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


Canst thou bind the sweet influences Of tina
P.eiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
And now to hear what the outside
world-''respectabil with its thou
sand gigs'-had said to the deed ofvio-
lence committed at the Red Hall. With
in twelve hours of Mrs. Eyre's death,
the whole countryside was ringing
with it; the house was beseged by per-
sons who came from far and near to ask
If the dread report were true. and to
CLEAN such details of the tragedy as
they might.
The scandals that had been afoat
concerning Madcap were forgotten in
the horror her fate eXcited-only her
youth and sweetness were remembered
now, and an indignant throb of pity for
the murdered, of hatred for the muir
derer, thrilled every heart. -
The disappearance OF the diamonds
reduced the crime to one of simple
greed: but there were persons, OF whom
Mrs. Transome was one, who boldly de-
clared that they did not believe word
about the diamonds, but felt sure Mr..
Eyre had killed her in a fit of jealousy
at her Irritation with Lord Lowell.
But this idea-for Mr.. Eyre's devo-
ton to his wife was well known, and no
greater proof Of his love could be asked
than the conscious, possibly dying. state
in which he now lay-was received cold
ly; and, indeed, the first confusion and
horror had scarcely subsidized, when it
became known that the man Digges
was released, and the woman Hester
Clarke, after short preliminary in
.9iry, been committed to take her trial
on the capital charge at the next as
sizes. And then the public curiosity,
that had slackened little over SO dull
u criminal as the gardener, rose to fever
heat, as, bit by bit, the circumstances
OOZed out that were said to have led to
her arrest.
Lord Lowell had been at Red Hall on
that fatal night, and his discarded mis-
tress had followed him there, and,
stung to jealous madness, had gained
access to Mrs. Eyre, and stabbed her to
the heart, then escaped before the muir
der was discoveries; this was the first
account bruited abroad.
A second declared that Mr.. Eyre,
supposed to be engaged below, had dis
covered Lord Lowell hidden in the house
after he had oStensibly left it, and that
in the struggle which ensued, Mr.. Eyre
had snatched mp weapon. that had
pierced Madcap as she threw herself
between the two men, her cries bring
ing the gardener to her rescue, who
was forthwith seized by the servants as
the murderer.
A third account emphatically denied
the two former ones, and said that the
murder had been committed by a tramp,
who had been refused aims at the SER
wants hall, and, hanging about the
place, saw her through the drawing
room windows with the diamonds on her
neck and arms, and by means of lad
der placed against the wall, had later
on entered her bedroom window, but
finding her awake, had stabbed her,
and escaped with his booty.
The pathetic circumstances of Mad
caps death. the knowledge Of how she
had been but dying woman when her
child was born, silenced more than ole
pestilent tongue, and gradually, during
the fortnight that elapsed between her
death and the opening of the assizes at
Marmiton, the opinion that she had
been more thoughtless than SHINING,
gained ground, while the strong i'm
preston against Hester Clarke deepen
ed.
That after two days fight she should
have been arrested in the Red Hall it
self. with the dead child of its murder
ed mistress on her knees, was held as
but another proof of her guilt. 1t is
the fascination that the victim has for
the SLAYER that leads to so many cen
vic .onS. AMI n 'ter's affection for the
Child helm! u ,uown beyond the vii.
laIp. iier preSrIice at his d 'ath was sup
posed to b. the result OF mere accident.
vi 'auw iiI' the Duke and Duchess
had M Nprctedty returned. he to offer
his sympathy a.pI support 10 Mr.. Eyre
in his present unhappy position; she To
count the hours til the opening day or
the ASST -. Wen. in conoany with GER
tain other iiIr ialie> of tn, county. she
would occupya seat whence she could
see and hear everythn that passed in
court. and once more I ..o!d the man