American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-02

mentS, his face set in the calm. restful
smile of death, one hand clutching u
water-lly, as though he had made some
piteous Little efforts to save himself.
Lady Cumnor threw herself down by
the body and clasped it in her arms.
She was a true woman, then, digniiied
by her tragical sorrow. She prayed
Heaven to restore little Hugh to life;
she called the boy BY every loving
name, by every tender word; but her
voice would reach his ears no more,
nor would his pretty lips open to her
ever again.
An agonizcd cry came from her when
she saw herself that he was dead.
Kindly hands tried to take the child
from her; but she laid him down ON the
soft, long grass.
LET no one touch himi" she cried.
Presently she rose and walked across
the green sward to where Ross, still
quite bewildered, stood. She drew
herself up to her full height before
him: she pointed to the body of the
dead child.
..You have killed hint" she cried
81 accuse you before Heaven, and in
the face of all men, OF having MUIR
dered my child; you have slain him
because he supplanted you! l demand
Justice! l charge you with the murder
of my little child"
There was a murmur of horror from
those around her, a cry of wonder and
dsmay from Ross: and then Sir Austen
made his way hastily through the
| crowd and came to his wife. He cried
aloud when he saw the child.
My dear Hester, what does all this
mean?" he exclaimed. ''What has
happened to our little ?"-and h.
raised little Hugh in his arms.
She turned her white, stricken face to
| him. and, pointing to Ross, said:
HE has killed our childr'
| Sir Austen moaned and murmur
came from the guests. Ross recovered
himself
ut is falser' he cried. 81 would not
have hurt hair of the childs head"
at is true" said Lady Cumnor.
''You shall not escape. l charge you
with the murder of my sonr'
LET me hear how it happened" re-
quested Sir Austen, while tears fell
from his eyes. .'Speak calmly
The mothers anguish seemed to have
covered her with dignity. There was
neither anger nor malice in her words,
nothing but the calm dignity of despair.
Ale has killed our childr' she re-
peated. Il will tell you how and why
he did it. He quarreled with me just
before he took little Hugh in the boat.
Any of those who were present will
bear testimony to the truth of what
say-any of them; you, Lady Brook.
you, Captain Arson, we're both present
when my step-son quarreled with me-"
1T is true" replied those to whom
she appealed; eve heard it,
"You hear. Austen" she said-''we
quarreled, and told him abruptly what
l had better left unsaid. L told him
that you had made Hugh heir to Larchton
Mere"
you told him before others-so
cruelty, so publiclyP'' said Sir Austen.
Yes; he irritated me, he angered
me, and l cried out TO him that he was
no longer heir of Larchton Mere; and
those who were present heard what he
said. He multered an imprccation, and
he threatened me. His face was
flushed, and his eyes flashed with anger;
he went away quickly and took our
child by the hand--our lovely little childr
The Baronet groaned, and another
murmur came from the crowd. The
| feeling was strong against Ross: he
could read it in the darkening faces
round him.
'.If he has done it." said q mans
voice, 'he ought to be hanged on the
nearest tree, and will help to do it."
81 did not do it," cried Ross. II am
as innocent as the child himself"
"You didit, repeated Lady Cumnor."
There was murder in your face when you
went away. You took my little child
on the water, and you drowned him."
81 saw you rowing towards the
water-lilies," sad Captain Arson, las
was going to the archery ground"
''And l saw you coming from the
banks of the mere" said Mr.. Charters,
" You had no child with You then"
"He had left him in the wator"'
cried Lady Cumnor. "But he meant
to drown him, or why should he have
taken Hugh in boat? He never loved
him, never liked him, never cared to
| please him."
II always did when you were not
present." said Ross; and he knew the
words were mistake before he had fin
ished them.
You heart" she cried, appealing to
the excited crowd around her. 81 say
never was evidence so strong. l told
him news which drove him almost mad
with anger; he threatened to be re-
venged on me and my son. Then he
took my child away-took him on the
water. One witness saw him rowing
towards the water-lilies, another saw
my boy; and soon afterwards the child
was found drowned, with water-lily
clutched in his hand. l say before
Heaven he is guilty. and 1 charge him
with the willful murder of my boy! /
demand that he be tried for his life"
There was stir and n 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.
eff all the people on earth swore that
you were guilty, l would not believe
them. l say that he is innocent-that
he is 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 installing 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
4 grateful smile; then, looking at Lady
Cumnor, he said:
MADAM, l can only repeat that l am
innocent. l acknowledge that l have
had great differences with you; but l
would not have hurt one hair of your
little child's head. Listen to me.
rowed him for some time on the water.