Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-13
CHAPTER XII.
SHE WAS A TRUE WOMAN.

Melbourne society was greatly agitated over the hanson cab murder. Before the assassin had been discovered it had been looked upon as a common murder, and one that society need take no cognizance of be- yond the fact that it was something new to talk about. But now the affair was assum- ing gigantic proportions, since the assassin had been discovered to be one of the most fashionable young men in Melbourne Mrs. Grundy was shocked and openly talked about having nourished viper in her bosom, which had turned unexpectedly and stung her. In Toorak drawing rooms and Melbourne clubs the matter was talked about morn, noon and night, and Mrs Grundy declared positively 6hat she never heard of such thing Here was young man, well born-''the Fitzger- aid, my dear, an Irish family, with royal blood in their veinS"-well bred-''most charming manners, I assure you, and so very good looking" and engaged to one of the richest girls ill Melbourne-"pretty enough, madam, no doubt, but he wanted her money, sly dog" And this young man, who had been petted by the ladies, voted good fel- low by the men and was universally popular, both in drawing room and club, had commits ted a vulgar murder-it was truly shocking.
 As to Mir. Felix Rolleston, it a time of great joy to him. knowing as he did all the circumstances of the case and the dramatis personn. When any new evidence came to light, Rolleston was the first to know all about it, and would go round to his friends and relate it with certain additions of his own, which rendered it more piquant and dramatic. But when asked his opinion as to the guilt of the accused he would shake his head sagaciously, and hint that both be and his dear friend Calton-he knew Calton to nod to-could not make up their minds upon the matter.
 ''Fact is, don't you know," observed Mr. ! Rolleston, wisely, 'there's more in this than meets the eye, and all that sort of thing think 'tective fellers wrong myself-don't think Fitz killed Whyte; jolly we'll sure he didn't"
 MT. Rolleston, however, in spite of his as- seyerations, had no grounds for his belief that Fitzgerald was innocent, and in his heart of hearts thought him guilty But then he was one of those people who, having either tender hearts or obstinate natures-more particu- larly the latter-always make point of com l ing forward as champions of those in trouble with the world at large. There is proverb to the effect that the world kicks a man when he is down; but if one half of the world does act in such brutal manner, the other consoles the prostrate individual with half pence. So, taking things as whole though the weight of public opinion was dead against the innocence of Fitzgerald still he had his friends and sympathizers who stood up for him and declared that he | had been wrongly accused.
 Cation was very much annoyed at Briant persistent refusal to set up the defense of ar , alibi, and, as he felt sure that the young mar could do so, he was anxious to find out the reason why he would not do so.
 eff it's for the sake of a woman," he saiG to Brian, II don't care who she is, it's ab surdly Quixotic. Self preservation is tht first law of nature, and if my neck was il danger I'd spare neither man, woman nol child to save it."
 'I dare say," answered Brian; "but if 70, had my reasons you might think differently.
 In his own mind the lawyer had theory which sufficiently accounted for Brian's re fusal to answer for his doings on that night Fitzgerald had admitted that he had an ap pointment on that night, and that it wa! with a woman. He was handsome fellow and probably his morals were no better thar those of other young men, so Calton though that Brian had some intrigue with Q married woman, and had been with her on the nigh in question; hence his refusal to speak. If h. did so her name would be brought into tn 1 matter; the outraged husband, whoever h might be, would interpose, and the whos affair would probably end in 6 divorce court
 "It's better for him to lose his characte' than his hfe," argued Calton, land tha woman ought to speak-it would be hard ol her, admit; but when c mans neck is fl