Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-13
Chapter VI.

over the temperance of Lady Hya-
cinth Egerton in the Police Court: for
her an ordeal which she bore. as she
mad borne all the caIamities which had
Defallen her, like a true Dacre and
a true woman.
Perhaps only ner husband knew
What she suffered
There was only sufficient evidence
taken to commit Murray for trial
When the two whose likeness was SO
| terribly striking stood side by side
one witness who had sworn TO The
! Identity of Hyacinth with the woman
seen entering the house in question.
pointed out Mrs. Lathrop as the woman
! observed.
The servants at the house now said
| they saw differences-it was not Lady
! Ryacinth; but the porter at West
Hampstead station unhesitatingly
lady he had seen at the station, Ind
who had asked him when the train
| would leave
| Hyacinth had been at the station
she had acknowledged that.
! But the interest centered in Mrs.
Lathrop's evidence against the pris-
Oner, whom she said she had known
for mOnths-not in London-they had
met in the country and abroad: but
Mr.. Murray was always very secret
and careful, because he did not want
/ his wife to know of their friendship
no one knew she met him. This time
she had appointed to meet Mr.. Murray
at this house of his, and, seeing Lady
Hyacinth go to the house next door
an empty One-it had sprung into her
. head that now she could have ner re-
yenge.
Because" said she, coolly, in answer
is my sister On! | am only a natural
sister, we had the same father, that's
all. She didn't know it, but l did, and
[ hated her"
There were misses IN court and 4 cry
of shame Instantly suppressed, and
Hyacinth Shrank and went white as
death, yet she was proud, too, and
calm.
The witness went on to say that
everything played into her hands, and
she made Murray promise to swear
that it was Lady Hyacinth he met. He
knew her in society, had always ad-
mired her and tried to attract her at
tention, but she was cold and naughty,
and he was not unwilling to do her an
i'll turn.
Her motive now?
II
her and had turned her adrlft-
Murray was committed, and poor
Hyacinth and Egerton, when they
came out, though they tried to escape
the crowd, could not quite manage it,
and were cheered to the echo.
! 1t was all terrible to the girl, who
sat rigid in the carria ge-only clasp11g
Gerald's hand consulsively-as they
were driven off swiftly.
.sYet. darling he said, softly, sit is a
different home coming to that other
seven months ago!''
All the world would have flOcked to
call on her, but Hyacinth could only
see a few.
Rougemont came, and, bitterly re-
! morseful, upbraided himself for his
hardness and cruelty, and Hyacinth
gave him her hands, and said, with
bent head. only in her sweet, NlSTful
way.
/ Let US forget it, Wilton. Perhaps
ought not to feel wounded, that yon
should have doubted me; but we are
brother and sister, let us begin from
today
And while he kissed her tenderly in
his remorse, he felt that though she
forgaye so sweetly, yet it could never
be the same between them.
For it is not in our power to do mors
than forgive when love and lonol
have been so rudely shocked.
But poor Rougemont was so unhappy
that even Gerald was touched, and fC7
his wife's sake forgaye and ciaspet
hands once more with his brother.
The trial of Robert Murray came o.
a few weeks afterward, and ended il
, his being found guilty of consplrac.
| and perjury.
He pleaded guilty indeed, and all nj
counsel attempted to urge was that h'
had been led to the wrong by his IN
fatuation for the beautiful woman VIII
, ruled him.
But the judge held that no plea 70
, mitigation of sentence, and condenne'
the prisoner to the longest term Of i'm
prisonment the law allowed for sue,
off ences.
= Many said that he would not live {
come out of prison-he looked so shat
tered. and it was alleged that ne la
received some internal injury, IN
: Gerald Egerton smiled grimly; h
: thought he knew something about :ha
SO it was all over. and Hyacinth va
: vindicated, and the shadow lifted troI
the name of Egerton, and society wa
delighted. and would have )vel
whelmed her with notice and congrsit Il
lations.
: Poor Hyacinth, who shrank from a
: such ''congra tulations' and publicit
with a sensitive horror.
; 1T was very kind and we'll meant
u she said to Gerald, YEARLY; "but o.
Gerald. it is TOO awful to be spoken 6
Il and SO full Of pain
Yet she bore everything with ht
n own sweet. proud grace, and -Ts
'e grateful for all kind feeling.
n Only one thing lay on her heart, an
'e threw a little cloud over her peife
-e happiness-the thought Of the mise
s. able woman who had worked her al