any woman accuse herself of that which
was not true? Would any woman en-
danger her life for a lieP Answer me. y
From the crowd came no reply; but
Lady Cumnor read pity in every face.
''You pity her!' she cried. "What
compassion have you for me, whose
darling lies murdered there? pa doc
tor had been summoned, but he had
pronounced life to be extinct. s.She
tells me she has slain my child, and
your hearts go out in pity towards her!
say she ought to be stoned to death,
for she has slain the sweetest of chill
dren-my only child! Pity herP No; a
life for a life! | will tell you why she
has slain my child. She chose to-day
because she thought that every one
would be too intent to notice her move-
ments, and she has killed him because
listen!''
A deeper silence fell upon the crowd,
every man and woman of which bent
forward to hear.
Because she is going to marry Ross
Gunner, and this child stood between
her lover and his fortunai That woa