Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-06-16
EYRE'S ACQUITTAL.
By Helen B. Mathers.
PART I.

But when, long after his dinner hour
Mr.. Eyre had reached his study to fine
u token Of little Madcap's late presence
In the shape of a dropped shoe-knot
he picked it up, and half forgaye her
though not the faintest idea crossed his
mind to return her GOODNIGHT visit.
Next day was cold and wet, and the
children did not stir abroad; but. lest
dullness should draw her to him. Mr.
Eyre went out for a long ride, that
lasted till after dark; and on his re
turn knew well enough that no such
spasm of recollection as had seized he1
the night before had reminded he1
Of him tonight.
For child of three is essentially one,
ldead, and has no memory (save at odd
moments); it goes where love is, but
raely seeks it, so that Mr.. Eyre reached
into the background, and Doune occu-
pied her thoughtst hat night.
The man had girded up himself to the
fight; but who can fight with a child's
Whim? Tickle? No more natural
phase of Nature can be found than a
healthy child; and Nature knows no
in its very elements is opened to the
strained idea whose breath has brought
about half the tragedies the world has
ever seen.
But as Mr.. Eyre's jealousy grew,
Doune'S slackened; so that the boy in
his turn softened toward his father,
and prompted those excursions to the
other side Of the house, from which
each day she returned more quickly,
with no account to give of herself save
that Dad was busy"
The boy was honorable, and never
tried by word or look to set her against
her father. There was no bad blood
in his veins, and with other treatment
he would have grown UP the noble
might have been" of Mr.. Eyre's own
youth.
But while the children played, and
were happy, he was uncOnsciously pre-
pairing his revenge in the invitation he
had carelessly given the young Lord
iLovel, and which he had supplemented
by a letter to his mother,t he answer
to which he received 4 week after
Doune's return.
'She would be only too rejoiced to
send the boy to Mr.. Eyre; he always
drove her mad during the holidays, and
no doubt at the Red Hall he would
be able to rampage to his heartscon-
tent, and her own young babies re-
CURED all her care, and her health was
$50 terribly Indifferent, etc. ETC., and
she could never stand more than q
week in the country even for dear Algy
cher new husband and his hunting" and
in conclusion, her son (whO seemed to
have come in for nothing but a house
and an empty title, which his father
never expected would arrive at his
guardians house the very next day, by
a certain train that she was particular
to mention.
Mr.. Eyre smiled gr1mly as he read
the letter and thought of the writer,
IA faded beauty who at thirty-tive had
taken for rich second husband her
first love, and hated the boy who re-
minded her hourly of that first love
less union.
Mr. Eyre ordered little Nadcap's late
room Opposite his OWN to be made
ready, and the same day drove
over acne to meet Lord Lovells heir.
Doune heard by chance Of the eX-
petted arrival, and thought bitterly
that it was like his father to give the
welcome to a stranger that he refused
to his own son.
No doubt the fellow would be a proud
spercilious ass, who would look down
on his own and Madcap's pursuits, and
this would be so much the better it
he would only stick to Mr.. Eyre's own
side Of the house, and not trouble them.
Doune had said nothing to his little
,sister-how could she understand? And
he did not know that the two had al
ready met at Lord Lovels funeral and
become friends beside his grave.
Meanwhile Mr.. Eyre received the
boy, who came eagerly to meet him,
thinking of little Madcap, and rejoiced
to escape from the tyranny OF holi-
days in Eaton square.
As Mr.. Eyre looked at the clear-faced
lad, sunny haired, and bright Of blee, y
as all the Lovels were, it struck him
for the first time that he and DOune
rould not be more than year apart
IN age, yet how different in looks, bear
ing, and attractiveness.
Mr.. Eyre thought he might have low
I'd such son as this, as they went back
together to the Red Hall, for the boy
was fearless of him, and had, more
over, taken a liking, weeks ago, to
the sternfaced man against whom his
mind had not yet been poisoned by
scandal.
! Doune heard the carriage return, and
listened sullenly for a summons to go
below; but none came, and Madcap and
he had their short evening alone, as
usual, ntl SUDDENLY Dad popped into
her head and down she jumped from
her high chair to go to him.
Doune wrapped her up with his
usual jealous care, and saw her depart
in the nurses arms; then sat down wit
darkening broWs, and the old bitter
feelings rising in his heart AS he had
felt when his mother died, and before
the softening influence of his little sister
had come upon him, so he felt tonight
as he sat alone and thought of how
short his holidays were, and how COM
pletely Mr.. Eyre would win her away
from him in the end.
| BY a hundred trifes, and without
questioning her, the boy had, during
the past few days, discovered how close
was the bond of sympathy between
the pair; how in everything Mr.. Eyre
had anticipated him, even to teaching
her the alphabet; how in every small