Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-08-26


not have, any evidence against him.
The boldness of this proposal took
Rachel's breath away. Before she
| could make any comments upon IL,
George himself knocked at the door.
| and Hattie hastily cautioned her not to
say a word to him abRnt IL just yet. 1t
| would be time enough to do that, she
said, when their plans were more ma
tured.
George had wished to accompany his
sister. but had been detained by his
mother. The old lady. believing him
10 be on the point Of starting for Cana
| da, was most reluctant TO let him out
OF her sight. When at last he did get
away, IL was on the distinct under
standing that he was to return at the
earliest possible moment. He was still
In a very nervous state in consequence
OF his encounter with Tom Wallmott, but
he smiled at the sight Of Hattie, and
fearing lest her keen eyes should dis
cover that something was amlss, tried
hard to be cheerful about the weather
and other matters of equal importance.
Before very long, however, the one
subject which was in the minds Of all
there forced itself to the front, and
then Hattie talked TO George as she
had already talked to Rachel She en-
treated him, by his love for her, for
his parents and for his sister. to tell
on one what his father had found In
the field at CronkvaSh. Those who
knew him as she did, knew also his in
nocence, but there were others who
knew him not, and they would judge
things as they saw them. Let
him Just consider for moment
how dreadfully appearances had con-
splred against him. What would people
say when they heard, for example, that
the stck-his stick, the one with which
on that very afternoon he had threat
ened Henry Wilmott-had been discov-
cred near the scene OF the murder and
afterwards destroyed?
Eyes, / see all that, Hattie" said
George. "But the truth must prove my
innocence; nothing else can do it; and il
l hold back things, how is the truth to
come out?"
Hattie clasped her hands in despair.
What was she to say to that? He was
so obstinate, so dreadfuliy determined
to meet his accusers face to face, and
his arguments were so hard to answer.
"What must l say TO him, Rachel?"
she cried. How shall persuade himP
Oh, George dear, do listen to reason.
You talk so wildly and you are so will
full, and you don't see-indeed you don't
see-the consequences OF it all. Per-
haps II you had time you might. In a
few days you would see more plainly.
Will you wait, George, for few days
for week-for fortnig ht-cnly for a
fortnight?"
II can't bear to disappoint you," he
answered, "but it is impossible. Only
this morning, as l was on my way here,
| met someone-an cnemy-and was
forced into. saying that was going i'm
mediately 10 the police. So, you see, l
must, don't you?"
Hattie looked at Rachel with pained,
staring eyes, to which tears would have
given intense relief. But a new arRu-
ment occurred to her. and she started
into animation again.
"Here is something else," she said.
"Just listen to this, George. You will
tell the police you were at the gate OF
the field on that night. They will be-
lieve it-because IL will suit their own
purpose-but when YOU tell them you
were not there after nine o'clock, they
won't believe you. And who will your
witnesses be? Me-only me. And
when l go into the witness box the first
question put TO me will be, Is IL true
shat you are engaged to--the-the-to
YOU? ! shall answer, Eyes. l am" aud
shall be proud 10 give that answer, but
what will the jury say 10 ltP They will
say, This girl ia not to be believed; she
is lying TO save her lover. Have you
thought OF that?"
Aud George, somewhat shaken, an-
swered: mo, Hattie, have not 1t
never occurred 10 me that you would
DO dragged into the wltnessbox.
But | shall be dragged into the
witnsss-box," she said, determined to
make the most Of her advantage; land
so will your father and your sister, and
goodness knows how many BESIDES"
George rose from his chair, and
walked to and FRO. He was altogether
unsettled now. He stopped before the
window and looked out at the vessels
| tossing away out at sea, and presently
| turned to ask:
Then would You mind doing this
! thing TO clear me frem horrible sus-
ptcion?"
"Mlnd!" cried Hattie. "Oh, George,
IL / could clear you / would do any
nythiug-anythIng az all-ior that.
But we must trust to time, dear, mustn't
we?"
The door opened, and Mr.. Duke look
ed In. His face showed Enthusiastically
that something had occurred to disturb
him. He called George out into the
| hall.
81 think Tom Wilmott must be rs
mad as his father" he said very gravely.
"He has just been into the bank, and
opened an account which he called the
Vengeance Fund He lodged seven
hundred pounds, all but few shillings
spent by his father upon those terrible
placards. | thought IL better to warn
you. would keep out of his way as
much as possible, George, If / were
you"
This news almost stunned George for
the moment. 1t brought the logged
cruelty of Willmots nature far more
forcibly before him than any outburst
OF cruelty could have done. he had
read OF an iron chamber which grew
smaller day by day, until at last the
helpless captive enclosed within IL was
crushed 10 death. II was just such an
iron chamber that was closing round
him now In spite OF the despair which
was stealing away his energies, he felt
be must do something TO end the pres
ent suspense. Without delay he must
| confront his accusers in open court and
bring matters TO an issue, one way or
the other. Unless he did that, the slow
torture would kill him.
nSo George left the house without re-
turning TO speak to Hattie. he walked