Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-11-17


that morning, destination unknown, carry.
ing with her Dr.. Branksome and Benjamin
Flinter.
CHAPTER XVII
DIR. BRANKSoME's LAST
Early on the day following that on which
Bielski had informed us OF his extraordinary
discovery, my good friend Harding found
himself at Whitehall, in the room Of the
permanent under secretary Of the home de-
partment. Belmore was with him, and they
bad already drawn up brief statement Of
the facts which had been discovered with
regard to the murder Of Mr.. Mauleverer
and the actual position Of Daisy. One by
one Mr. Belmore placed these facts before
the great official, and showed, not merely
how the strong evidence which had been
brought against my darling at the trial had
been neutralized by subsequent discoveries,
but how there was now positive testimony
testimony of an extraordinary kind, indeed,
but still testimony which was conclusive
with regard to the actual criminal and his
real accomplices, for whose arrest warrants
lad been issued.
The under secretary listened with patience
and attention, and then armed with the docu.
ments which they banded to him, be went to
the apartment Of the secretary Of state. A
few minutes later they stood in the presence
OF the minister himself
" have been deeply interested in this case,
Mr.. Belmore. and very much troubled by it.
It was so difficult TO believe that young
girl could have been guilty Of crime Of
this sort And yet the evidence was ap-
parently complete, and unfortunately ] Eave
too much reason 20 know that we can never
trust absolutely to antecedent improbable
ties in cases of this kind"
"But now, sir, think you will admit that
the evidence is clear as far as It goes, and
that 1t establishes the innocence OF this
young lady"
NJ must see the judge first in the matter
replied the minister, cautiously.
aAnd may venture to ask" interposed
Harding, that you will act as soon az you
possibly can, sir1 I need not point out to
you the cruel position Of this young lady at
the present moment, or Of those to whom she
10 dear"
MY dear sir, shall act at once; In such
a case delay would be inexcusable. But you
must forgive me II i withhold my own
opinion until have ascertained that Of tho
judge"
Half an hour later received the telegram
for which was waiting with breathless i'm.
patience at York Alasl itdid not announce,
as had hoped might be the case, the I'm.
mediate discharge Of my darling. Patlence'
patiencel
But at nightfall the glad news came
"Secretary of state will advise queen to grant
free pardon. Fcrmalities can BE completed
tomorrow"
And the next day ] was at the castle by
daybreak, waiting to be admitted to the
governors room. was too soon. OF course
Even when of6cialisD acts With unwonted
speed, 1t cannot outstrip the impatience OF
lover. 1t was now the 18th Of December.
In a week longer Christmas would be with
us. Twelve days had elapsed since l had
heard the shameful doom pronounced upon
my beautiful darling-the woman whom
had chosen out of all the world as worthiest
and best, aye, and who had chosen me, all
unworthy as l was-to keep that tender
heart Of hers-the purest and truest that
ever beat in human bosom.
Only twelve days since that awful scene
when Daisy and had seemed to stand TO-
gether within the very jaws Of death!
appeared to have been expended in the
varied emotions through which | had passed
since then. The officials Of the prison were
long, long in coming. walked to and fro
impatieptly declare this waiting now
was harder even than had been that waiting
tor the verdict, when my darlings fate
hung In the balance. l recalled all the
history of those eventful four months which
bad passed since hrst saw her in her peer
less beauty, and the full flush Of health and
strength, in the railway station OF this very
city: and while rejoiced more than ever at
the blessing which had been bestowed upon
me in her love, my heart cried out to heaven
for pardon for all those errors which
in my recklessness and blindness
had committed, and from which she bad
suffered. Ah, il 1t could but have come over
again, how differently should have acted,
and with what loving care [ should have
shielded her even against that internal net
work OF lies which had been woven so cum
ningly about her! So thought as looked
back upon it all; and So possibly. it might
have been If that strange drama could have
been re.enacted. But who can tell Even
now, when fully recognize the blunders OF
WHICH was gullty, tue loi1y, tuo oiHone'''
the stubbornness displayed in my dealings
with Mauleverer and his friends. some
times ask myself whether my blunders may
not have been mora useful than my pru-
dence would have been.
But what is that sound! The door opens.
and turn to greet the governor with the
longed-for news. No; the governor is not
there. 1t is my darling herself who stands
before me, pale as statue of marble, worn
and wasted by the strain Of an agony which
might have brought even strong man to the
grave, but with all the light Of life and love
shining upon me from her star-lit eyes,