Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-10-02

"Your son will sit next to you, said
Lord Arlington. Il shall want him as
we'll"
Mr. Lonsdale saw the looks of wonder
from all the gentlemen assembled.
They are not accustomed to see me
so IGNORED ne said tc himself, bitterly.
Then the grand banquet began, and it
was one long remembered in Lilford, be-
cause of its grandeur and costliness;
those who partook of it described it in a
few words-it was worthy of the earl
who gave it.
Silence, deep and impressive, fell over
! them when the earl arose to speak. There
was not the faiAtest sound when he be-
gan.
"Gentlemen, old friends and neigh
| bors,' he said there has been an injus-
tice done among you which | have asked
zoe here to-day to set straight. Under
sta ad me p;cialy, as an Englshman, |
uphold the Legal institutions of my coun-
| try. L bow my head to the decision of
a judge; | listen with respect to the YER
dict of jury. But gentlemen human
laws. just because they are human and
not divine, must at times err: and / say
1 tlitN Fitth Wien AhNs pAOhOhhNNh a man
as honest, industrious and honorable as
my friend Darcy Lonsdale as capable of
| influencing a woman to leave him her
money. Gentlemen, the judge who gave
sentence against him was n 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 10 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 If you can, speak"
There was dead silence which lasted
for some moments, and then a 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. mir1 what 1 say With the jury
and the Judge who thought James Hard
man entitled to Elizabeth Hardman' IS
money. and who really believed that Oar
CIV Lonsdale had wrongfully used his
great influence with her, / have nothing
to do. They did their duty honestly, even
If mistakenly. To you who constituted
yourselves Judge and jury-to you who,
knowing the man and his character, iudg-
ed 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 l say before you
all. in the most emphatic words that
can use, that l believe him TO be limo
cent, and, what is more, 10 be a 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 as had never been heard ~ Lilford.
Perhaps in their hearts they had never
quite believed him guilty. Perhaps the
ear'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 honest, honorable gen
tleman."
They cheered again and again. II was
with some difficulty that the earl could
make himself heard. At last silence Was
restored and then he continued:
Eve can never make up TO him for oil
that he has suffered; we cannot give him
naGh TUE SAithSbNs NAit AnHSs the udnni-
ness he has lost; we cannot atone for the
wretched hours, the sleepless nights and
the weary days-all that is beyond us.
But l have thought of plan by which
we may aid him, and l 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 az him; there was still deep
err silence when he began to speak again.
There is no secrecy in England. Ev-
erything done in the country is as open
as the sea that surrounds il. Through
out the length and breadth Of England
men have read how Darcy Lonsdale's
case went against him. L want something
else 10 go through the length and breadth
OF the land; l want people 10 read how
Darcy Lonsdale's friends ana townsmen
myself AT the head-met and expressed
their sympathy with him, and that they
presented MN with handsome testimo-
ne: 20 show their full confidence in him
and 10 make up for his loss. That testi-
moni8l propose 10 head myself with FIVE
hundred pounds. and / venture 10 say
there will not be a nobleman or gentle
man in the county who win not add his
name TO the list
Cheers again rose. Never had the
Bramber Arms heard such cheers. Darcy
Lcnsdale's face had grown deathly pale;
but SCR the strong arm of his son thrown
round him he would have fallen.
Il have one more word to say, gentle
men" continued the earl. land il is this.
Nv agent. Mr.. John Sleamap. gentle
man whom you all know and respect. IS
leaving me. am glad 10 say that for
tune has fallen TO him. and that ne is go
ing TO enjoy it. l propose now TO ask
/ Mr. Darcy Lonsdale to take his post. The
| tnoluments are good-one thousand per
annum and house TO live in. IL he will
accept the Office. l shall be proud IL place
my interests. my welfare. my property, IN
| the hands Of worthy. honest and honor
/ able gentleman. Yet one word more. Mr..
| LonSdale j. no longer young; but he has
a Son-I wish we all had such sOn-and
| l propose thSt he acts. II necessary. in
/ his fathers place, always. OF course. with
/ his authority: il he does. l shall secure
/ tive good agents instead OF one"
/ Darcy IsOASdale rose and turned his
white face 20 them. But he could R>ke
no speech; the only words his trembling
| lips could utter were:
Heaven bless yon, my lord: I cannot
thank you. though You have made man
of me again. Ny dear old friends and
neighhors. bow could you have misjudged
| me2 But you see low that it was all a
| mistake. l am glad Of il. In future we
will deal gently with each other-we will
Judge each other mercifully. Lord Ar
| lington, yon have saved my honor: hence
| forward command me as you will Then.
| unable 70 say any more. he sat down