The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-02-09
A PITILEss FOE.

There was sudden hush in the
crowded courthouse.
1t was followed by as sudden stir
stir so noticeable that the beautiful
prisoner ut the bar all at once raised
her bowed head and looked around.
The first object on which her eyes
rested was the tall gaunt figure of a
woman in deepest black, making her
slow way, under care of court-officer,
70 the witness-box
'Mrs. Siegristr' exclaimed the pris-
oner in suppressed tones, the words
rushing from her lips unconsciously in
Che intensity of her establishment.
!, "The last witness!" ran hurriedly from
lip to lip as the spectators craned their
necks for better view of the rigid form
and forbidding face.
(which sidep-defence or prosecu-
fion?" were the next eager words.
"a fools queryn' sneered some one.
There's been no defence! there can be
none! The girl has the face of an angel
and the heart of fiend! She murdered
the poor old lady-sir, and nobody else!
The jury might long ago"
A sudden call for silence ended the
sentence.
A few words had passed between the
officer and counsel, and the witness had
taken her stand.
She was sworn, her harsh, cold voice
penetrating the dead stiffness of the
court, rs no voice there ever had be-
fore.
Her first words, Mt the conclusion of
that ceremony, sent loud murmur
through the surging crowd. and there
was another peremptory call for silence.
.'rhat girl, Elmira TAFT" said the wit
ness. turning her cold grey eyes on the
paliid prisoner. and pointing long
black-gloved finger in the same direc-
ton, ''that girl IS innocentr'
She paused till the commotion had
subsided. and then, in the same chill.
Unconditional tone, proceeded, the girls
wide eyes fixed breathlessly upon her
face: at
..She is innocent, and am guilty! I
killed Mrs. Vesey! Killed her, and 1
would do it again."
Again the witness paused till the wild
aproar was silcnced.
Icily as before she resumed:
81 intended the guilt to fall upon the
girl; but she is young and anu old.
Life is sweet to her: it il gall and BIT
teruess to me. Lei her live; | viii die,
but--but not by the nan mans nand-w
She smiled 'lsosoF o. i.fr-
ly, and then stopped, united her bonnet
strings, and took it off.
More severe, more forbidding than
ever, she sat there, her grey hair, loos-
ened by the act, streaming, white as
snow. in thin flossy veil about her
neck. ..a. ...,l.,s.
years ago." she paused in lunchang-
ed accents, II was Mrs. Vescy's house,
keeper. had son; Mrs. Vesey had q
daughter My son was her confidential
steward; Annabel Vesey was her idol.
She--the girl--was as beautiful as a
dream, and as" She checked her
self hastily, resuming: .:.Never mind
what she was like--the end will show.
at happened that my boy set his
heart on the exquisite lily face. Annabel
saw 1t and encouraged It. The mother
laughed at the boys folly and the girls
charming coquetries. She-the mother
knew and knew that Annabel would
as soon mate with common collier as
my handsome boy. And yet-and yet
he was her peer-Heaven knows, he
was her peerr'
She rung out those few concluding
words in voice shrill with defying an
guish, and then suddenly controlling
her emotion, resumed, icily as at first:
''He might have welded duchess!
His abilities were of the highest order,
and o college education had fitted him
for any position. To be near his allur-
ing idol he accepted that of steward
mad boy! mad boy!
II reasoned i'm vain, warned in vain.
He went straight to his fate. Believing
in her as he believed in Heaven, he
asked her TO be his wfc.-mad boyl
mad boy! Yes, he asked her, and-he
received his answer
" Marry my mothers housekeeper's
SOM she smiled scornfully. Mate with
your kind, Herbert Siegrist.'
my boy looked at her in adull dazed
way-I saw the look; see it yet!-and
then went out and shot himself"
The witness here stopped, her hands
working. her pale stern features twitch-
ing convulsively.
Not sound broke the death-like still
ness of the courthouse.
Judge, jury, counsel, and all were
held rs by spell.
The witness recovered herself and
went on, this time little more rapidly,
and with cold smile justwreathing her
lips:
"Mother and daughter-Mrs. Vesey
and Miss Annabel = were properly
shocked at the tragedy; but only prop
erlyl Both declared he was great fool.