Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-05-04

ssrtiment would be familiar to me. felt
more than a presentiment, for suddenly like
a flash of light the familiarity in the face
was explained to me. l could have given
the name for him Scarcely less agitatei
than the unfortunate man himself. l stood,
ike some railway traveller, who has seen
from the carriage window an approaching
and inevitable collision, awaiting a shock
I'm not murderer had no more to
do with that unfortunate mans death than
YOU had My name is-Claude Fancourt
1 said that was prepared for shock,
but none the less felt its force upon hear
ing that name l staggered against the cold
stone wall with . deep groan Of anguish The
suspicion which bad flashed upon me was
confirmed, the familiarity Of the features to
me was explained; the murderer was the
brother Of my Constance; the only brother
whom had ever seen. and whose name was
never mentioned without a sigh from the
daughter and tear from the mother. 1t had
been briefly explained to me that the boy
had always been wild and untractable, and
that after repeated warnings he had been
expelled from college as utterly unmauage-
allie. after which he had mixed with fast
sporting set in London He had not been at
home for more than two ysArs, during which
they had heard but LITTLE, aRd nothing salts
factory Of him
During the remainder of that eyentful
night, or rather morning, did not attempt
to rest; it would have been utterly fruitless
/ paced disorderly aboat my rooms, my
mind perfect chaos Morning dawned and
found me sitting at my table,
my face buried in my hands How
long l had remained in that attitude
| knew not, hut when rose / felt sick and
weak. and my limbs trembled under me.
Nv steps were directed toward the remote
suburb in which Mrs Fancourt resided
Usually walked the distance with feet
switched by love and sweet anticipations
in less than the balf-hour, but this morning,
bowed down as was with the dread tidings
it was my duty to bear, a full hour had
passed before stood opposite Mrs Fan
courts pretty but unpretentious cottage,
with its creeper-grown veranda, and sur
rounding little garden OF choice and sweet
smelling flowers
As gazed upon it l felt that carried
with me deadly, desolating blight Sud-
denly turning, hurried, almost fed, from
the spot Could nothing be done to spare
me, cried in my anguish Could I not re-
main silent, trusting that in their quiet re
tired life the terrible news would not reach
them. very little reflection ccnvincei
me that this was impossible There was but
one course for me to pursue, and that was
plainly the course Il duty-to break the
truth to them as gently as could before it
reached them in a ruder form
Slowly retracing my steps, l again stool
4 .vxI II L..
fore entering Had my resolution failed
second time it would have been useless; tbs
vigilant eyes of love had espied me through
tho window, the hall door opened, and my
darling, gracefully attirsd in q loose-fitting
white dress, with a bunch Of freshly gath
erei moss roses at her bosom, and looking
in her fair, pure beauty, oh! so fit spirit
to reign in the sweet peacefulness Of that
abode, came eagerly down the garden path
to meet me.
We walked into the house with arms Ell
twined. she bright and merry, trying des-
perately to emulate her mood.
With her hands in mine she was looking
up stnilingly at me, and, with what wa
meant Tor an answering smile, was look
ing down into her eyes Suddenly her face
changed and grew troubled
What is the matter, Ralph.' she asked
anxiously, gazing upon me with awakening
terror.
l led her to tho sofa and sat beside her,
holding her hands in mine; they were as
cold as marble. As soon as | could find
voice | told her all She did not cry out,
but sat cold, white, and immovable as u
statue, staring into vacancy. | allowed her
to remain SO for some minutes, until l could
f,,lc
Constance" whispered
She started as if awakening from some
horrii dream She looked down into my
caressingly over my hair. At last she
spoke.
Don't grieve, Ralph; he Is not guilty
"Do you think not, DEAR l said, utterly
unable to emulate her confidence, realizing
as did fully her brothers terrible position
She rose from the sofa proudly.
Were he guilty l should leave here with
mamma this very day; l should take her to
the remotsst corner Of the earth, and spend
my life in shielding her from the secret
AS he is innocent am now going 10 tell
her all" And the heroic girl, walking firm
and erect, left the room
walked drearily back to town, knowing
never be mine il her brother was found
guilty. She had not said so in plain words,
but she had conveyed it to me none the less
clearly. That Claude Fsncourt would he
found guilty, and justly. I could find no
room Tor doubt; the evidence which would
DO a,ldu-e against him; although purely
circGmst antial, was of far too damning and
conclls.vs a nature to admit Of il. | could
not believe that he would receive less son
tence than penal servitude for lfe and in
any case his being aljudged guilty would be
alone sufficient to blast my hopes OF future
happiness,
On that day the prisoner was brought up
at the police court and renamed, pending
The inquiry took place CA
the following morning. The result was
that Claude Fancourt, Whose only defense
was The simple statement that b was utterly
ignorant as to how Stokes met his death.
was formally RENTED for trial upon
charge of willful murder.
After the com initial ~ ceeicd, with the
aSsist1n e of the friendly inspector, in gain
ing access to the prisonsr.
In order that l may help You, ! said,
you must tell me all you know asolt this
poor nan and your connection with him
Fancoart complied without hesitation.
This is tie srbst lnce Of his story. Re- hal
met william Stokes, who was then Till
lard marker. six months since Turf ans
actions had thrown them much tog thsr,
and stokes had acquired some inform ition
through which he aai Fancoart had won
money. In consequences Of this success. a
partnership was struck up tetween the two
. bar a
eut race meetings with varying success Lat
tarIy fortune had been ,ainst them, and
Stokes. who appears to have been a bad
tempered fellow. became very qlarreisone.
The races had attracted them some week or
ten DAYS since. and it was agreed between
them that at the termination Of this meet
in the partnership should Be dissolved. As-
co.ciil. 20 his own statement, Fancourt was
tire Of the not very reputable life, and was
hear ii K OF the association with such qges
ti3nable clssracterS His intention was 10
paw a short visit home. and then ship for
new country. New Zealand or Australia
At the races they were unusually successful
and together won 500 Stoke. who was
purse-hear,r, began. not only to exhibI. al
OF, e tioilasIc spirit when askei for money
Nv his partner. br. 70 spend the little hoard
in dissipation himself In consequence there
WAS considerable dissatisfaction on Fan
courts part. and the two men hsd ex-
changed vioIsIlt words very frelnerstly- ON
tbs fatal evening Fancourt, on account Of
Srokss' lroiisaii.y, sieInaniei that the
money should be given up 70 his own safe
keeping. They bad both h~su drinking
dscply. Stokes resisted, but FaDeourt
quietly laid him on the floor, and took the
money from bis pocket A very violent Al
t..rcariou s..s,ei but ths quarrel was soon