The record-union., 1897-10-03
PART LII

LII news travels fast; a more or less
accurate account of what had hap
pened flew round Slagborough in less
than an hour, and even made its way
to semi-rural Ashdene. A scared maid
with a scared face came to inform Mrs.
Blencowe that Father Urquhart had
been accused of stealing hundreds of
pounds of charity money, and dragged
off to the police station by a Consta-
ble with all the riff-raff of the place
following at their heels. At first Mrs.
Blencowe was much more indignant
than alarmed.
And there was not one single soul to
take his References part" the girl
added, "but Mr. Blencowe and Mr..
Vickers, who both went, to bail him
OUT
"Oh, if my husband is there" said
Mrs. Blencowe joyfully, don't be afraid
all will be right
In spite of this security, however. in
spite, too, of cold and darkness, she
threw on some Vraps, went out into the
dismal wintry garden, and restIessly
paced up and down the broad gravel
walk by which her husband would re-
turn, for the sake Of obtaining ease of
mind few minutes earlier. He was
very long in coming, and each time that
she had to retrace her steps her anxiety
increased. AT last she heard the gate
into the high road shut, and hastened
to meet him. She had hoped that he
would see her from afar, and would
greet her with the cry, IT'S all right"
but he walked silently, and, as she in
her eager impatience thought, very
much more slowly than usual, towards
her.
Tell me quickly!" she cried when he
came nearer. 'He has explained ev-
erything, of course, but I am miserable
till know
You are not more miserable than I
ami
DO you mean to say that he has not
explained?"
He has explained nothingi-abso-
lutely nothing! 1t is terrible!"
Don't speak in that voice, Edward.
You don't, you can't believe him gull
ty."
mo. I do not believe him guilty but
but what?" she exclaimed impa-
tiently.
why did he not speak out boldly,
and to the point? He
ooh, he Willie Wilt Wait till he
does! You will be so sorry afterwards
if you let any doubt creep into your
mind now. Say that you do not doubt
him, Edward
My heart does not. my head does"
''Impossiblei"
Yes, impossible. But why on earth
did he not defend himself properly to-
night? If he had been able to rebut
the charge, he would surely have done
it tonight
Mrs. Blencowe made no answer to
this, for she was unable to speak.
He kissed her and said, "I am un-
happy too-more unhappy than I can
say. In reality. however black things
may look, nothing would make me be-
lieve this" And then he thought,
That money! How little 7 thought
when I marked it in whose possession
it would be found!"
1--WE must hope, Agnes" he said
drearfly after pause.
Il do hope" she answered boldly; "T
aAlh Ccl t<alu lHdL he VIII prove his 1nno-
cence."
=
He never did prove it. When tried
ne had no more to say than when ar
rested Proctor's story was clear and
convincing, and only too abundantly
supported by evidence. The unhappy
priests was exactly the reverse He
was condemned to five years penal
servitude, and Slagborough knew him
no more.
Proctor, Of course, lived on there in
freedom and prosperity. His prosper
ity dated almost from the hour of
Father Urquhart's arrest. How could
it be otherwise? Customers poured in
to his shop daily, and these were not
Slagborough people alone, for within
a radius of ten or twelve miles there
was not little town that was not
'emptied Of its folk in turn. "Out of
the bowels of the harmless earth too,
came pitmen on their play days. with
pockets full of money which burnt
their pockets while yet unspent. One
and all, they came even in snow and