Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-09-29
CHATTER xY.AlContinued.l

s0untrymcn round me gullty, anu ,""' ~.
fellow-townsmcn-the old frlends anu
ncighbors whom have spent all my Ire
among-in their own minds found me
guilty, too. and have shown their OPINION
most Of them. by Withdrawing their bus.
mess from me--the old friehds io'eu
and served. my lordT'
The earl took his hand again.
ar have heard It, Mr.. Lonsdale, and
regret IL. 1 am glad to have this chance
Of saying publicly that I disbelieve all
that has been said about your guilt. and
am proud to take the hand Of an honest,
injured man."
II thank you. my lord" returned Darcy
Lonsdalc.
His wonder increased when the earl.
turning to him, said:
"Your place, Mr.. Lonsdale, is at my
right hand"
The lawyer looked at him in amaze.
ment.
Lord Arlington smiled.
eyes. at my right hand" be said: "and
after dinner you will know the reason
why"
Wondering at this, Darcy Lonsdale
took his scat.
"Your son will sit next to you," said
Lord Arlington. II shall want him Us
we'll"
Mr.. Lonstlale saw the looks Of wonder
from all the gentlemen assembled.
'"rhey are not accustomed TO see me
10 honorcd." he said to himself, bitterly.
Then the grand banquet began, and II
was one long remembered In LilfOrd. be-
cause Of its grandeur and costliness;
those who partook Of II described II In a
few words-it was worthy Of the earl
who gave 1t.
Silence. deep and impressive, fell over
them when the earl arose to speak. There
was not the faintest sound when he be-
gan.
"Gcntlemen. old friends and neigh.
bors," he said, there has been an injus-
tice done among you which have asked
you here to-day to set straight. Under.
stand me plainly, as an Englishman,
uphold the legal institutions Of my coun.
try. bow my head to the decision Of
a judge; I listen with respect to the ver-
diet Of a jury. But, gentlemen. human
laws. just because they are human and
not divine. must at times err: and ! say
they erred when they pronounced a man
as honest. industrious and honorable rs
my friend Darcy Lonsdalc as capable Of
influencing a woman to leave him her
money. Gentlemen, the judge who gave
sentence against him was q stranger to
him, and the jury who decided In favor of
the heir.at.law did not know him. But
you know him; he has lived among you
all his life, he has served you TO the best
Of his knowledge. He has spent his life
among you. and not one Of you can say
that you have ever known him to do
wrong. II you can. speak"
There was dead silence which lasted
for some moments, md then voice said
"YOu are right, my lord. Not one among
us has ever known him to do wrong"
II am sure not" declared the earl.
"Now, mind what say. With the jury
and the judge who thought James Hard
man entitled to Elizabeth Hardman's
money, ind who really believed that Oar.
cy LOnsdale had wrOngfully used his
great influence with her, have nothing
to do. They did their duty honestly, even
n mistakenly. To you who constituted
yourselves judge and jury--to you whO
knowing the man and his character, judg.
I'd him yourselves as guilty-to you wish
to speak. believe him to be- innocent.
have read carefully since my return every
word Of the trial; and I say before you
all, In the most emphatic words that
can use, that believe him to be limo
cent, and, what IN more, to be deeply
injured man."
He was obliged to stop. for there rose
from the lips Of the men who had mis-.
Judged Darcy Lonsdale, who had Stunned
him, who had withdrawn their business
from him, who had half broken his
honest heart by their conduct, a cheer
such Us had never been heard in Lilford.
Perhaps IN their hearts they had never
LII al A.
earl's noble words touched them with
compunction and regret.
I'VE are agreed, then, gentlemen" said
the earl, "Our old friend and fellow.
townsman Is an lsoesst, honorable gen.
tleman."
They cheered again and again. 1t was
with some difficulty that the earl could
make himself heard. At last silence was
restored, and then he continued:
I'VE can never make up to him for all
that he has suffered; we cannot give him
back the strength, the hope, the happi.
ness he has lost; We cannot atone for the
wretched hours, the sleepless nights and
the weary days-all that IL beyond us.
But have thought Of a plan by which
we may aid him, and want the close at.
tention Of every gentleman present while
propose It."
The earl paused for one moment, and
those seated at his hospitable table look.
ed earnestly at him; there was still deep.
er silence when he began to speak again.
"There Is no secrecy In England. Ev.
erything done In the country IL as open
as the sea that surrounds It. Through.
out the length and breadth of England
men have read how Darcy LOnsdale's
case went against him. want something
else to 60 through the length and breadth
Of the land; ] want people to read how
Darcy Lonsdale's friends and tOwnsmen
myself at the head--met and expressed
their sympathy with him, and that they
presented him with handsome testimo.
NAL to show their full confidence In him
and 70 make up for bis loss. That testi-
monial ] propose to head myself with five
hundred pounds, and ] venture to say
there will not be q nobleman or gentle
man In the county who will not add bis
name to the list"
Cheers again rose. Never had the
Bramber Arms heard such cheers Darcy
Lonsdaie's face had grown deathly pale;
but for the strong arm Of bis son thrown
round him he would have fallen.
u hsve one more word to say, gentle
men," continued the earl, land It Is this.
My agent, Mr.. John Sleaman, a gentle
man whom you all know and respect, 10
leaving me. am glad to say that for
tune has fallen TO him. and that he IL go
ing to enjoy It. ] propose now to ask
Mr.. Darcy Lonsdsle to take bis post. The