The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-06-25
CURED Hilda, sharply, as she turned

quired Hilda, sharply, as she turned
pale.
Noshingi He is .innocent. the poor
dear boy i innocent, Z returned Mrs.
Dulcimer. firmly. But but
Hilda snatched away the paper which
her mother handed to her, and with
outward composure, which dissembled
her dismay and horror. read that her
brother, under his adopted name Of
Trower, had that day been committed
for trial on charge of robbing his en-
| plovers by means of forgery.
ssGod help rs all!'' she calculated.
What fearfullv shocking thing!'
HE is innocentr reiterated the poor
mother, in tears.
Innocentn repeated Hilda, with an
expression which, could he have seen
| it, would have been wholesome reve-
lation to Lord Lexicon. s.At least, he
is committed for trial suppose that
means something more than mere sus-
picion.n
There was long and painful pause,
during which Mrs. Dulcinfer sobbed.
while Hilda bit her lip till the blood
started, as she reflected with knitted
brows.
Il knew it would come to this, /"
Hilda said at length, gloomily. ..What
blessing / never told Lord Lexicon.
I. suppose You must tell him now?''
said her mother, nervously.
"Whatn' cried Hilda, with undis-
guised amazement.
Il think he should be told said
Mrs. Dulcimer, uneasily. 1T will
Ecomc out. OF course, you and | must
support the poor boy through his trou-
bles. We must decline all invitations
for the present"
"Mother, are you mad?' cried
Hilda, almost with violence. "Tell
Lord Lexicon! Refuse invitations!
Why, mother, we must do nothing,
either of us, to give any. one the least
suspicion of this awful business.
1t was Mrs. Dulcimer's turn to give
way to a display of temper now, and
the poor, meek spirited lady astonished
her, daughter by her resolute bearing.
Hilda, she said, could decide for herself
| the propriety of concealing the matter
from Lord Lexicon, and for her part
she was determined to be loyal to her
son. Hilda found Unnecessary to ADAM
don vehemence and insistance, and to
adopt plausible arguments to bring
her mother round to her views. She
feigned to believed that her brother was
innocent, and pointed out that to draw
attention to his unfortunate position,
from which he would doubtless be hon
orably acquitted, would be a mistaken
policy. 1t cost the astute young lady
an hour S serious talk and remon-
| STRANGE to overcome her mothers
scruples, but in the end she triumphed.
Poor old Mrs. Dulcimer was as plastic
as clay in the hands of her beautiful
daughter, and she ended by reluctantly
consenting to humor Hilda's wishes.
1twould be useless to attempt to de-
scribe the agony of mind which the
poor mother endured during the next
few days. In addition to suspense and
anxiety on her sons behalf she was
compelled by her daughter to go into
society and wear a smiling mask over
her woe. Hlda was relentless in allow
ing her mother no peace even to brood
over her sorrow. The beauty was
haunted by a morbid fear that any
thing in the least degree unusual in
the conduct or bearing of her mother
and herself would give rise to suspi-
cions which might ruin her hopes. She
kept very strict watch upon her
mother, but in spite of her vigilance
the poor lady contriyed to visit her
son IN his cell and convey to him the
comfort Of her loving sympathy. This,
and +ba HnJipoe oe ft1,,J, NV eoaYn+l,y
pawning her jewelry, to retain emil
ncnt counsel for his defense at the
trial, were all thatth unhappy woman
could do
When the prisoner was committed
for trial the sessions were close at hand,
and consequently the period ofsuspense
was not SO long as usual. Ithappened
that on the day of the opening of the
sessions there was grand dinner-party
in Hilda' honor, given by the old Duke
of Middlesex, Lord Lexicon's cousin.
In vain poor Mrs. Dulcimer pleaded ill
ness and almost went on her knees to
going into society when her sons trial
was close at hand. The beautiful
Hilda was inexorable; to begin with,
without her mothers escort she would
have to absent herself also. but apart
I from this it seemed to be of the very
highest Importance at such a critical
time that they should appear among
their friends as usual. She so i'm
pressed this upon herunhappy mother 5
| mind that the poor lady suffered her.
tself to be over-persuaded, and she ac-
companied her daughter with the
bravest air she could muster.
When the guests had all assembled
at Middlesex Lodge it was found chat
Lord Lexicon was late, and after wait
| ing for him nearly half an hour it was
decided to go down to dinner without
him. Hilda, who looked her best, was
most graciously received by every one,
| and felt in no way uneasy at Lord Lex
icons absence, for his Lordship's habit
Of travel had rendered him little for
getful OF the exlgencies of polite So
ciety. In fact, to be late for dinner
was an idiosyncrasy of his which ex-
cited very little surprise. Hilda would
have enjoyed herself perfectly but for
vague apprehensions on her mothers
account. 1t. may be that she felt
i wv ldg - vi ItllIOISC WHCII Suc gIdilCSu ut
the poor old lady's bloodless face and
tremulous hands. She saw that her
mother was in condition of nervous
tension and suppressed excitement
which might eliminate in a sudden at
tack of illness.
| When dinner was over, but before
| the ladies had left the table, the door
opened and Lord Lexicon appeared.
! BEG your pardon, Duchess; awfully
sorry, Duke!n he cried, in his impet-
uous fashion, as he took the vacant
chair next Hilda and gently squeezed
her hand. Don't have dinner up for
me. | had something to eat while /
dressed. =
"A nice way of coming out for din
nerr' laughed the Duke.
Il will tell you what kept me- said
Lord Lexicon, in a loud and distinct
tone, for the old Duke at the head of
the table was little deaf. s.When /
was in Mexico about two years ago /