Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-12-06
CHAPTER XVI.

nnaDltant mad there been so much eN-
citement in the county.
That a murder should have been
committed within quarter of a mile
Of the Grange, on Olivia Vanley's we'd
ding-dsy, was bad enough; but that
the suspected man should be the myS-
FERROUS Mr.. Faradeane of The Dell
raised popular curiosity and interest
to fever-heat Then came the news
that the bride had been stricken down
with fever, and was lying dangerously
III at her fathers house.
Scarcely any other topic was dis.
cussed and persons eagerly asked one
another whether any new phase Ct
what was already called the Hawk
wood tragedy" has appeared. The
only man who seemed to have retained
his calmness in the midst of the eX.
element, was the prisoner himself.
While everybody else was eagerly de.
batting the probability of his guilt or
innocence, and endeavoring to ascribe
the motive for his crime, if indeed he
committed it Harold Faradeane uttered
no word which could tend towards
solution of the mystery.
Some thought that it was impossible
for him to be innocent; and when the
coroneC's jury had returned a verdict
of wilful murder, people shook their
heads and pursed their lips signtf-
cantly
Then came the examination before
the magistrates Long before the
hour appointed for the sitting, me
small court at Wainford was crammed.
Men who had met and taken a sudden
liking to the grave, handsome stran-
ger, and ladies who had admired and
wondered about him, filled all tho
available seats. On the bench sat
Lord Garfield the chairman, and two
of his brother magistrates, but, as
was expected, the Squire of Hawk
wood was absent; though it was re-
marked that a groom from the Grange
was on his horse outside the court,
ready to carry home the result of the
examination.
A look of grave al painful earnest
ness sat upon the old earl's face, and
he leaned his head upon his hand. and
bent his eyes upon his desk He.
leaned his head upon his hand. ana
bent his eyes upon his desk. He. like
the squire had taken great liking to
the man accused of this terrible crime
and, but that it was a principle of his
life never to shirk a duty, however
painful, he, too, would have been alb
sent from the bench. In the we'll of
the court, near the clerk, sat the com
monplace-looling London detective,
keenly noting every face and every
voice around him, though to all ap-
pearance wrapped in stolid reflection
Presently, in the midst Of the hum
and buzz, the clerk called Harold
Faraedane," and a policeman opened
the door of the dock and the prisoner
entered.
He was very pale, and those who
knew him felt a thrill of pity as they
saw how haggard and drawn his face
had grown during the days of his i'm
prisonment. But with the feeling of
pity was mingled one of puzzled sur
prise. 1t seemed impossible to con-
meet a vulgar crime with the grave, pa
trician face and bearing, which re-
manned calm and dignified under the
battery Of eyes, and seemed to give a
direct dania1 IN tho no NH
clerk read out AS he would not be
required to plead guilty or not guilty
until the trial-if the magistrates
should decide to send him for trial
Harold Faradeane remained silent.
Il propose to produce sufficient evil
dence to warrant my demanding that
the prisoner should be sent for trial,
my lord" said the superintendent of
police, and he called the constable
and Browne the keeper.
They told the now-familiar story of
the finding of the body. and Fara-
deane in close proximity, waiting. as
It almost seemed, for detection, and
the picking up of the revolver near to
his feet.
The spectators listened breathless-
ly; some Of them had heard the story
In the Grange hall on OHvia's wedding.
day; but they listened as intent1y now
as If it were all new to them.
Faradeane stood with one hand rest
ing on the rail in front Of the dock,
his eyes fixed on the ground, his whole
bearing that Of man completely re-
signed to whatever might happen;
not Indifferent, but simply resigned.
The earl looked up at him as the evil
dence was concluded
Have you any questions to ask, Mr..
Faradeane?" he said in a grave voice.
and the crowded court remarked that
he addressed the accused by his name
instead Of as prisoner"
mo, my lord, came the quiet reply.
Lord Carfeld's brows came together
Surely yoT must have some explana-
ton to offer" he said, just as he had