The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-11-18

LIE Slld Uut TIT lS1u AtlAAuS SANCpSU
it with the clasp of death.
To n and all the same awful
thought came. The young girl who had
threatened her rivals life had surely
accomplished her end; and there in the
dead woman's hand, by the will of
heaven, was left the proof of her guilt.
Her own words rang in all ears-"l
shall kill her il she takes my lover
from mel"
CHAPTER Nv. .
Dene Hall was filled with consterna-
ton. Colonel Halle undertook the su-
perintendence; Lady Rosedene was
quite incapacitated. All that she could
say was: II knew evil would come OF
Even in the midst of her sorrow and
dismay, she had time to reflect that her
prestige was epded-that never again
could people speak with satisfaction Of
her home. A murder had been COM
mitted there-a beautiful woman had
been cruelty slain in the middle Of the
night. Instead of being the admiration
of the whole county her home would
henceforth be Stunned as the scene of
q most cruel tragedy.
Colonel Halle. by dint Of hard words,
brought her back to reason.
1T is clearly" he said, "a case of
murder, and the laws Of the land must
be obeyed; no n must touch the body
or enter the room"
The last injunction came too late.
When the rush Of terrified wome
came, they disturbed the ornaments on
the toilet table, and no n remembered
whether the window was found open or
shut; all that was known was that the
dead woman grasped the shawl in her
hands as though she had grasped 1t in
her last struggle.
Colonel Halle forbade it's removal.
He sent away the weeping women, he
kept q watch on the chamber of the
dead. He was a strong man and a
brave soldier, but his eyes filled with
tears as he picked up from the ground
the beautiful spray of a~pple-blossom
that had been worn on he white breast
now stilled for evermore.
Very quickly the detectives came, n
the whole CHASTITY machinery Of the law
was set in force. r-.
No one ever knew who first uttered
the fatal words. n
"She must be guilty; her shawl was
In the dead woman's hand"
Several guests Of her w sex. with
some of the women-servants, sought
Miss Vane, No one could tell in the
afterdays who was the first to enter
the room where the girl stood in her
white dressdng-robe, her hair falling
like a veil over her, her face colorless
as that of the dead woman's, a terrible
fear in her eyes, her white lips dumb.
She leaned back against the wall, with
her hand held out, as though to ward
off some terrible blow. Who entered
first, who said first that she was guilty,
who revealed that she had said over
and over again that she would STAY
Lady Fraser if she took her lover from
her, who repeated the last words that
she had uttered in the ballroom, when
she had fastened away with the blue
and white shawl round her shoulders,
which was now clasped In the dead
woman's hand, was never known.
The storm gathered, and the young
girl stood there breasting it alone. Her
own sex shrunk from her with scorn,
with horror in their eyes,. with fear in
their faces. The room seemed full of
whispers. -
"she is SO young said one; could
she be SO crlel?' &,
.'ghe looks SO fragile" remarked an
other; ut is a wonder that she pos
sessed the strength"
'sHate is strong" was the answer;
ssand she hated her rival because she
was jealous Of her"
And all the time they spoke these
words Hyacinth stood dumb and mo-
tionless. with unutterable woe in her
white face.
She never moved, until attracted by
the crowd, Alan entered the room and
saw her, the mark for all suspicion.
She sprung to him, regardless of who
saw oil. heard her; she hung herself
upon his breast; she clasped her arms
around his neck.
sOh. AInn, save me!!-help me! Send
them away; they say I killed her"
And the words were walled out in a
voice that filled some OF them with
pain.
He gathered her. to him; he kissed
the sweet, despairing face.
mo one shall say SO, my darling; I
will take you away. No one thinks you
did It; it is women's foolish talk. You
shall 90 home; ] will take you. Leave
the rooms he said to the ladies and
women servants who had gathered
there. sHyacinth, get ready to return
to your father. Z will stand outside
here at the door and e that no N
molests you.'' He raised one white,
cold hand to his lips and kissed 1t.
sMy darling he added, those sweet
hands would not knowingly take the
life OF anything.
hut. when she tried to arrange hcr
dress her hands trembled SO that 2
Of the women-seryants had to help her.
She was not long, however, before Al1e
was ready: but, when Alan led her
from the room, he was stopped Dy 8
stern.faced officer of the law.
saThat lady cannot leave = house,
s;r. have ii warrant for her appre-
hension Of the murder OF LADY Ira-
SCI. !"
er, those who granted y q warrant
are mad.
The officer was immoyable.
II am very sorry. sir; / must obey
orders. The lady cannOt leave this
house. When sle does II will be 20 go
to INVERSION jail"
Thosa who saw the scene that toll
lowed will never forget y. The ollcer
produced the warrant 9 Hyacinln
annrehension-he had ridden I the
nearest magistrate TOR II; and the eiris
! hnr fair Young face rs white as .deatn.
chung % her love-, crying out s'''s