The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-08

L
wilds Of Craven. She would not hear Of
my going with her on her journey. ]
must stay in town to look after her ia.
ther and mother and arrange for the de.
tense.
In a weeks time George was fit to be
moved. He was brought up to London
and formally charged before the police
magistrate with the murder Of Harriet
Staples. Chiefly on the strength Of my
reluctant evidence he was committed
for trial at the Old Bailey.
| All the while the unhappy lad stout
ly maintained his innocence, but his
solicitor and counsel were in despair.
Against his own improbable account Of
what actually had taken place there
was arrayed mass Of overwhelming
evidence, from the conclusions of which
it seemed impossible to escape. 1t could
be proved that be had been in the habit
Of waiting for Harriet Staples, and that
they had often been seen together.
There was evidence that on the night
in question they had been out for a
walk, and that in Back Saville street,
on their return, high words had passed
between them, while the very presence
of the dagger pointed to premedita.
ton. A clearer case there could not be
made, and it seemed certain that unless
other important evidence was forthcom-
ing the prisoners life hung by d very
slender thread. At the earliest moment
possible l obtained an interview with
him.
He had indeed altered In the last few
weeks. and it was scarcely possible to
recognise In this broken down wreck,
with worn face and haggard eyes, the
strong, bright, active man Of a few
short weeks ago. For one moment q
trace Of his old look crossed bis face
when he saw vho was his visitor.
"Ah, you have come, Brettl I knew
you would. Good God, isn't it awful?'
And ha buried his face in his hands
thin, wasted hands.
l had determined to find out at this
interview whether there was a possible
chance of his being innocent, SO after
few minutes ! asked the brutal ques-
ton:
"What on earth possessed you to kill
her, Fenton?"
He drew back as if had struck him.
Then he looked at me steadily, and re-
piled:
Brett, thought you knew mel
murder Harriet? would have given
my life willingly for hers at any mo-
,nent. Brett by all that is holy, swear
have nothing to do with her DEATH"
"Tell me all that happened that aw-
full night" I rejoined. "Ws are NOV
ing heaven and earth for evidence Per.
haps you may give me clew.''
cts weary work going over 1t all
again, Brett. Harriet aud had been
out for a walk together, and as we turn
ed toward Spiegeleisen's again urged
her to give some reason for refusing to
marry me. She would not do so, and
told me she wished I would leave her
forever, as I was only making us both
unhappy by my persistence There was
just enough in her words, or, rather, her
tones to make me hope, and caught
hold Of her hand and begged her to pity
me. She tried to Withdraw 1t from my
grasp, but would not yield it. And
this suppose some pasaerby took for
quarrel. / could not make her alter her
determination, and 90 left her. I had
not gone far away-certainly not more
than score of yards-when heard
smothered CRY and dull thud. I look
ed back to see Harriet on the ground
and man running away. rushed to
her assistance, and the first thing I saw
was that cruel weapon in her breast. In
the agony Of my despair tried to with
draw the dagger, but the hilt broke off,
and at that moment you came up. You
know the rest"
"And the MANI l asked. "Could
not you describe him?'
Impossible. 1t was dark at the time
and my thought was all for my poor
love. He left absolutely no impression
on my mind"
My heart sank as I heard him speak.
If this was all be could say. felt there
was indeed no hope for him, for what
jury would believe such statement,
unsupported by title of proof, in face
OF all the evidence against him? I was
eager to know him to be innocent, not
only for his sisters sake, and because
my marriage depended upon it, but be.
cause liked the lad, yet will honest
ly confess, when he told me what had
occurred, did not believe him. I am
afraid my face must have shown what
I felt, for he looked at me in panied,
troubled way, as much as to say, "If
you, my friend, doubt me, what can
expect from those who do not know
me?" But such thoughts were unproft-
able. l came in search Of clew, and as
yet he had given me none.
"Can you tell me anything about her
peoplef' Iasked. "The police seem ut.
terly at fault, and according to them
she was quite alone in the world
Fenton shook his head.
"She could not have been without
relatives and friends, but she would
never speak about them"
"But why?" asked. "What was the
mystery about her, George?'
II do not know. ! felt there was q
mystery all along, but did not think I
,ad any tight to find out more than she
those to tell me, and that was little
enough. She never mentioned her ia
her or mother, or. in fact, anything of
ler past life. Sometimes tried to lead
Ter on to the subject, but she always
'eemed to scent danger and kept clear
# all personal matters. This thing
tnow at any rate-she was of gentle
birth and certainly had never been
brought up with the idea Of being a
ervant. Not only did learn it by her
many accomplishments-painting, mu.
ic, singing, languages-which she
vent ont Of her way to hide from me,
tut which, nevertheless, would keep
ropping up-but from her manner of
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