Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-06-23
EYRE'S ACQUITTAL.
By Helen b. Mathers.
PART I.
Chapter XII.


message in the form Of sealed letter
TO himself.
It had neither beginning nor ending,
and contained very few words; but
these were significant.
Janet Stork was dead, and she her
self returned to England immedia tely.
She had heard Mr.. Eyre was resolved
to seek her out, and most soIemnly
warned him to desist from any such at
tempt since she could not tell him
more than he did already know Of,
and, for the sake Of both the dead and
the living no one on earth should force
her to open her lips on the subject.
Justice. may yet" said Mr.. Eyre,
aloud as he folded the letter. Tell
her this from me when you write, that
she shall speak, and I'll have the whole
truth from her lips yet before / de-
and he went out, with curious feeling
that the battle was beginning over
again, and that the peace Of the last
few weeks had been but a rest before
the coming struggle. So the cleW that
had dropped from Franks dead hand
was held safe in Hester's living one
her though it took him a dozen years
Of search.
She could not tell him nothing that
he did not know already Ay, that
was true enough, for he knew her guilty
Of the murder, and today was more
rooted in his belief of it than ever
Ills sbilits rose as he walked home,
md pauSfng at the churchyard. he
thought that in time he might even
come to forgive Frank whose mind
had no doubt been poisoned against
him by the wOman's lies.
Within an hour Mr.. Eyre had tele-
graphcd TO the Governor Of the con
vict settlement in which Janet had
died for any information obtainable
about the woman who had visited her.
Before night the answer came back,
that nothing was known Of Hester
CIarke's plans beyond the fact that
her destination was England for which
place she sailed in the sailing-Ship Arr
IONA
Here was material upon which to
work, but inquiry only elected the fact
that Hester Clarke had left the ship at
a port half way home, though the cap
tain didn't think that her circumstances
warranted the loss Of half her passage
money.
lie had therefore returned it to her;
and was much amazed when, by return
Of post, he received n check from Mr.
Eyre, and 2 request for IN immediate
interview. This duly took place at
Poplar the honest bluff fellow refusing
the money, but willing to give
Mr.. Eyre all the information he knew.
He said that he had heard she was
going home because the friend for
whom She had come out to the settle
mcnt was dead, and she had been
heard her say she wished she had died
with her as she had no friends to re-
turn to in her own country.
And her appearance?' said Mr.
Eyre
The handsomeSt creature / ever
saw III my life" said the sailor, with
4 wcather-beaten blush that did not
escape the other, but with that look
Oh her face
a look of guilt said Mr.. Eyre
swiftly.
Lord bless you no." said the honest
sailor, Indignantly; she wouldn't hurt
hy-but she looked like one who's
seen sorrow, and maybe worse things,
III her time. | asked er to marry me-
Sir. and now the murders out-hut She
wouldn't and there's an end ont" he
added, wondering what this stern, dark
man might have had to do with her
past life and what with her future?
Tou may thank God that she would
not" said Mr.. Eyre dryly. You will
be going back before long,?
This day month"
Keep Il berth for me-" said Mr..
Eyre. for III 80 with you
The accommodation rough, Sir"
said he feeling Il curious unwilling
ness to set Mr. Eyre on Testers track.
What will do for woman will do
for me-" said Mr.. Eyre, careleSsly, and,
having paid for his passage, entered the
day and hour of the ships sailing in his
pocket-book. shook the captains hand
and left him.
Il wish | may be doing her no i'll
turn" thought the honest fellow (hon-
est and thorough us surely sailors are
above al other mem, but | doubt if
he finds her there-She'S not the sort of
woman TO be caught if she's minded TO
give any man the slip" But rs it turn
ed out Mr.. Eyre was not one of the
half-doZen passengers who sailed i'll
the good ship Arizona.
The very hour of his departure de-
ferred to the last moment. that he
might wish little Madcap goodby in her
sleep, and so spare herself and him Il
scene of pain: nay. 1T the very moment
when. cloaked and yloved. he entered
the nursery, he was startled to hear
her singing ut the top of ner voice, the
tune abruptly changing to 4 horrible
barking sound that tore his heart-StringS
where he stood. then saw the child
struggling to rise, and terrified, gasp
ing, fighting for breath. seemed in the
act of dying before his eyes.
He tore at the bell. cursing the nurse
for her neglect. but, swifter than any
hell could travel, the woman, when
those shrill clear notes burst upon her
ear. had fled downward to order blan-
ketS and boiling water. and was back
III the room before the look of agony
rom Mr.. Fyre's face as he
sat with the convulsed child in his arms
Group, Sir" she said. and whipped
bottle off the mantel-Shelf and pour