The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-18

ed with this disasreeable affair. For
my own part was anxious to hear
anything that would throw light upon
it. "If he is" said, The may per-
haps see the uselessness of mixing us
up in it. We had better see him."
We found clergyman. Mr.. Edward
Holdfast, Chaplain of W. Jail. a
tall, thin man with worn but kindly
| face.
"You have come. hope" said my
aunt, "to set lis free from the disar
greeable and, ! may say, absurd posi-
| ton in which we find ourselves. Twill
not answer for the consequeticeifI am
| taken to a stuffy court and made to
say all sorts of things, when | know
nothing. My poor. dear husband"
"Quite so, my dear Madam" said
Mr.. Holdfast; ''the evidence is most
unsatisfactory, and Ipropose taking
steps which may save-mind, l
only say may save, in the event OF my
experiment proving suceessfiil~all ne
cessity for public trisl. Could you
make up your minds to being present
| at private examination OF the wit
nesses and the prisoner, conducted on
the scene OF the-the-at the bath
houseY" Without waiting for the
tremulous negative on my aunt's lips
he continued, 81 can elicit nothing
from the prisoner, but she steadily
| repeats when questioned, Il know
nothing of a Frenchwoman, and
nothing OF a MURDER" and once she
said, Send for my father and then
correcting herself hastily--'But not
would kill him to find me here" So
she refuses her address. We have ad.
vertised, OF course. though she does
not seem to see the necessity OF &C
accounting for her presence in this
neighborhood."
"Then," interrupted my aunt, "you
think, as We do, that it is impossible
this poor young lady can be really
guilty."
But the Rev. Edward Holdfast had
not been chaplain of Il jail without
learning how to keep his own counsel.
at is not for me to pronounce any
opinion, but" he continued, II am
sure neither you nor your niecs will
refuse what assistance you can rem
der to a lady OF delicate nurture like
yourselves. who, if innocent. should
be spared the horrors OF a public trial
Of this kind"
We secretly questioned the legality
Of Mr.. Holdfast's inquiry. still more
so it's efficacy. But not daring to en-
tangle herself In arguments Of legal
nature. my aunt wisely acquiesced,
and promised to appear on the fol-
lowing day at the bathhouse. This
really was very brave other, all things
considered, but the appeal to her
humanity had conquered, l thought.
! could form no satisfactory conclu-
sion as to Mr.. Holdfast's intentions.
The idea of suicide had been fatty
contradicted by medical evidence at
the Coroner's inquest; 1t had been
clearly proved impossible for such q
cash to have been inflicted by the
woman herself. Perhaps Mr.. Hold
fast doubted this, and wanted
by examination of the place to
prove the contrary; but this could GER
tainly have been done without our
assistance. Did he wish to watch the
effect of the terror of the place on
some other person he suspecteds
There was something very unpleasant
in the thought of assisting at such q
scene. Did he hope that the prison.
srs unaccountable silence might be
broken, and that, face to face with
the scene, she would continue denial
that could not but carry conviction
into the minds of those who would
have to witness against her? But no,
it was idle to surmlse; the determined
restraint and silence, beyond just
what he had chosen to communicate,
formed q complete barrier to his in.
tentions.
"She must be bailed out" said my
aunt, "otherwise no one would allow
her to appear. and who can have
bailed her except the Chaplain him
self"
Itimidly suggested it was hardly a
battling matter.
"He seemed fearfully anxious for
her escape; did you see how his face
worked and twitched? He was nearly
flying out at me when he thought |
wouldn't come. was too frightened
to say no, that was the fact; not
frightened, of course, but it is awk-
ward to have gentlemen getting into
RACES in ones own drawing room."
Eyes, aunt, the china"
"Don't talk nonsense, Ellice. It's
my impression. though you pretend
he wasn't excited, and il he can't hit
on plan of clearing that young wo-
an he'll elope with her! He has a
pretty woman in tragic circumstances
on his hands, and he means to save
her somehow; what better method"
eff he thinks her innocent" / reply,
rather staggered at my aunt's extra
ordinary idea. 1t was certainly true
that he had appeared terribly anx.
ious, that he had suppressed his anx-
iety with conscious effort; he had the
traces of sleepless nights and strong
emotion on his face, but the fate OF a
human being was hanging in the bal.
ance, and natural humanity, quick
ened by the sacred nature of his Office
were enough thought. to account for
unusual feeling.
"Don't tell me, continued my aunt,
"that If she were not q pretty girl
there would be SO much fuss in that
mans mind; it isn't his business to
say who's guilty and who's not. and
to my mind he is very little fit to do
either"
On the afternoon OF the day ar
pointed my aunt and / found our
selves at the "Folly." We crossed
the large central room, originally de.
signed for the pump room, now used
as young mems institute, and we'll
supplied with illustrated papers of
extreme antiquity. 1t opened on an
unroofed turf inclosure, intended as
an exercising ground for patients oc.
cupied in assinilating the mineral
waters, but it usually served as dry.
ing ground for the attendants"
linen. There was no linen there to.
day, however. Instead were two
benches accommodating the already
assembled witnesses, and beyond was
the fatal bathroom. l hardly dared
look towards it, so near was still the
horror OF the place. We took our
seats amcng a mixed assembly OF
gaping farm laborers, one or two
tradesmen, and ladies. There was q
conspicuous absence of any of the
gentlemen of the neigborhood. Did