The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-06-27

Rutland only on catching MIR. Eyre's
eye and receiving from him reassur-
ing glance, showed any sign Of recover
ing his scattered wits.
And SO the inquiry into the bitter
tragedy of Madcap's death began with
broadcast farce, for the sense of what
| the man said seemed actually lost in
the absurdity of how he looked while
saying it-though the sum total drag
ged bit by bit from his unwilling lips,
and emitting all legal wrangles, was as
follows
On the afternoon of the murder, he
had placed a ladder against his mis-
tress's window for the purpose of re-
moving some weeds that were growing
around it; but being wanted by the
cook for some kitchen-stuff, he had for
gotten the ladder till reminded of it by
his master, who had come into the hot
house about four o'clock, and had told
him to saddle horse and ride to the
nearest town where exOtics might be
purchased, and to bring back all that
he could find.
In doing this he had forgotten the
ladder, and, after arranging the flowers,
had gone home for his supper, and to
bed; but at half past ten he had woke
up, and remembered the ladder, and
how his master, who might be smoking
a cigar out of doors that evening, would
probably see it, and be angry with him
for disobeying his orders, on the NOR
row. He had, therefore, put on his
clothes and gone up to the Hall, but to
reach the ladder he must pass the draw
ing-room and library windows. The
window OF the latter was partly up, and
he saw his master sitting at table
writing, his head resting on his hand.
orr window
open, and as much as could be seen of
the room behind, brightly lit call of a
muck of candles" in Digges' vernacu-
lar, and he drew back when he saw
two people in the window, so frighten-
ed that he had much ado not to cry
out. Asked why he was frightened, he
said that one was his mistress, and she
had got fire playing all about her head.
and neck and arms. He wondered
Lord Lovel did not try to put 1t out,
but they were just talking quietly, as if
there was nothing the matter ut all. He
got bit nearer and thought she must
have got swarm Of fire-fiies dangling
round her made into necklace and
of such things, but he had never seen
them, though he supposed they meant
deal of money. If those were dia-
monds she had got on, he had many a
time seen glow-worms give handsome
light, and yet they weren't worth no
money to speak of. Did they see himY
No, they were talking "courting-like;"
and here the unhappy man, with ter
rified look at his master, relapsed into
contortions more frightful than before.
A slight smile of pity curled Mr.. Eyre's
lips as he looked at him, but Digges,
seeing the smile, took heart, and
thought that his master was not angry.
What were Lord Lovel and his mistress
saying? He didn't know that he could
answer that; folks had no business to
on being browbeaten and bullied. and
on receiving slight nod from Mr.. Eyre,
Digges very unwillingly and frowning-
ly made reply:
"She said as how she'd allus luv'd
him, and ever should. and he took her
hand and kissed it as if it was ever so,
faltered out Digges; and all present
turned to look at Mr.. Eyre, vino stood,
with lips and brow firm as rock, rs in
different to their gaze as though he
were alone.
Frank. too, showed no emotion, only
his face took an added shade Of sad
ness; it seemed to him so deep dis
honor to Madcap's memory that her in
nocent words should be thus blared
aloud in court.
Did you hear or see anything fur
ther?' was the next question.
''NoP'-he didn't listen; he didn't
think nought of what he heard-the
ways of quality weren't as poor folks
ways; and, having nothing else to do, it
seemed to pass the time like with
them to say what they didn't mean.
But as he couldn't get round to the lad
der, he thought he would go to the
kitchen, and bide there a bit until the
window was shut and the company
gone. lie looked in at the library win
dow as he passed, but Mr.. Eyre was not
at the table; he was standing by a door
that led into the drawing-room, close to
the open window, and he supposed Mr..
Eyre was going through that way into
the drawing-roOm.
At this speech Mr.. Eyre was observ-
ed to start, and look at him sternly
and fixedly-hitherto he had worn a
look of encouragement for the frighten-
ed wretch, now he made a sign as
though renOuncing him as liar and
abandoning him to his fate.
The examination continued. Digges
had gone to the kitchen, had drop of
something hot, and ut half past eleven
went round to the front of the house,
and had just got his hand on the ladder
to lift it, when to his surprise he found
that it would not move, that there was
something on it-in his alarm he shook
it. and in the same moment heard just
above him shrek that made his flesh
creep, that seemed to come from Mrs.
Eyre's room. For moment he could
not move; the next he began to run up
the ladder. but met something coming
down. lie retreated backward before it,
and turning the bull 's-eye Of his lantern
upon what was rushing OH him, saw
that it was Mrs. Clarke, Lord Lovel's
lady. lie was so COMPOUNDED at the
shrek, and seeing her there, that Inc let
her run past him, he seized hold OF her
skirt, only she fought like any cat, and
got away, and he didn't run after her,
for he wanted to know what was going
on at the top Of the ladder; he didn't
think that screech was his missus's, she
had got avery douce voice, but he want
ed to see;-and here his grotesque con-
tortions of face produced in the look
ers-on mingled sensation of laughter