Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-09-15
EYRE'S ACQUITTAL
PART LII.
PART LII.
(Continued.)

You and my Lord LOvel have man
aged it very wei between you," h
said: You must have had many inter
views to dovotan your stories SO cir
fl1mstantiaIly; but / find more thai
one flaw in your ingenious narrative
though the best legal talent in Eng
land will discover them without III!
help before | am Il week older
Yes said Hester, Lord Love and
i have managed well, as You say
What he learned, he learned from
your lips alone in your delirium-then
we combined, and decided oil your &C
count TO live as cXiles."
Say on your own cried Mr. Eyre
furolISly as one whose endurance fails
him; "a pair Of traitors who deserve
to die d hundred deaths TO ayenge her
one; but this time you shall not escape
mc'-and he strobe to the door, and
was about 10 call to the woman Of the
house. when he stumbled over Mad
caps body as She kncelcd with her
brow 10 the Intel, pale and with the
look If death imprinted on her face.
IL stopped to lift her. and carried
her in if lie could have uttered sob
or cry, as Hester had done but now,
his reason might have been saved; but
grim and silent he sat down with his
burden, and Only looked ut her. here
was his puniShment here in the Suf-
fcring Of this innocent soul he found
the chastscmont that he had impiOuSly
denied his Maker, ana in that moment
Though unconsciouSly to himsclD the
core Of his heart became human; and
as i child who bows 10 the rod, so
bowed he then 10 the hand Of God.
Hester had drawn near. . nor years,
nor loss, nor anguish could Stific III her
thlt throb Of motherhood that had
governed the greater part Of her life;
and in this pale, still shape she seemed
to see once more the Madcap whose
life She had cut short by her sin.
seemed to see chances of redemption
even thus late in the day, though
She might now DO no more than knecl
to kiss the pale hand that hung down,
and which Mr.. Eyre instantly Snatchcd
away, rs if the Woman'S touch were
pollution.
Madcap opened her eyes on the in
slant, blaming herself for lack Of cOur-
age; and meeting Testers @azr, and
reading its perfect truth, sealed one Of
those silent compacts that between true
and generous souls are seldom broken,
then took her fathers hand, and said;
Dad, take me home"
The familiar cpithct used through al
the seventeen years of her beautiful
childhood's love and trust in him, NOV
"a Mr.. Eyre naturally and profoundly
for Il moment his iron features re
Taxed, but the next he put her aside
and turned to Hester.
You will consider yourself under
arrest, = he said; ''and until | can secure
assistance | will myself remain to
watch you. And nov, child, if YOU are
able, get home with YOU; and since
this confounded woman Of the house
seems to 30 absent, send down some
people from the Hail.
Disobcdicncc had never been bred in
Madcap'S nature, but for Il moment
she paused and thought deeply; then.
with Il gesture to Hester that Mr.. Eyre
did not see, went ont. only to meet,
on The Threshold OF the open door,
Lord Lowell
Il was going 10 look for You" She
said without i thought Of self and rs
a soul might speak who has lost its
body; 1therc is some frightful mistake
here for SHE speaks the truth, and
SO does my father; and between them
$50 here are more secrets" said Mr..
EyreS voice behind them: and his
Al u i, "A. ,l,t,
'"Fherc seems 10 be i conspiracy among
YOU: but 4 man is mostly betrayed by
his nearest and dearest And here is
my tenant" he added, rs Il woman
came M the narrow garden, exhausted
10y the unusual business Of 4 day
spent in Marmiton. no more expecting
thieves than debtors ut the numb G
house that was left on the latch morn
ing noon. and night
Nadcap stood between the two men
whom She loved best upon earth. her
heart torn between them. now cSpouS-
ing this side. now that. but firm in
faithfulncSS 10 her father. whom she
was resolved to save though how was
a question of the future.
Your servant Miss" said the Wo
man, courtcSying low to Madcap and
coldly to Mr. Eyre II left my house
empty but l find it full'-and She
turn ed a curious look on Lord Lovel rs
at stranger whose features she de
sired to learn. then, as recognition
broke on her. ran forward crying.
And have YOU come back. my Lord,
at last?"
'He had better have stayed away"
said Mr. Eyre; but mind YOU. the wo-
man in that room Wonder is Il prisoner
and you will look to it that she does
moi cScape
And the charge against her, Sir?'
said the mistress Of the house, coldly.
False accusation and bearing of
false witness" said Mr. Eyre, grimly:
but YOU are in her pay and not to be
trusted And 50 YOU must go home,
Madcap," he added. as he drew out his
pocket book and send n servant off
on horseback NJ once with these in
structionS'-a he wrote them down
With 4 firm hand and gave her the
torn-out leaf without 4 tremor.
She took it as calmly rs he gave
it. not knowing whence came the re-
serve of strength that enabled her 10
meet this fearful hour: but. looking Al
him as she turned away. saw Il sud
den. terrible change in his face. and
= 4.