Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-06-21
CHAPTER TX,

The guests and family at Carnleigh
usually came down to breakfast irregu-
larly, but this morning by eight o'clock
Evelyn. The colonel, who had been out
for an early business walk with one of
his overseers, was the last to sit down.
And as he took his place. at the head
Of the table he had the air of man
anxious to be questioned. lie had
picked up piece of news.
''Well," lie began, with twinllling
eyes, lit seems that Ronald Fanshaw
was not spending his breath anG>rid
ing his horse to death for nothing
so he reached the Jail all right, did
he?" inquired Mr.. Hardy, as he put a
spoonful OF whipped cream into his cot
fee.
'"Oh, yes, he made that trip all right,
but the news has just come from Williin
Station, on the other side of the noun.
tain, that negro has been arrested
who has already confessed to the crime
of killing the old woman
$50 the boy was innocent, after all! !"
cried Hardy.
"Yes; the sheriff nabbed the wrong
bird at the start, ard if it had not been
for Fanshaw his body would have been
swinging at the sport OF the wind this
morning."
"Anu widowed mother would have
been without her son. put in Mrs. Lam
caster, with telling effect.
"Fanshaw did only what any man
would have done who believed in the
prisoners innocence said Capt. Win
l>le, with an icy smile at no one in par
ticular.
But Mrs. Lancaster was more than Il
match for him. Its only what one
man did do," she retorted. Thcreupon
Wrinkle stirred his coffee in moody 81
lence.
81 am sorry it was Ronald Fanshaw
who is to get all the credit" remarked
Caroline Hasbrooke, coldly. "Since he
has taken up the study of law it looks as
if he has a pretty good idea of his i'm
portancc. Things are coming to pref
ty pass when such people as the Fam
shaws get into the professions usually
held by gentlemen"
Don't kick against the pricks" Gt
was favorite expression of her IA
ther's), "the common people have been
rising into prominence since the birth
of CREATION
"And the better class has been degen-
erating," remarked Mr.. Hardy, with a
slow smile. Gas far as am concerned,
I'd rather employ man like. Fanshaw
to defend me, if were on trial for my
life, than some man with mere ancestry
and less individual force
''Bravo! bien dit" applauded Mrs.
Lancaster, and she rose to accompany
Evelyn out on the lawn.
The dew lay as heavy as raindrops on
the grass and hung like scintillating
gems from the gorgeous hollyhocks, the
Indian chieftains. and the roses tlared
like pillows of red on the silvery green
sward of the sloping terraces. Mrs.
Lancaster was first to break the silence.
81 need not tell you I'm glad that boy
was innocent" she began. II am espe-
cially glad because it emphasizes the
nobility of Mr.. Fanshaw's act. l am go
ing to drive over to his house in the pony
cart this morning. have something to
say to him.
Evelyn raised her great eyes in aston
ishment, but she uttered no comment.
Mrs. Lancaster's voice shook per.
ceptibly Us she went on:
''NotEing has ever affected me so
powerfully as all this has. Last
night the imprisoned fervor of his
voice while he was speaking down
there brought back some of the ten
derest and saddest recollections of my
young married life. 1t reminded me
Of a speech in favor of secession that
my husband made, just before the
war broke out. There seemed to DC
a ring in Mr.. Fanshaw's tones like my
husbands. 1t may have been only
my imagination, and the great dis.
lance. but it drove me nearly wild
with the old pain. And last night
in thinking of Mr.. Fansh5w's danger,
it seemed to be my husband who was
i'll peril. Really, I did not sleep a
wink. I went to the window a hun.
dred times. I saw Mr.. Fanshaw re-
turning this morning, and then drew
my first easy breath. Oh. EVELYN
Mrs. Lancaster was gazing into the
girls eyes, what is the matter with
both of us?''
Evelyn shook her head; her rich,
abundant hair glistening like threads
of FURNISHED gold in the sun.
Il know what's the matter with me-"
she said with little laugh. Il hope
something else is wrong with YOU"
Mrs. Lancaster sighed. "When l get
back from his house 1 may tell you
what I am going for, but l shall not
now-no, shall not now"
ITO Be Continued