Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-08-04
!. NJ CAP;
% R
THE STORY OF A SIN.
BY HELEN B. MATUERS.

VI COURSE, Salu FRANK, apparently
waking up, Its about cowslip-I
mean man-nO, Woman-'
"a woman" said Colonel Busby, in a
tone Of stern rebuke, who now lies I'M
der sentence of death. A woman" he
repeated, who must be saved"
This won't do" thought Frank, and
compelled himself to thrust the thought
OF Madcap aside, and take the memorial
In his hands.
The first few lines carried little meap-
ing to his mind, but as he read on a
change passed over his face. "a stran-
ger to the place." he said, still looking
at the paper, land she came here in
search of some unknown person."
yes" said Colonel Busby, nOdding,
''the father prObably-th have been
suspicious, he went on, but it's odd
that none have pointed in what I'd
swear is the right direction" and he
made significant gesture toward the
Hall.
"What!" cried Frank, his bright face
suddenly growing pale as death. Colo
mel Busby nodded. ITO be plain with
you" he said, land it's more than dare
to be with any other soul, for Eyre leads
the whole country by the nose, you're
suspected of what | firmly believe he is
guilty Of. You see, it happened five
and half years ago, and we all know
what his life was before his marriage
and there's not a doubt the woman came
in search of the father"
Franks hand suddenly closed on the
parchment-fOr moment sight failed,
and be felt as if the life were going out
of him in agOnizing cOnvulSive thrObs;
then, as the necessity for self-cOntrOl
Smote him, he drew himself erect, and
n No hat ~,
reality blank to him.
''If the murder was committed five
and half years ago." he said, chow
comes it that the mother is only now
cOnvicted?"
ut is not the MOTHER" said Colonel
Busby, staggered in his previous con-
victiOns by Franks manner; Its sup
posed that this was her servant, and
that the crime was committed unknown
to the parents"
rs she small sandy-haired woman,
bordering on middle age?" said Frank,
the words escaping him inVoluntarily.
Ito be sure" said Colonel BuSby,
more and more depressed by his con-
viction OF Franks guilt; "a mean-look-
ing creature"
"Thank God!" cried Frank, in more
natural voice, his mind relieved of at
least one terrible fear. ''And her mis-
tress, has she been here? Is she in the
place."
I'VE don know that she has a mis-
STRESS" said Colonel Busby, staring at
the young man; its Is mere guess, but
she seems III mortal dread OF some I'M
known person coming before she dies,
and it looks suspicious"
''Then she has confessed nOthing?'
said Frank eagerly.
Nothing, publicly. What she said
to Mr.. Eyre in private we don't know.
She asked for him directly after the
trial WAS over, and they were closeted
together some time. 1t was he who
committed her to prison on mere sus-
picion of the deed, and, in fact, from
first 10 last has shown an extraordinary
interest in the case and the woman"
An exclamation burst from Franks
lips; but calming himself by great eff
fort, he said, Mr.. Eyre is absent from
hOme?2
Yes; but before leaving he wrote to
town. You know his influence in high
quarters, and this influence he is using
against hcr."
WHAT cried Frank, recoiling step.
"He could save this WOman's life and
will not?n
Colonel Busby nodded.
on know what he is, . he said; Tim
movable when he has once made his
mind up. Guilty she is, and hanged
she shall be- that's the way he talks.
But you'll sign, of cOurse?"
Mechanically the young man took the
pen thrust upon him, and signed his
name; but, having done so, his eye was
arrested by the signature Immediately
above his 0wn-''II. Clarke"
l-OI ho
'Who signed that name? You said that
she was not here: that-that-o
4 see no Hester Clarke there" said
Colonel Busby, looking over his shout
der; ''that'S the signature of Clarke, the
butcher, Christian name, Henry. Is
that the name of the mOther?" he added
sharply, and with bitter disappoint
ment in his heart that the public pill0ry
was not for Mr.. Eyre after all-but
Frank, pale to the lips, did not reply.
The question he had never dared to ask
through all those years of absence had
answered itself almost in the hour of
his return, and the matchleSS beauty of
his words SmOte him with a cruel sense
of pain as he looked out upon them.
We'll, WELL" said Colonel BuSby,
don't take it to heart; it may blow
over, and it might have happened to
anybody, you know; but, of course, it
will make you anxious to pull the Wo-
man through"
"What!" said Frank, with so much
haughtiness, that Colonel Busby took
an involuntary skip to the door, and
with a hurried good morning, closed it
behind him.
And / could have sworn" he NUT
tered, venomously, as he seized his hat,
THAT the father was to be found at the
Red HALL"
I'm sure of it, SIR" said Job, appear
ing, and handing the angry gentleman
his stick; land what's more, We'll prove
it. 1t amt IN Lovel to do mean ac-
tionn
$50 you've been listening at the key
hole, hey?" said Colonel Busby, uncon-
scious of missing an opportunity.
81 have the honor of my masters con-
fidence, sir" said Job, dryly; and Colo
mel Busby, rejecting too late that this
man might have been valuable to him,
found the door gently but firmly closed
in his face.
"Bless you for an old bumble-beel''
said Job fervently from the other side.
''Seems as if fools like you was born
just to teach wise folks like us patience;
and when God Almighty thinks you've
taught us enough, He just lets you
crack your own empty head against a
window-pane; but you went bumbllng
and buZZing into the right jam pot when
you said the father was up at the Red
Hall, and not here"
CHAPTER V.