Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-27

HUI o WoAS4ttA, oAA ny o"n SodSAAy !
 would kill you for daring to hint so fear full a calumny. Tell me the name of my aocuser, that I may confront him now, and clear myself of this great stain." Clarence was quivering with passion and excitement.
 "Ah, see now" he continued, "why you tainted at sight of me when l enter
 ed the study. Well if you hai this hor-
 rible thought in your mind, can scarce ly blame you; but, Zelda, why should you believe this fearful story against me, even if an angel from heaven should come down and become my accnser? i? | I loved your father as dearly as if he
 were my own."
 And, Clarence, do you, can you deny
 this terrible charge ?" she asked eagerly,
 new light beaming in her eyes. l As heaven is my witness, Zelda, am
 innocent of this great crime!" he ex- claimed.
 l "Thank Heaven! Thank Heaven for
 that! she cried fervently, with uplifted
 eyes. "You have lifted a great load from my heart. But they will arrest
 you Clarence. They will connect your
 name with the deed, and show that the
 money with which you paid your gam
 bling debt at Dick Dawson's was cover
 cred with blood. How will you be able
 to explain this? Besides, we saw you leave the study"
 The money with which I paid the debt you speak of, was taken by me out iof the cash-boX which stood on the desk in the study. Iknew it was there, and l
 came to get it. I knew your father
 was preparing to pay the men, and that
 coui,' put my hand on the amount l
 wanted. 1 found the room in darkness.
 cropcd my way to the cash-boN, and
 grasping all the bills Icould hold, hasti-
 ly left the place and ran away. That
 was when you saw me leave the study.
 I heard my name called, but I could not
 return. That is the truth, as Heaven is
 my witness, and during that visit I did
 not meet or see your father. I had been
 drinking, and did wrong, but did not commit the horrible crime you speak of. VI
 "When we entered his study we found him unconscious on the floor, with the murderous marks of violence upon him
 and what other inference could we draw but that you were his assailant? l, looks bad against you, Clarence, and Il will look bad if you are arrested and pushed for this crime, notwithstanding your explanation and denial," answered Zelda.
 II will admit that it looks bad, Zelda but never saw the matter ill that light before. Still cannot go away and le, , this terrible stigma stand against my . name I must hold my ground, and de vote myself, as soon as the funeral takes place, to the work of running down the real murderer"
 And if you stay they will surely arrest you," said Zelda, "as all the cir , cumstances connected with your con duct that night are known to the ali thorities already. Why not go away, ant thus avoid the disgrace of arrest? In { short time the real murderer may b' ' brought to light"
 Do you believe me inncocent, Zelda . he asked suddenly interrupting her. "I do," she said. 1T do believe yo, innocent, but how will you be able t $ satisfy the authorities i'll regard to you ? conduct that night? You were seer U running away from the room in whicl
 the tragedy took place, and fev minutes later turned up at gamblin; | room with the money which doubtles proved the great motive for the crime
 Oh. Clarence, think! Think well of al '- you did that night! Was your hea' I clear? Gan you remember everything
 that happened when you took th' \ money? Was there no resistance? Dit r. anybody stand between you and tn Il amount you wanted to pay that unhol, rambling debt, out of which you wer D undoubtedly cheated ?"
 S "Nobody interfered; there was no re
 sistance. Not q voice nor hand wa t raised against me, and did not strike if blow. Under these circumstances, Zelda n hadn't better stand my ground, and re o main right here in Grimsby? An innC It cent man need have nothing to fear. ' will admit that took the money, bu e that is all Were guilty of any greate tt crime, would not return."
 b Zelda scarcely knew what to think s- Her cousin had already convinced he ls that he was innocent, but in view of tn d suspicious circumstances connected wit
 the case, could he possibly convince any u body else of this fact?
 J. In her opinion it would be almost i'll Il possible for him to do SO, and i'll an l event the disgrace of his arrest woul
 undoubtedly follow in case he remaine t. in Grimsby. She was, therefore, tirml e of the belief that, ill view of the ne e work of circumstantial evidence tht II could be woven about him, in connectio y with the blood-stained money, his pr g cipitate flight from the study, just befor
 the wounded man was discovered, an Y many other matters that pointed wit at almost unerring precision to him as th J. criminal it would be prudent for him 1t quit the scene for a time, at least unt
 the authorities could run down the re' l. murderer. She told Clarence this, bl
 he would not listen to it for momen m because he held that his disappearance ;A at that juncture would be construed ,
 positive proof of his guilt.
 i'd "You have not yet told me who is III r. accuser, or who told you the story abo, s, that gambling debt," said Clarence. es would like to know who it is that talk ar so much interest in my affairs" ty Zelda hesitated moment.