The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-02-22
A PITILEss FOE.

- 1Ohs
There was a sudden hush in the
crowded courthouse.
| 1t was followed by as sudden stir
/ stir so noticeable that the beautiful
prisoner at 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 d court-officer,
| to the witness-box.
"Mrs. Siegristr exclaimed the pris-
oner in suppressed tones, the words
| rushing from her lips unconsciously in
the intensity of her astonishment.
.'The last witnessr' 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-
tionp' were the next eager words.
"a FOOLS queryr' 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. a5...
She was sworn, her harsh, cold voice
| penetrating the dead stiffness of the
! court, as no voice there ever had be-
fore.
Her first words, at the conclusion OF
| that ceremony, sent loud murmul
through the surging crowd. and there
was another peremptory call for silence.
THAT girl, Elmira Tait," said the wit
ness, turning her cold grey eyes on the
palhd prisoner. and pointing q long
black-gloved finger in the same direc-
ton, ''that girl is innocentr'
She paused till the commotion had
subsidized, and then, in the same chill,
Unconditional tone, proceeded, the girls
wide eyes fixed breathlessly upon hel
face:
''She is innocent, and am guilty! ]
killed Mrs. Vesey! killed her, and ]
would do it againr'
Again the witness paused till the wild
uproar was silenced.
Icily as before she resumed:
Il intended the guilt to fall upon the
| girl; but she is young and / am old.
Life is sweet to her; 1t is gall and Bit
terness to me. Let her live; l will die,
but.-but not by the hangman's handsr'
She smiled those last words chilling
ly, and then stopped, united her bonnet
strings, and took it of.
More severe, more forbidding than
ever, she sat there, her grey hair, loos-
ened by the act, streaming, white as
snow. in thin fossy veil about her
neck.
'Years ago." she paused in unchang
ed accents, II was Mrs Vesey's house.
keeper. 1 had son; Mrs. Vesey had
daughter. My son was her confidential
steward; Annabel Vesey was her idol.
She-the girl-was as beautiful as
dream, and as" She checked her
self hastily, resuming: ''Never mind
what she was like-the end will show.
lit happened that my boy set his
heart on the exquisite lily face. Annabel
saw it and encouraged it. The mother
laughed at the boys folly and the girls
charming coquetries. She-the mother
knew and l knew that Annabel would
as soon mate with common collier as
my handsome boy. And yet--and yet
Ho "s'o A0i "oiAAo'on No"S' Az
was her peerr'
She rung out those few concluding
words in a 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 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 in vain, warned in vain.
He went straight to his fate. Believing
in her as he believed in Heaven, he
asked her to be his wife!-mad boy!
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.'
t'My boy looked at her in adult dazed
way-I saw the look; I see it yet!-and
then went ont 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 as by spell.
The witness recovered herself and
went on, tbs time little more rapidly,
and with a cold smile just wreathing her
lips:
Mother and daughter-Mrs. Vesey
| and Miss Annabel - were properly
shocked at the tragedy; but only prop
| erly! Both declared he was a great fool
| l overheard that verdict. / said moth
ing; but at the end of the year Annabel
Vesey was carried to her grave.
{" Consumption the physicians said.
Gentlemen of the jury" lifting her
cold eyes from the floor, ON which they
had been continually fixed, and fasten-
ing her gaze upon nthem-.'gentlemen of
the jury, / killed her!
'.Mrs. Vesey was childless. left her
then. I had taught her to feel a tithe
of my anguish.
''But day and night my sons blood
called for vengeance. | resisted; but ut
last / did it. / killed Mrs. Vesey too!
This was a murder that needed to
be covered. l hated all girls. That
one," turning her eyes from the jurors
to the breathless prisoner-.sthat one
was beautiful, and Mrs. Vesey's petted
companion. She was to bear my guilt.
| But
She paused and pressed her hands
| against her heart with asuppressed cry.
1.-THE poison worksr' she gasped.
With those words she rose to her feet,
stretched her hands aimlessly before
her, and the next instant-fell dead!