The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1902-09-19 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

CHAPTER VII IVERSTIIR° 8 CHILI/11WD.  Knowing what he did of Neil Webster, Mr. Ow wag quite prepared to see him faint upon hearing the terrible truth. But to him unconcealed astonishment the young man, beyond fising his colour, remained unmoved.  "1 should like to hear the whole story, please,' he said, quietly. Mr. Cass wits almost frightened by his calmness. "A gla-s of wine---" "No. 1 want nothing. You have told me the worst. What remains to be said can affect me but little. The whole story, please, from the beginning. When I am in possession of the facts I may be able to see some way of saving my mother from her unjust fate." "Her unjust fate!" repeated Mr. Cass, with a flush. "Why, man alive, she had all the justice the English law could give." "Did she admit her guilt ?" "She neither admitted nor denied it. Not a word would she say, good or bad, for or against. Throughout the trial she maintained an al:solute silence, and went to prison uncomplainingly." "To my mind that looks like innocence." The merchant moved restlessly in his chair. "Do not force me to say unpleasant things," Ito remarked, irritably. "I want. you to say exactly what you feel," retorted Neil. "I am here to hear the truth, however disagreeable. It is only by knowing all that I can help my mother. If you will not tell me, then 1 must see the lawyers who were concelnsd in the ease. I don't think they will mind giving me pain. But if von are the friend I take you to be, you will speak out." His self-possession was PO much at variance with his .usual demeanour that 311.. Cass stared.  "If you will have it, then," he said, roughly, "I believe your mother was guilty. Had there been the slightest chance of pnlying her innocence. she woul,il have done so for your sake.."  ! my poor looting'. !" Neil's face grew soft and tender, and a look of deep affection came into his eyes. "My mother—how she loved me!" "Can you renamilter her love ? " asked Mr. Cass, doubtfully. "Now I can. Me raised his hand ti his forehead. "It all comes back to me—all. That dream has given me the key to the past, and the memories of my childhood rush back upon me. 1 know how I hated my father "--his face grew dark—"and I know, also, how badly he treated my mother. If she killed him, she did rlght." Mr. Cass shuddered. "I quite believe all that, he said, drily. "You were born hating your father, and your mother taught you to look upon him as your worst enemy. That you should deem her action in killing him a right one is exactly what you would belhn.e, having regard to your childish feelings towards him. Indeed, I believe that had you grown up while your father was still in existence you would have killed him yourself." "Very probably," reinarktd Neil, just as drily. "Indeed, I did try!" "What ? I don't underslato.  "1 daresay not, seeing my n. Vier kept silence from the time of her arrest. But 1 rememb,w that on the night my father %vas murdered at tha Turnpike House [flew at him with a knife. I forgot all that took place after that, except that I was in the room and saw 1113 dead body lying under the open window—the open window, " he repeated, quietly, and with sigmlicance. "Do not forget that. NI r. Cass. " "What do you mean ?" "1 iuean that Emmet:lie else might have killed 'din. The window was open. Why should it have been open unless the true murderer had gained entrance by it, and had fled through it when his deed was accoinplished ? Ido not believe that my mother is guilty, in spite if her silence. She hai some renson.for holding her tongue."'_ . .  "I can't think what the relson can be, replied Mr. Cuss, warily, leaning his head on his hands. For It qe of you she would have chosen to remain free ; yet when a word—according, to yon—might have saved her, she held her tongue and risked the gallows. " For the first time Neil Webster shuddered. "How was it she escaped that ?" he asked, in a low voice.  "The