The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-02-27

hotel to await the end of this trial
which from the widespread interest
it excited, and the great diversity OF
I opinion with regard to it, threaten
ed to eqaal the other great scandal
of the age, the trial of Queen Gallo
line.
Time passed slowly the months
seemed ages to the misery of Caro-
line and the noble anger of Lord
Wilton. As had been foreseon, the
opening scenes of the trial were dra-
matte, and Wilton, with the cnthus-
iasm of despriring love, endeavorcd
to combat the onward march of the
relentless tragedy. Witnesses de-
posed to the eccantric character of
Caroline. "Slanderl" answered
her defender They testified against
the private life of his client. He
cried Injustice |" They swore be-
fore God and man that Lady Banis-
ter one day offered her husband a
glass of Sherry, and science proved
there was poison in the bottom of
the glass. Again he answered,
"Falsehood and calumny p He no
longer defended her, but attacked
all accusers, and roared like a
wounded lion. He belittled all the
world; in the place of Lady Banis-
ter his wild anger placed at the bar
judge, jury, witnesses, in fact, all
who would not admit the innocence
of Caroline.
Fatigue and the violent emotions
of the struggle at last aided the de-
.votion of Lord Wilton in an unex-
pected may. One more sitting, and
Caroline would probably have been
convicted as a prisoner; but sud
denly, at the very moment of be-
ginning an almost impossible line
of defence, Caroline's advocate fell
back on his seat, painting, exhaust
ed, fainting. Physicians came to
his assistance, but his state was con-
sidered so dangerous that the trial
was remanded until next session,
and this fortunate delay was not
lost by either barrister or client.
Wilton was convicted of the accu-
sation, and filled with love for Car
oline, to clear her name and crush
her accusers he would have given
his last breath, the last drop of blood.
His enthusiasm was so great that
for her sake he invented the strong
est climax to her defence ever heard
in court of justice. He bravely
went to Caroline and offered to ter
inmate the defence with the an
nouncement of his marriage to the
widow of Banister. Yes, he did not
fear to beg to entreat her to take his
name in exchange for that she bore;
and the loving ward consented to
hide her widowhood under the no.
bic name of Wilton.
A minister, two witnesses and a
special license, and the deed was
dong! Wilton married Caroline in
a corner of the prison at Edinburg.
From that moment her cause was
gained in the sight of God; justice
might have convicted simple Caro-
line Banister, but how could she
condemn a peeress who had Just re-
ceived one ofthe most noble titles
in the three kingdoms?
The defenders task had become
easy; Wilton's new defence was
admirable public prejudice had al
most disappeared, and at one elo-
quent passage smothered applause
was heard; and finally the eloquent
orator added, with a voice shaken
by emmotion:-
"There is no longer any Caroline
Banister. l see at the bar only
Lady Wilton, my wife, and 1 ask of
you her honor-and my own"
Two or three hours after Caro-
lines acquittal, Wilton sat alone in
a room in the little house which he
had taken for his wife. He no long
er saw around him the actors in the
legal drama just ended he was no
longer influenced by the ardor of
secret hope, carried away by his
own eloquence or blinded by inspir-
alton and enthusiasm. He was cool
calm and impassive the judge h I'd
already replaced the advocate. He
began to remember all the circum-
stances, all the testimony, and every
detail deposed against the innocence
of Caroline he could not FORGET
what had been said against her
character and private life; he doubt
ed; began to interrogate his own
conscience. The name of Sir Ed
ward escaped his lips, and in imag-
ination he saw the poison dropped
into the fatal glass.
AT the same moment LADY Wil-
ton appeared on the threshold. a
smile on her Inns. happiness in on