The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-06-07
y in another world which was neither

to be expected nor desired in this. But
the one that had given him the great
est annoyance was thought to have
come from a near relative. for 1t was
very long; and he had torn 1t in many
pieces and then retorted In three lines
and given 1t to the surgeon to post.
Claire knew who the relative was.
She had gone the length Of calling at
Avenue Lodge on her fight through
town to the continent and her chief
lament was not that murder had been
committed. presumably by Tom, bat
that her name had been disgraced. her
trust abused, her money spent in riot
and her life rendered uncomfortable in
her native land. The lady was Toms
stepmother.
There was another letter which he
seemed to expect every day and yet
not to expect. and it never came, but
they thought he must be in love.
Claire considered 1t unlikely. How
could lover have done such thing?
And had he ever written to any girl?
Daintree said he. would inquire.
No friends had been to see him, no
relations; but noble lord, the same
who had incumbered the bench at the
Marylebone Office, brought party of
friends and received payment in kind
for his insolent questions. The prison
er was reported to have asked him II
there were no hospitals where his lord
ship could see the legs and arms cut
off and listen to the. screams; to have
recommended bodily tortures as likely
to provide better sport than poor dull
devil like himself. and suggested the
nearest slaughter house if all else
failed. His lordship had raised bis
cane and been cuttingly invited to lay
1t on. as he might not have such a
chance every day; whereupon the par
ty retreated. highly amused, all but
their leader, who was said to have
marched straight across the street to
book window for the execution.
When Claire heard this story. she
showed her feelings in a rather peril
Gus manner. "Well done!" she cried.
and clapped her hands. so they have
not taken all the spirit out of him yet!
Let us be thankful, Mr.. Daintree," she
added in an instant. that 1t is at least
a man of spirit whose cause you have
eSpdused. Next to an innocent man,
spirited man has the best claim on
ones sympathy. 1t would be dreadful
If he were neither the one nor the
other"
"But you know that believe him to
be both"
81 have heard you say so. Yet you
never go near him yourself"
Daintree admitted his repugnance to
personal contact with the prisoner. IL
certainly prefer to draw the line at
that" said he. especially as it could
do no good. No, it was bad enough
seeing him at Marylebone. would
give something to forget his face
"And why?" cried Claire. Because
In your heart, like all the rest of the
world, you know him to be guilty!
You may be sensitive, but you wouldn't
be as sensitive as all that IL you hon.
estly believed in his innocence You
do not. Yet you go on spending your
money. throwing 1t away to crafty a
passing impulse of mine! It's mad.
ness. Mr.. Daintree. II is indeed"
The tears stood in her eyes as she
spoke, but he had turned away as il
unable to deny his latent unbeIief. 9th.
erwise her face might have betrayed
her even then. She felt that IL must
do so In the end. 1t was but another
question Of time. Such interviews left
her spirit PROSTATE. her heart worn out
with beating. and yet she sought them
herself. The craving for news Of Tom
only deepened with the sense OF bis
guilt. When Daintree was absent. the
girl counted the hours till his return.
When he returned. II she was not there
to meet him 1t was In order that he
might think her less eager to hear than
he to tell. And once when be not only
thought so, but told her what be
thought In his TOUGHEST manner, Il was
q great moment for the actress. who
was ceasing to feel ashamed OF her
part, what with custom and the dire
necessity Of II.
For now more than ever did Claire
trust to the genius Of the great magi.
clan retained for the defense. That
vague power WINS the ono hone left for
her to cling to. and cling she did with
all the might Of aching heart and tor.
trred mind. Claire's notions of a trial
were exceedingly simple. although her
father had stood his within the year.
On the other hand. her belief in the
efficacy OF counsel was unbounded. be.
cause Mr.. Harding had been defended
by a former officer Of the crown, and
the charge had fallen 20 the ground.
and everybody vowed 1t was the fine
defense. combined with innocence-at
least everybody whose opinion Claire
was In the way Of hearing. Mr.. Ser.
geant Culliford had not been solicitor
general. but Claire was told that In
criminal case his rival did not exist.
One night she heard that Culllford had
accepted the brief. the next that be
had probably earned his fee already,
though Bassett would admit nothing Of
the kind, but complained instead Of his
own treatment at the barrister's hands.
The fact was that Tom ought &c