The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-26

1heir erpr1Ssion was pnmisfaka ble :
fuli q teproachful accusation md .
horror zoo deep for words.
Az suddenly in her bewiidered glance
round. she encountered the fearful look
he rave her, With . shrill Representation
erv. sbe turned and He'd from the room
This Is all very terrible--very ter
ribietn declared the doctor, growing
even grayer than be had been at first
",Itis most unfortunate accident"
agreed the housekeeper; !" and We must
be thankful It had not more melancholy
ending. bought the arsenic myself To-
day, and placed it in the same cupboard
where the sugar, salt, and such things
are kept. l feel / am much to blame
too, for when you are in q hurry It IL 20
easy to make mistakes.p ~
When all that she could do was done,
snd Mr.. Bowyer had sunk into q quiet
refreshing sleep, Mrs. Priolo left the
sick-room and went In search Of Ellen
Warde.
Entering the sitting-room, she found
the girl she sought. She was crouched
upon the sofa In an attitude OF utter
hopelessness. Mrs. Priolo coughed to
attract her attention, and she sprung up
Instantly, and faced her defantIy, feel
ing intuitively that she had come on no
friendly errand.
What is 1t 2" she asked, haughtily.
THAT Is what come to ask you.
must beg to remind you Of fact you
have hitherto forgotten. ! am Mr..
Bowyer's sister-in-law as well as his
housekeeper; and 1t is as the former
that shall question you now"
What do you want to know
AZ want to know how 1t happened
that arsenic was given to Mr.. Bowyer
In his tea to-day?"
The girl shuddered slightly but re-
piled with tolerable oomposure
II know as little about it as you.
certainly made the tea this afternoon,
but took the tea and sugar and milk
from their usual places. II arsenic was
mixed with one OF them certainly had
no knowledge OF It,"
" For that there Is only, your word !;
and you have others to persuade as well
as me-"
No one as hard and cruel as you I"
cried the girl desperately. "Who else
would believe that Ibis neice-could
do so terrible thing as that which your
manner suggests 2"
"You are not his neice," the house.
keeper reminded her, coldly. Mr..
Bowyer had no sisters or brothers except
my late husband"
t" You do not know that. It is mere
conjecture"
is III We shall see presently how
much know, how much / only guess,
II you drive me to speaking plainly"
II do not fear you. ] am Innocent"
THAT has to be proved. Everything
is against you it was you who suggested
bringing the poison into the house; II
was you who gave Mr.. Bowyer the
drink in which the poison was mixed |;
1t was you who had the strongest reason
to wish for his death. I know that he
told you he would leave you twenty
thousand pounds"
What is 1t you wish me to do 3n she
exclaimed, helplessly.
j" wish you to leave the house ct once,
never to return, never to cross our paths
here or anywhere again"
You can not mean that. Don't you
see 1t would be q confession of guilt were
] TO go away 30 :"
/" And was 1t not confession OF guilt
when you declined to meet Mr.. Bowyer's
look just now2 And wss
1t not confession Of guilt when two
years ago you fed rather than stand
your trial for the murder OF your sister 2"
Ellen covered her face with her hands
and gave lowm moan full Of uncomfortable
anguish.
You know that p" she breathed family.
Il know all, Elaine Warrington; and
/ leave you to think what chance you
would have Of clearing yourself from the
present charge against you were / to
reveal that other one which now rests in
The girl fell upon her knees. her hands
clasped above her head, utterly broken
and conquered.
Oh, spare me, spare mea" she Inn
plored. why do you prosecute me ?
Why do you hate me SO? ?"
!" It is because l wish you well that 7
am speaking to you thus alone, instead
of publicly denouncing you, as l might
have DONE" ..-.-s, 4 ,.,e,4 -. 8 !,
Elaine realized the hopelessness Of all
appeal, and rose slowly to her feet.
" 1t is late-too late for you to 20 now;
but early tomorrow morning you must
leave, or take the consequences. will
not sit down to another meal with you;
the house has been contaminated too
long already by your presence +"
Elaine looked at her curiously, scarcely
believing IN the reality Of such inexor.
able hatred.
WE'LL" asked the woman, insolently,
{" what do you think Of me2 You've
stared at me long enough, I'm sure"
think you must be very wicked
woman" returned the girl, quietly.
The opinion Of such as you is worth
nothing but, considering you're in my
xNoxvor x,o,S1d hokHo- 49, "A -. =.