Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-11-24
NJ A D c AP.
THE STORY OF A SIN.
BY HELEN 3. MATTERS.

ness: 1t seemed to him so deep a dis
honor to Madcap's memory that her in
nocent words should be thus blared
aloud in court.
Did you hear or see anything fur
ther?' was the next question.
"Nor'-he didn't listen: he didn't
think nought of what he heard-the
ways of quality weren't as poor folks
ways; and, having nothing else to do. it
seemed to pass the time like with
them to say what they didn't mean.
BUT as ne couldn't get round to the lad
der, he thought he would 60 to the
kitchen, and bide there bit until the
window was shut and the company
gone. He looked in at the library win
dow as he passed, but Mr.. Eyre was not
at the table; he was standing by door
that led into the drawing-roOm. close to
the open window, and he supposed Mr..
Eyre was going through that way into
the draWing-rOOm.
At this speech Mr.. Eyre was observ-
ed to start, and look at him sternly
and fXedly-hitherto he had worn a
look OF encouragement for the frighten-
ed wretch, now he made a sign as
though renouncing him as liar and
abandoning him to his fate.
The examination continued. Digges
had gone to the kitchen, had a drop of
something hot, and at half past eleven
went round to the front Of the house,
and had just got his hand on the ladder
to lift it, when to his surprise he found
that it would not move, that there was
something on tin his alarm he shook
it. and in the same moment heard just
above him shrek that made his flesh
creep, that seemed to come from Mrs.
n onrlf hn MI
not move; the next he began to run up
the ladder, but met something coming
down. He retreated backward before it,
and turning the bull's-eye of his lantern
upon what was rushing on him, saw
that it was Mrs. Clarke, Lord Lovel's
lady. He was SO COMPOUNDED at the
shrek, and seeing her there, that he let
her run past him. he seized hold OF her
skirt, only she fought like any cat, and
got away, and he didn't run after her.
for he wanted to know what was going
on at the top of the ladder; he didn't
think that screech was his missus's. she
had got avery douce voice, but he want
ed to see;-and here his grotesque con-
tOrtlOnS of face produced in the look
ers-on mingled sensation of laughter
and horror, while Mr.. Eyre's face grew
harder, and Franks shade paler than
it had been before.
His mistress was leaning back in a
chair, with her back to the window. and
his master was standing beside her.
holding handkerchief to her side that
was stained with blood. Almost at the
same moment the door flew open, and
Lord Lovel, with Josephine behind him.
rushed in; and before he had got his
wits back, he was seized and dragged
backward, though why he could net be
trusted to go down the ladder alone he
did not know, as he had done nothing,
and no doubt would be hanged for it,
though he had never harmed his mis-
tress in her life, he loved her deal too
well for that.
Here his evidence ended, and he was
dragged out of court. bellU wing like an
OK, and firmly convinced that, in spite
OF appearances, he was being led there
and then to execution, while those who
had thought it possible that the man
had murdered his mistress for the sake
nf the diamonds, did not see how his
simplicity had told more in his favor
than volume of evidence could have
done against him.
All eyes were turned to the prisoner,
who during the harangue for the prose-
cutiOn had stood perfectly still, like a
creature stunned by sudden blow from
which she has not been given time to
recover, her beauty dulled, almost eff
faced by the heavy clOuG that overshad-
owed it, so that the women wondered
what Lord LOvel could have found to
admire III this Stupid-looking criminal.
Mr.. Eyre looked at no one. Presently
ray of sunshine penetrated the court,
and fixed his eye. "Madcap is dead
dead" he glanced round the court,
How forclbly the scene reminded him
OF that other trial last spring-these
women, with their opera-glasses; these
gaping country folks, with their curl
osity and their fear; the Judge, with his
wig little awry, the same one who
had condemned Janet to death; while
he himself, who had looked on as wit
ness at trial for the murder of his own
child, now. in the same spot, looked on
at that cbild's mother charged with the
murder of his wife.
Sin ever has its memorable conse-
quences; but in this instance the fatali-
t1y OF the crime that once committed,
had remained attached to the chain of
events as a link of iron. was surely
something to tremble at-this dead sin
with its train of awful consequences
rising out of the forgotten past. to
stand face to face with the living ignor-
ant cause to-day. thing to NIL !
man fear lest evPn us though vii
might :N5 ~ :'I.A, pot. -
or i, r.. ,a'lu no.; n fnl
IL {. a.: ~ ....-~..lo" =. W en-
&c haG Il. Il ,!re,,... =.
Sarah 80 lIlll, maid TO the late Mrs.
Eyre, was then examined.
She said that she had dressed her
mistress for dinner as usual that night;
but Mr.. Eyre having come in, and seen
the diamonds open in their cases on the
table, had requested her to wear them;
and while she went to fetch the child
rem, himself fastened the jewels in her
hair, and on her neck and arms.
Her mistress had rung her bedroom
bell at about a quarter to eleven, and
she had unclaSped the diamonds, and
taken off her evening dress, but had not
replaced the stones in their cases, as
Mrs. Eyre had Gaid she would do so her.
self presently, and meanwhile asked for
a white wrapper, and sat down to read
at little distance from the window.
which was open, the night being as
mild as September.
Her mistress had wished her good
night as usual when she left the room,
and seemed in good spirits-not so
high, perhaps, as sometimes, for she
was a very happy-spirted lady; she
would play about, and laugh just like
child. when nobody was looking land
here the woman turned aside to weep
bitterly; and witness had never thought
that in less than an hour she would see
her poor lady bleeding in that very
chair.
She had heard the cry that aroused
the whole house, and hurried with the
other servants to the room. but never
thought about the diamonds until