The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-02-17

were sleepieSS. L nave sought IN vain
for its motives. All tell me that my son
had no enemy here, that he was beloved
and respected. To-day l heard that you
were living here, and l said to myself
There lies the clue You could not kill
him yourself, you say; perhaps not : but
you might get it done. Did your
Strange to say, Mrs Yorke endured
such words without indignation. Indig.
nation from her when the wicked in
strument of his death was within a few
inchesl She answered in tone of hui
mility, OF pitiable depression:
"You may spare yourselfsuch thoughts
| would have given my own life to save
his"
1t may be that her words struck Mrs.
Janson as being the words of truth, fol-
her voice lost some of its harshness.
Years ago you were my sons bane
you led him on to love you, and then left
him for another: what wonder, then
amidst so complete dearth of motive fol
others committing the crime, that my
thoughts should turn to you?"
"If did marry another, it was not that
l disliked your son" answered Mrs Yorke
In a low tone; at was that circumstances
were not favorable to my marrying him
Since we met again, on the occasion o.
my coming here, we have been excellent
Madam, l beg you to understand
me-friends; the past was forgotten BY
both of us; it was never once recalled OF
alluded to by either; your son has at
tended my child and brought him through
a dangerous illness. Pray, put away These
dreadful ideas" added Mrs. Yorke, with
emotion. "Your son was the last person
in the world whom l would have in
jured."
"What makes you look so ill2" de.
manded Mrs. Janson, abruptly. at ap-
pears like mental illness, not bodily"
~ have no objection to tell you that
have felt i'll ever since the news of the
horrible crime was brought to our house
as l should do had its victim been any
other friend. And To-day" she added
with faint color at her invention, 81
have a sick headache, which kept me
from church, and causes me to look as
do now. Believe me, 1 knew no more o
the crime than you did, who were al
away"
NOT yOuE uuSuduuI
"My husband p echoed Mrs. Yorke
with well-feigned astonishment. "Wha
motive could my husband have in wish,
ing him ill? Quite the contrary had
not chosen him, when could have choser
Mr. Janson 2" All, poor thing was i
wrong that she should appear thus brav,
in his defense, guilty though she believed
him in her breaking heart? He was be
husband; he was the father of her chill
dren. Mrs. Janson's keen eyes were upol
her. Could she bear them, and stand tn
ordeal ?
MRS. Janson," said she, rising, ant
assuming courageous, open tone, "yol
must search elsewhere for the guilty par
ties-not in our house."
Mrs. Janson probably thought so. Sh
likewise rose.
Years ago, Maria Saxonbury-I be
your pardon, Mrs. Yorke-I told yo
that should your future existence be on
of retribution, you had richly earned il
Should it have been so, or should it eve
become so, you may remember m
words"
Ay, she did remember them; remem
OClCu thCh WIN hu AWFUL bnuuucT. 1xC
future eristencei Mrs Janson walked +
the threshold of the chamber, and turnet
her gaze full on Maria.
"Then, you can give me no informa
ton No help, no clue p
"Indeed, l cannot You might as wei
ask me after the murderers of Mr.. Loutb,
she added, with desperate energy.
Mrs. Janson turned and began to de
scend the stairs. Maria made no effor
to show her out, or to have her show
out: the courtesies of life were as nothin
to her then. She sat down and strove +
keep herself from fainting As she hear
her 60 through the front door, some on
appeared to enter it, aud footsteps cam
up the stairs. Was it Mrs. Janson re
turning A cold fear was turning Maria
heart to chilliness, and something like
dull sound began to thump in her brain
Not Mrs. Janson. 1t was Miss HARDEST
who entered.
"You - exclaimed Mrs. Yorke, glanc
ing sideways at the drawer which con
tanned the hammer, and wishing it wa
safe in its place. Church cannot b
over p
"No. 1 came out before the sermon
Maria, you look like death. Stay let m
speak to you: 1 came home to do 30.
thought of doing 30 yesterday, but m
courage failed me. What shadow is
that has fallen on the houseY'
"Shadow p she gasped.
/ GAY, shadow. I-bave known you fror
a child, and loved and reverenced NJ
Yorke's mother. 1 have liked him. Fo
your sake aud hers 1 have resolved {
speak AS l went into churchill
Yorke was in advance, and behind wit
Henry-some people stood in the churcl
yard. They did not know US; we wer
strangers, and they continued talkin
over the marvel of Mr.. Yorke's KNOWN
that the murder was committed befor
others could know it, for it seems this
the neighborhood trusts Crane, who hs
been in it all his life, in preference to NJ
Yorke. | spoke few words to Henry
and we went in. In the commandment
when the clergyman repeated, Thou sha
do no MURDER, and / remembered ne,
to whom 1 was standing-Maria, don
scream: suspicion, above all things, mui
not be courted here, even from your SCI
wants. Well, l felt as if could not rs
main there by his side, and when th
clergymen went out to change his sui
plice, left, and came back to you. L,
me say to you what 1 have to say"
Mrs Yorke only bowed her head. Sh
could not speak.
Understand, Maria. I assume n
ones guilt or innocence; ask not VIII,
led to that incautious revelation of yor
husbands, the premature knowledge
the murder, and the manner of its con
initial; would rather not know. b
that avowal must be remedled."