The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-07-02

sessions there was 4 grand dinner party
of Middiesex. Lord Lesicon's cousin.
In vain poor Mrs. Dulcimer pleaded H.
ness and almost vent on her knees 20
her daughter % spare her the agony Of
going into society when her sons trial
was close at hand. The beautiful
Hilda was memorable; 70 begin with.
without her mothers escort she would
have 10 absent herself also; but apart
from this Il seemed TO be 81 the very
highest Importance IT such . critical
time that they should appear among
their friends as usual. She 90 i'm
pressed this upon her unhappy mothers
mind that the poor lady suffered her
self to be 0ver-persuaded, and she &C.
companied her daughter with the
bravest air she could muster.
When tho guests had all assembled
1t Middlescx Lodge IL was found that
Lord Lexicon was late, and after wait
ing for him nearly half an hour il was
decided TO 20 down to dinner without
him. Hilda. who looked her best. was
most graciousIy 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 a little for
getful Of the exigencies Of polite So
ciety. In fact, to be late for dinner
was 81 idiosyncrasy OF his which ex-
cited very little surprise. Hilda would
have enjoyed herself perfectly but for
vague apprehcnsions on her mothers
account II may be that she felt q
twingc Of remnrse when she glanced at
the poor old lady's bloodless face and
tremulous hands. She saw that her
mother was in a condition Of ervou
tension and suppressed excitement
which might eliminate In q 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. Dukei' he cried. in his impetr
nous 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
nerN' laughed the Duke.
II 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 a little deaf. when /
was in Mexico about w years ago I
chummed for a while with a very nice
young EngIishman. who saved my life
at the risk Of his own Well, | lost
sight OF him, and II appears he came
over to England . short time back and
got into trouble. Quite by accident |
found out to-day that he was to be
tried for forgery at the Surrey Ses-
sions.'
..For what?'' inquired the Duke,
with his hand behind his ear.
Forgery. "A young fellow, mind
YOU" cried Lord Lexicon, waxing elo-
quent with indignation. 'who is as
honest as the day is long, and would
no more commit q crime than YOU
would. Duke. 4 would have pledged
my right ARM he added. bringing II
down with abang upon the table, ''that
he was Innocent"
what is his namer'' inquired some
one.
'.Trowor. he calls himself; and
would you believe it, cried Lord Lex
icon. with a fresh outburst Of indigna-
ton. sshis lawyer told me that be has
relatives, near relatives, living here in
London who have all kept aloof from
him, because they hadn't the pluck to
stand BY him. Imagine a poor fellow
in his position being deserted By his
nearest and dearest!'
mot his parents, surely!' exclaimed
the Duchess.
His parents! Well, his father Is
dead, and his mother, poor lady, seems
10 have done what she dared for him.
said Lord Lexicon, in . gentler tone.
''As far rs l could gather, II Is . sister
who Is TO blame From all accounts
this young lady must be absolutely
heartless and selfish"
Amid the expressions Of surprise and
indignation which this recital excited
Hilda Dulcimor, whose embarrassment
only betrayed itself by . becoming
flush upon her cheeks, stole an anxious
glance at her mother. Mrs. Duleimer
was staring eagerly at the speaker
with distended eyes, her face deadly
pale, her frame rigid.
II pitched into Trower for not send
ing for me- continued Lord Lexicon,
''but i appears he did not know me BY
my titie.'
acquitted! or COURSE returned
Lord Lexicon impaticntly. The case
only concluded about half an hour ago,
and that Is what has made me late.
But the Jury never hesitated. and the
Judge said he left the court without
. stain on his character
Even Hilda-in the midst of her dis.
may-was conscious If q thrill Of salts
at this news, but when Lord
Lexicon had finished speaking she raw,
to her horror, her mother uprising
her chair. The next instant the
poor lady, In . sort Of paroxysin Of un.
c~ontrollablc excitement and agitation,
claspcd hands and upturned face,
cried out IN frcnxied tones, which
penetrated 70 every corner Of the
room:
Think God! thank Godl my son!
my darling son!' As the last words
her lips Mrs Dulcimer swayed
and fell senscless into the arms Of the
gentleman BY her side. and amidst :
and embarrassed silence she
was borne gently from the room.
Lord Lexicon's abrupt departure on