Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-28

Zelda was even more amazed at finding Detective Sawyer there. The eagerness of the detective to impllcate her cousin in the fearful tragedy made Zelda regard him with aversion, not because of any desme on her part to shield the assassin even were he her own brother but because she believed implicitly in Clar- ence Carson's innocence, and she shrank from the disgrace of seeing a member of the family on trial for a crime which she felt certain he did not commit.
 Pardon my curiosity" said Zelda to Edith, in tone of ill-concealed anxiety, as soon as the detective disappeared, "but I should like to know very much what that man was doing here."
 Edith was struck by the abruptness, as
 well as by the strange nature of the question, and her first impulse was to re- sent it. She felt that Clarence Carson's proud co .lsin would not dare speak so if their social positions in life were equal, but she did not put her thoughts into words.
 i Zelda, who was most kind at heart noticed Edith's embarrassment, and promply hastened to repair her mistake.
 ''EXcuse me-" she said, Eff the question has given you offense; it was an impul- sive one, and asked for a purpose, which I don't mnd explaining to you"
 "There is no reason why I should not tell you why he called here," replied Edith. "It is the first time he ever set foot in this house, and he came with a message which was quite as unexpected as his visit I refer to this letter from | she showed Zelda the brief and hastily written note which Clarence had sent to l her.
 Impossible ]" exclaimed Zelda, before looking at the writing. That man is a detective, and instead of carrying a letter from Cousin Clarence to you, it would be his duty to arrest him-a duty which Iassure you he would be only too | glad to perform just now. Why, it is but short time since Clarence escaped from the custody of that same detective, and l helped him go away, until this mystery is cleared up; because don't believe he is guilty, and I half suspect that some of | those who are so eager to put him in the | tolls are the real offenders themselves'' l Zelda glanced at the letter which Edith gave her, expecting to be able to condemn it as a forgery, and she was as founded to find that it was without doubt in her cousins handwriting: but how it could possibly have passed into the possession of Detective Sawyer was a puzzle which she could not hope to | solve.
 "4es," she said 'fthis was written by Clarence; but how could that man Saw | yer get hold of it? Surely there is some | trap connected with this" Although Edith's aversion for Clarence | Carson could hardly be greater, her | sympathetic curiosity was aroused by Zelda's strange conduct and startling | words.
 1T don't quite understand you, Miss | Carson," she said. "Why should a trap be | laid for your cousin? I would not be a party to any conspiracy against him or 1 any body else," and Edith colored crim- l son as she spoke-the recollection of the hateful marriage certificate rising up vividly before her mind
 1T don't say that you are," answered Zelda; "why should you be, now that you 1 are his wife? An, you cannot believe | the fearful accusation which his enemies make against him! With all his faults, | Clarence could not be so cold-blooded or so cruel as to take my poor, dear fathers | life"
 Gracious Heaven Miss Carson, Edith l exclaimed; "is he suspected of this fear. | full thing?"
 "Yes, but, as I firmly believe in my in. most soul, wrongfully. He is incapable | of such infamy. Still, as you are his wife, it is but right that you should know all."
 "No, thank fortune, I am not hls wife" said Edith
 Mot his wife!" echoed Zelda in won. l der. 'Why, he told me himself of your | marriage. He said it occurred at place | called Dawson's, and that Judge Ransom ofticiated. He was very earnest about l the matter, and don't believe he would | have told me but that he was anxious to account for all his movements OH the dreadful night that my dear father was attacked He told me of his loss of fifty | thousand dollars to a woman whom be | lieve to be an adventures, of his pay. ment of that terrible gambling debt, of his infatuation for you since he first saw