Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-05-26

Then about tnat poor woman, Eyre
what a fearful blunder you made
and that lout of a gardener guilty afte'
all"
.'Ah! by-the-way," said Mr.. Eyre
pausing suddenly in his walk, ''havt
you heard anything about the woman
has she been seen in the neighborhood
during my absence? You see l looR
to you for all the gossip"
AS a magistrate" said the Colonel
putting himself out, Il am compelled
to take cognizance Of matters that
do not come under the heading OF Cos
sip. l have certainly made it my busl
ness to inquire about this unhappy and
prosecuted woman-'
by whom persecuted!' said MI.
Eyre
10 do Colonel Busby justice, he was
no coward, and now he looked MI.
Eyre full in the face.
BY YOU" he said, with a touch OF
dignity, not even to be married by his
absurd appearance. 1T was an unhu-
man persecution, since you could not
have believed in her guilt.
'Pshaw." said Mr.. Eyre, frowning;
but won't quarrel with you there
is no railing in an allowed fool-and for
the first time in my life, find your
conversation interesting. And pray
whom did you think guilty.
Well" said Busby hesitating for 4
moment bit hardened by that auuslon
to his folly, 'it was generally consid-
E,nt IN have
places with the woman, and been tried
fer it yourself-but being fool, | only
repeat what was the common report. >
And what is your opinion:' said
Mr. Eyre, grimly.
What my opinion was matters lit
tie now that there is not shadow OF
doubt your gardener is guilty" SAID
Colonel Busby, stiftiy.
Don't alter your opinion on that
score" said Mr. Eyre, carelessly. Pm
not at all sure that either Of them did
it-or if 50, the woman Clarke was
accessory to the crime, and deserved
hanging Now that I've done with
/ ord Lovel, [ must have her found
Eve been too busy to thirk of her these
three years.
You will remain here?" said Colon
el Busby, curiosity mastering dignity.
20 be sure" said Nj. Eyre. 1--WE
found new ties (he laughed that will
keep me here awhile-and there are
Lord Lovel's affairs to arrange; The
new heir is Il mere lad. and I'm his
guardian"
Colonel Busby opened his mouth,
but no sound came; for once, wonder
silenced him.
New ties''-what are they? Mr..
Eyre guardian to the young heir-he-
this man preeminent in evil, who car
ried things with as high a hand in de-
feat rs victory?
.'By-the-way," said Mr.. Eyre, It
heard something about your coming
over to have Lord Loyels coffin open
ed-did you think I had killed him
t0o?'
The proceedings were INFORMAL
Irregular" said Colonel Busby, stifiy;
his next Of kin should have been ask
ed to the funeral, which, 1 am told, you
have fixed for tomorrow"
Not L. said Mr.. Eyre, but for
next day. You'll see the heir safe
enough, and, no doubt, the lawyer
ana the rest of en-
1T must be a great relief to you tC
know that you are not mOIHlly reSpon-
sible for your wife's DEATH" said Col
onel Busby, gathering all his energies
together to implant one poisoned shaft
in Mr. Eyre's nvulnerable hide.
Almost as great one as to know
that I'm not physically Responsible
said Mr.. Eyre grimly; land now you'd
better run back to Mrs. Busby, and re-
tail your news-if any; you've filled
my budget with food for u week"
And Mr.. Eyre went on his way down
one of the three avenues that were the
glory Of the Towers and the pride of
the Lovels- avenues that branched like
three spokes of Il giant wheel from the
very hall door, and gave endless var
iety to the outlook.
Mr.. Eyre had walked them in all
seasons and all WeatherS, often with
Madcap, oftener with Frank; and he
Splendor. But this morning he saw the
avenue in a new light, and, as it hap
pened, was in Il mood to observe it.
Dull and Sadden as the day before
had been, in the night the wind fresh
oned,a by morning gale had sprung
up. The leaves of the trees wasted
to mere skeletons, danced in their
thousands to the keen wind that smote
them this way and that, and produced
with, the sun srinins through IN eN
traordinary effect, so that Mr.. Eyre
stood for time looking. and thinking
that he had never rearly seen wind
before.
As he watched its wild fierce spirit
entered into his blood, and with it his
own rOse-he was once wore himself
and the past night of his self abase
ment vanished like Il dream: he hat
been out of sorts. fasting, and hat
coniured up thoughts that the brisl
morning air dispersed. His interview
with Colonel Busby had refreshed him
his weapons might have rusted, bu
had not Worn out; and even as Il sus
pected murderer he could hold his owl
yet.
And at the end of this avenue. tina
ran straight as the crow flies to TIL
foot of the Red Hall, he would finC
somebody something; and then TIL
dance. the whistle, the rush of tn
leaves and wind blended. held him n
longer. and he went forward, bent onl
on his THOUGHTS