The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-07-18
M A D CAP;
THE STORY OF A SIN.
Or
By HELEN u. MATHERs.

WE'VE they retired, and the Judge left
MS seat 10 read the morning papers,
half hoping that Mr.. Eyre might join
him; for, as a man, his sympathy was
entirely with his old friend, whom he
did not consider more guilty than 9TH
ers, though decidedly more unfortun-
ate. -itl5 'LIA.O WYNN =
But Mr.. Eyre, in obedience to a scrib-
bled note from the Duchess, had gone
round to where she sat, and, in the
grasp Of her hand, met the first cordial
support he had known for days. The
Duchess's heart had thrilled at the evil
dence OF Mr.. Eyre's positive hatred of
the prisoner; he had not been so cold to
her, and Madcap was dead.
The Duke received him coldly. Hes
ter's behavior in the dock had produced
profounded impression on him, as on
many others. He thought that in
nobility she showed almost equally with
Frank; and his whole soul went forth
in admiration to the young fellow whose
self-sacrifice, heroically persisted in to
the last, had ensured Madcap's happi-
ness to the very end.
Mr.. Eyre cOnversed on Indifferent
topics, asking some particulars as to
the Dukes shooting, and inquiring of
the Duchess what might be her plans
for the winter. 600.
She thought him very little altered by
ment, and a certainty that Hester would
be found guilty, and Madcap avenged,
sustained him.
The first shock to this conviction came
when the jury, at the end of half an
hour, re-entered the court.
The Judge resumed his seat. Mr..
Eyre uncOnsciOusly clinched his bare
hand till blood sprang from the finger
nails, as the clerk put the usual ques-
tion to the foreman Of
''Guilty, or not guilty."
ave can't agree"
"Then you may retire." said the
Judge, land the prisoner be removed,
and brought up again for sentence
and angrily jerking his robes about him,
he withdrew.
Mr.. Eyre stood rigid, then, exclaim-
ing, "DOltsl fools!-they can't hesitatel"
left the Duchess without word.
Meanwhile Frank, who had caught
from Hester, in the very act of removal,
look impossible to be misunderstood,
had left the court, and, after some diff
Guilty, succeeded in obtaining an inter-
view with her, limited to one quarter
of an hour.
He found her walking swiftly to and
fro, and was shocked at the haggard-
ness Of the face she turned upon him
as he entered.
They're hesitating!" she said; II
didn't think they would-but they may
bring me in guilty, and it's best to face
it, only it seems harder than reckoned
on; and there's her baby up there, and
no mother to tend it-and If her death
lies at my door for the wicked words
spoke to him that day, I'd like to live,
and work it out; but understand now
why Janet was so ready and willing to
die-when ones blind tired, and got
nothing worth waking up for, it's nat
ural to want to sleep; but 1 shall be
wanted, and she would have wished me
to stop. 1 think you guessed" she
went on, with wan smile; .'how L
meant to steal my idol, and take him
stolen him, and laid him in her arms
it was only for little while she was
left without him."
''Hesterl" he cried, ''why won't you
speak; clear yourself. for Gods sake, if
you are innocent-tell all that you
know of that fatal night!'
IF am innocent? You stayed away,
but never thought you believed me
guilty. When you've loved some one
dearly, and had a misunderstanding
with her, and made it up again, and
kissed one another, could you find 1t in
your heart to kill herr" said Hester,
with quiyering lips. II didn't mean to
speak; Pm just working it out-my
wickedness in saying what did to him;
she'd be alive now may be but for that. !"
'What did you say to him?" cried
Frank, Selling her arm, a horrible fear
80 dc
him pale as ashes. She tore herself
away, and fell face downward on the
low pallet upon which she and Janet,
through so many miserable hours, had
sat side by side.
II can't speak," she said at last; 81
broke my word to her once, but I'll
never break the last vow swOre to her,
that I'd never harm anything she loved;
and never will; I'd rather die than tell
even him, much less you, the truth
about the murder"
"Then you know" he said, scarcely
breathing as he looked at her.
After all, it's best to die" said Hes
ter, in the same tone; "she won't tor
ment me with questions-for she doesn't
know she never shall, her voice
dropped. "But there's Janet, she'll
miss my letters-and if the worst comes,
yOull see tIldC no Oue IellS u6I.
Footsteps approached, the brief in
terview was nearly ended. AS she sat
erect and covered up her face, the door
opened, and the turnkey appeared in
the aperture.
1t was the same man who had admit
ted Mr.. Eyre to that interview with
Janet that the condemned woman had
demanded, and something familiar in
the huddled up figure on the pallet, in
Franks expectant attitude as he turned
away, smOte the mans dull memory in
to life. He glanced back curiously at
Hester as he locked the door upon her.
There was terrible question in Franks
eyes when next they met those of his
friend, to which Mr.. Eyre did not re-
spond.
"What is it, Frankp" he said; "are
you afraid these fools will take ven
geance out Of our hands after all? They
daren't do it, or I'D move heaven and
earth to reverse their decision. This
hand" he added, looking at it, ''it's
clean yet, but won't answer for its
deeds If she lives, while Madcap is
dead" srts n
The day wore on, drew to its close,
and the Jury did not return. i'
Locked into small room, without