Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-01-10
CHAPTER XXI

appeared sometimes to drag with
ieaden weight, 10 others 10 ny by on
wings No news had reached her of
BERTHE, no tidings of BARLEY Brad
stone or Seth the gypsy and Liz Lee.
| II seemed as If, indeed, Fate we've
hghting against her, and that the
mystery which surrounded the murder
In the woods grew deeper and darker
as the hour Of the trial drew near.
And 1t was very near now. For on
the twenty-ninth, Harold Faradeane
was to be tried, and it was now the
night Of the twenty-eighth.
Since she had sent the Telegram. 10
stop Seth, Olivia had not lelt the
mouse; and though she had regained
her strength, there was look ON h"t
face, an expression of indefnable sus.
Dense and terror and sadness which
almost drove the poor squire dis.
tractad.
But in his mind, as in others, the
thoughts Of all that the morrow night
might mean to Harold Faradeane blot.
ted out all else even the remembrance
OF his darlings situation; married to
man TO whom she had not spoken
since her wedding day, and who had
gone off. left the country on lmpor-
Lant business" as he had written, with
no intimation of his return.
But the finishing stroke to his anx-
ieLy was dealt him by olivia herself,
when, on the eve of the eyentful day,
SHE announced her intention of being
present at the trial.
"You!' exclaimed the poor squire
aghast
"My--dear-Olivlal" gasped Aunt
Amelia
But Olivia glanced round TO where
her father sat- and stole her arms
round his neck
Papa you will not try to prevent
me2" she %ald in strange voice. at
once pleading and resolute.
'But---but you have been so i'll, are
still weak and unfit for the slightest
excitement How will you bear to see
that poor fellow standing there. and
being tried for his life? Ny dear, ny
dear, Think and he stroked her hair
with trembling hand.
Il have thought, dear" she sal /
quietly, laying her pale face against
his. Il must go! | should die IL
stayed at home to wait wait, wait
Besides and her eyes flashed-"w i'll
not all of his enemies be there--people
who believe that he committed this
wicked crme-and are only his friend
to be ABSENT"
The squire kissed her, and sighed
have your own way my dear But
| wlsh-wish that BARLEY were here!''
no added, with Il troubled frown. Il
have heard nothing from him"
She drew away from him suddenly,
and without a word left the room.
All that night she lay awake, look
ing at the silent stars with hot, tear.
less eyes, thinking of Harold Fara-
deane in his narrow cell waiting the
verdict of life or death; and going
over and over all the points of The
strange mystery, which grew darker
and more impenetrable the more She
struggled to pierce It.
The morning broke with all the mn.
ture splendor of late summer; and AS
Bessie dressed her, she still thought
OF the man awaiting his fate, the man
whose faith and honor she would have
answered for with her life.
The trial was to begin at ten. but
long before that time the court w,9
crowded and all The avenues were
blocked with eager and curious people.
who were eXcitedly discussing the
incidents OF the murder and the
chances OF the prisoner. Not n few
CT them had been present at the enter.
tainment. and heard him recite The
tragic poem Of Eugene Aram." and
the sensation he had produced was re.
called, and put in evidence against
him
No wonder he had made them all
shudder and tremble; he who was
capable of committing murder him.
Stli lnSS SAID.
The story of his mysterious purchase
of The Dell and the strangely secmd
ed life he had led of the man who MAS
always Oh the watch to keep people
from seeing his master and the dog
kept to attack all visitors; what could
IL mean, but that there was some darI,
mystery connected with him, of which
this crime in the woods as the logical
outcome
At ten O'clock the streets were
crowded, and the buzz of excitement
grew into something like roar as the
Grange carriage was seen to pull M
at the Town Hall, and the squire. with
olivia and Bessie, alighted, The Gu
rlosity TO see the beautiful girl who
had been stricken down on her wed.
ding-day, and had not seen her nus
band since. oyermastered the respect
| they felt for her, and there WINS u r,,sh