Wichita eagle., 1890-02-09

| in the woods.
The chief constable. ACCOMPANIED b,
two of his men, had brought the news.
| and desired 10 see Mr.. l. 'Estrange.
Guy st once FASTENED 70 meet him IL
the hall.
He found them awaiting him will
very grave faces.
This is a sad business Mr.. Merton
he said. ..Surely it cannot be fha;
handsome girl met in the woods 70
day.
'Hush.- cried the chief constable,
raising his hand. My duty is hard
enough: don't make it worse By incrirn-
mating yourself"
Guy drew back with naughty gcS-
ture.
..Incriminate myseli. Sir. I do not
understand YOU.
II am sorry 20 say. Ar. L'EstranSe,-
said the constable. seill gently, for he r.
spectei the master Of the park, and had
had reason 10 know his kindness, .-tfsSf
/ have q warrant here for your arres:
for the attempted murder OF Ruth Tai.
bot, your wife. The lady states tha,
yoa married her some two years ago un-
der that assumed name; that sosno tiInz
since YOU left her in London. saving you
would he hack soon: that through acci-
dent she discovered that you had come
hither; that you met her IN tie woods,
and she implored you to retura TO her.
You broke from her; and thep, whea
she rushed after you, you struck her
down with one blow Of your stick: then,
finding she still lived, 1ou struck her
again and agai:i. She states that it can
all be easily proved; for lady. hearing
her cry, came upon the scene. saw the
last blow, and when she recognized YOU,
you fed b"
Constable Merton was able 20 make
this long speech without interruption,
for Guy had staggered back, and leane,l,
hreathless and aghast, against the hlacA
mantelpiece OF the hall.
Was he mad? Certainly that seemed
the easiest explanation os IL all.
Theworld appeared Suddenly changed.
''Ar Merton he said. after "A mo-
ment, ''this false and cruel charge can
and must be disproved. Let not my
aunt know the real cause of. my leaving
home l will tell her that it Is magis-
.terial business"
He rang the bell. and man servant
appeared with suspicious alacrity.
Porter, said Guy, ''bring some wine,
and tell Mrs. Godfrey that l am called
over TO Dcepford on business connected
with the murder in the wood
His aunt. Mrs. Geoffrey, came ont her.
self with the wine.
''Ah, Good evening, Mr.. Merton she
said; this is a very sad affair! Muss
Mr. L'Estrange really so to-night2"
"Yes. ma'am, it is very important
said the constable, while readily accept.
ing the wine offered: Guy himself drank
off two glasses in fcverish haste. ''You
see
"Oh. it's all right; you needn't ex-
plain" cried the master of tho park.
Good night. aunt; don't SIT up for Ino.
/ may be very iate."
When he reached the place where the
wounded woman lay, she iust had time
to repeat her story, 10 recognize and
identify Guy rs her husband and her as
sailant, and then she tainted. Since then
she had not recovered consciousness.
III.
On the next day. as others had ex.
pected, May Fielding was too prostrated
by grief TO leave the house.
One Of the servants was dispatched TO
be present at the magisterial examina-
ton; but long before be returned Alr.
Armstrong rode over on horseback
He was received In the drawing room
by Mrs. Raymond AID Clare, who seemed
to have quste recovered her usual placid.
ity and calm, though she exhibited signs
of interest as the lawyer entered hur-
riedly.
lie glanced anxiously round the room
as he entered.
Where is Miss Fieldingy' he asked.
~ trust she is not i'll.
''She is quite prostrated with grief.
am sorry to say" replied Ms Raymond
anxiously; "but what news do you bring
us, good or badf'
"Well, it Is very much as I anticipai-
ell, except ia one particular" said Paul
Armstrong. There was mere formal
examination, for the injured woman
quite lost her senses before morning.
though she declared sine could recognize
him at once as her husband by s0ms
marks upon his arm. She was too far
gone 10 say exactly what she meant. but
one Of the attezdaDts caught the word
dagger" and there is certainly on his
arm the marx Of an anchor and dag-
ger very plainly tattooed."
THAT may be cnly coinciIence.p
said Ms Raymond. "But what does he
sayg'
by my advice he said nothing" said
the lawyer. I'VE amply plead mot
guilty, declare the charge 70 be pretos-
ferrous. and await the moment when this
woman shall make tue fall declaration
against US
And frou sheer force of habit Tia law
yer lapsed into the dry business tone bo
adopted in speaking 70 his general Is.
OF clients, or when instructing eoun8s
II have no hopeful Ineasage, then. Tor
May said his hosteas, who u1s aarIgssa
chiefly On her account. ard DID not sasza
10 dare 70 face the wistfuJ. ye4rziDg eyes
without some word of comfort.
"Well, yes." said Faul Arm .Ton-,
with a snIic. "IOa can tel ber thzt
Guy is in excellent spir.;s: thai he treats
the affair with scoru, ard is quite pre-
pared % face il n cry way. Tel
NAY be szid. IS / icfE h.zn, Tax she
E1Ess bear up. u - only a pos pone-