Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-05-30


Iessly divided as to the evidence to be
given to the report.
Many stoutly believed in her: others
were shaken: others sneered and said:
''oh, these virtuous women know how
to keep things quiet others said
sadly, who are we to believe in?''
All the time that elapsed before the
trial, Hyacinth bore herself bTavely
and calmly. though heaven only knows
what it was to her to do so-tO
face the world she knew was CRITICS
| ing her. talking her over. weighing
pros and cons as to whether she was
faithful wife or no.
She and Gerald went about together
as usual. neither more or less
| She shrank from no invitations,
smiled and talked. and if graver than
her wont, that was no more than
natural to a woman over whose head
hung a terrible charge-one that If
| proved, whether true or not. would
blast her name and her husbands
honor to the world. and cast a shadow
on her children's name.
1t was a terrible ordeal for that
pure woman. wife and mother. to
stand i'll court accused of a sin so
horrible to her-to face those hundreds.
to be questioned and cross-examined
on such q charge.
Those who knew her best wondered:
and in all his agony for her for the
honor Of his name. Gerald, her hus-
band. must feel thrill Of passionate
admiration for the noble steadfastness
of his wife
But alas, it availed her nothing; too
many independent witnesses had seen
her that day.
She was so remarkable. so beautiful.
that everyone would notice her.
One man had seen her get out Of
her carriage, and had heard her tell
the coachman to drive home. Return
ing little while afterwards he had
seen her enter at the garden gate Of
the house named, described her dress.
everything.
The servant at the house gave evil
dence that seemed to set her guilt
beyond a doubt
And so on, through a chain of evil
dence, against which a bare denial
sounded so pitifully impotent
The respondent called looked at Lady
Hyacinth, and said of course that was
the lady he had met.
And Hyacinth's story about return
ing by the underground sounded so
lame.
She thought it would be "fun," she
had never been on it before-she
missed her way.
The poor young wife in despair read
incredulity in every face, all but one
those dark eyes looked at her with
steadfast faith, and only that gave
her strength.
Well, the long agony was over at
last
The girl stepped down blindly-to
firm warm clasp.
Courage, my child"
She heard the low whisper, and she
rallied then and was calm.
In the teeth of so much evidence of
her participations in guilt what was
the worth Of her denial-of her pas
SiOnate protest.
Mrs. Murray got her decree; judge
and jury, most friends and the public
alike ruled Lady Hyacinth Egerton
guilty-Gerald Egerton's name and
honor blasted.
He sWOre, if there was a God in
Heaven. he would have justice yet;
hn c,if 70
the bottom; and the people said he
was infatuated to believe in his wife
still!
The earl, her brother, sorrowfuIly,
with anguish and shame, felt COM
PEELED to believe the evidence, so plain
as it Was-no one gave her faith but
Gerald
In the carriage going home she sat
rigid, her eyes CLASSY and bright
His hand was on hers, but he dared
no other token of his love; he feared
for her, and his agony of fierce pas
sion at the ruthless cutting down of
her honor and his was almost swal-
lowed up in his agony for her in
dividual suffering.
But when they were alone, when she
had cast off hat and mantle with
feverish haste, then he flung his arms
about her and wrapped her to his
breast with passion that thrilled her
with an exquisite joy and ineffable
agony.
My darling-my wife," the man
whispered, scarce articulately, trust
me still-believe I have faith in you.
l know you, my own precious child,
against all the world and the hosts
of Heaven! And if these lips [ kiss,
my darling, told me you were guilty
I should think only that you knew not
what they said
"Gerald-Gerald." Hyacinth broke
! out. "Oh, if you still have faith in
me-but | knew til knew it-but
Oh!-hOw shall l bear it? How shall
l live it through?'
I She broke down into weeping that
frightened him; yet it was better than
the rigid tension that had frightened
him still more.
! At least this was more natural, and
! yielded at last to physical exhaustion
and Gerald's unWearied tenderness and
soothing.
! How good you are! How good you
are." she kept saving, lying exhausted
, against him, land 1 have brought all
! this on you-my thOughtlessness."
Hush, dearest, l will not hear that. -
! Gerald said quietly, but with GER
/ +,s