Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-03-04

sought for first at his own chambers
where his servant, with deeply affected
reluctance and genuine morbid salts
faction at having a finger in the pie
repeated with elaborate emphasis the
remark that he had heard his master
make in the morning relative to mis-
desire to wiring Sir Andrew Gwenap' 5
cursed, interfering CID head off MS
shoulders" at grieved him to -
agin his master he said, but he went
"agin him. verbally with spontaneous
alacrity.
So Sholto Graham was arrested o.
suspicion Of being concerned in the
mysterious circumstances under which
the APPARENTLY dying Sir Andrew GIVE
nap was found in the prisoners private
room And the following mornig bo-n
Patrice Laugh 9rne and Mrs. Cumber-
land mad read full accounts Of the affair
in the morning papers.
May Thorburh was with Patrice al
most as soon as the latter had mastered
| the contents of the paragraph which
told of the crushing how which had
fallen on her false lover May came
prepared to syn pdthiZe with and
soothe Patrica, believing the latter TO
be still heart and honor bound TO the
suspected man. And Patrice did not
| undeceive her. This, his hour Of dis
grace, was not the one which Patrice
! Laugherne would ckCose to proclaim
that she had relincuished all claim to
feeling any special interest n ShoIto
! Graham
''Patrice, keep your heart. Ned says
| he sees light in the darkness May
cried, coming into the room where Pa
trio sat reading and rereading with the
| entranced fascination Of horror the
paragraph headed
Extraordinary Cccurance in High
Life-Murderous Assault on Sir And
rev Gwenap--His BT0ther-in-law, Mr..
Sholto Graham, Arrested on SuspiCion!
Poor Sholtor Patrice said, with
such vast pity in her voice and eyas
that May felt sure that the love for
a lover had fled from her friend
heart. Poor Sholto! AS if he could ty
any possibility be guilty of murder
Gus assault on any living thing"
You are as sure of his innocence as
Ned is"
rs Ned sure. too? Dear Ned, but /
needn't ask, he could never by any
chance take any other than a Just and
sensible and honorable view of things
Patrice said, warmly, and then May
asked:
You will go and see him."
Patrice shook her head.
'Tf he wishes to see me, yes; but.
May, I don't think he will have any
pleasure in seeing me. I have been
realizing this truth for some weeks
past"
But you are engaged to him."
Patrice was silent.
cat any rare" May went on, with q
touch Of authority in her tone, 'yoI
must write to and assure him of your
firm faith in him
Patrice looked up quickly.
Firm faith in his innocence of this
special offense, mean Miss Thorburn
repeated. His is not strong charac-
ter; forgive me for saying so, Patrice
He is capable, I should imagine, of do
ing anything to save himself from fac
ing disgrace and ignominy, however
little he may deserve them. Ned says
he thinks it utterly unlikely that this
charge will be sustained after to-day,
but during this day the poor fellow
may try to escape from the shame in a
very terrible way
You don't mean suicide?,' Patrice
faltered
May nodded
You will write?" she said. Ned
and Mr.. Guy Vereker are coming n
here presently: they intend to go and
see him. They will take your letter."
"They-Ned will &C and see him."
Patrice questioned, wonderingly.
yes, he has a suggestion to make
and a few questions to ask Mr.. Graham.
Oh, yes, Patrice, Ned will work his
hardest, his cleverest and his best for
Mr.. Graham for your sake"
He is good Patrlce murmured, and
still she did not say that Sholto Ora
ham had been released by her from his
engagement
She was not long il writing her let
ter. Generous, inspiring words flowed
freely from her pen. She wrote:
Dear Sholto: I am firmly con-
WINGED Of your innocence, and so sure
that it will be made clear before many
hours are over that I won't insult you
by offering you pity. This note will be
given to you by Mr.. Thorburn, who will
not leave a stone unturned to clear you
as soon as possible. Your loving friend,
"Patrice."
Meantime Sir Andrew Gwenap had
struggled back into semiconsclousne ss
and a rambling statement had been
elicted from him. He could recall be
| ing in Sholto't private room with the
latter, and he had dim reelection OF
having had a violent alteration with
him (Sholto) on some subject which
had now escaped his memory. He
thought Sholto left the office, but pro
| lably he was mistaken, as when he
! (Sir Andrew rose up to come away he
was struck brutally on the back of the
head, and-he could tell nothing more.
CTo Be C0ntinued)
SIXTY-TWO YEARS AN EDITOR.