The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-31

.<Yoh Rill not tell hin 7''-in tone
u agonizsd alarm
r" How en- I DO otheral,s7 c.6 / let
Mis- Wntds remain under chspicIon Of
having attempted murder n
t" Not murder--oh, good heavens. not
murderi You don't really beiieve I
meant that 1s-horror enthusiastically
stamped on her face.
mo, / do not believe it.-not because
you assert your innocence so loudly, but
because i happen to be aware Of the
conversation between you and the
chemist Of whom you purchased the pol
SON. Shall repeat 1t 70 you ~
She gazed at him In speechIess, hope
less amusement; and he went on re-
morselessly, feeling that every blow he
struck was only syenging q slight part
Of the pain she had caused to the woman
be loved.
"You said you had horror Of poi.
son, and, under cover Of this pretense,
found out from him exactly how much
it would take to kill Q man and how
much merely TO make him III; but, In
your excess Of caution, yon neglected to
elicit from him the information that a
much less quantity can be taken with
impunity by sick person than one In
full health and strength. Of being
murderess In intent do not accuse you;
but you nearly made yourself liable to Q
charge Of mansIaughter.n
Alarmed by the gravity Of his manner as
much as by his words, Mrs. Priolo could
not restrain shrill scream. Utterly
broken down now, and at his mercy, she
was rocking herself backward and for
ward Ia the chair into which she had
fallen, incapable Of thought or resist
ance Of his will.
The sound arrested the attention OF
Ellen Wards, who happened to be on the
higher flight OF stairs almost exactly
above the open kitchen-door. She
thought some one was hurt, and ran
down at once to see; but she started
back In such uncomfortable surprise, as
she saw the colonel standing there in an
attitude Of denunciation and Mrs. Priolo
In tears, that the former stepped forward
quickly to explain.
We have solved the mystery Of the
arsenic more fully and circumstantially
that had ever hoped. This wretched
woman placed the poison in the sugar
basin with the deliberate intention OF
throwing the guilt upon you"
Ellen looked from one to the other In
breathless agitation, and could not speak
at once--her surprise was too intense,
herrelief too great. Her delight at being
exonerated for the time overwhelmed
the feeling Of disguised horror which
Severn had expected her to display to-
ward the woman who had acted 50 wick
cd and treacherous . part. Presently
she said
Does Mr.. Bowyer known Have you
told him?n
No, but will do 50 now"
The housekeeper jumped up and
caught hold Of Ellen's soft black gown.
II he does, will tell all / knowl' ~
she Missed out spitefully, as last des-
perate chance Of escape.
Severn did not hear the threat, 1t hav-
ing been uttered hi whisper, and was
1t the door almost on the threshold
when q slight touch upon his sleeve
brought him back at once.
What Is 1t p he asked, gently.
Must you--is 1t absolutely necessary
TO let Mr.. Bowyer know what she has
done ~
Il could not do otherwise; 1t Is due
10 him and, what Is more, to yourself"
But II Iwaive my right 2" looking
earnestly into his face.
Why should you spare herr Has
she ever spared your"
She turned away her head, ashamed to
meet the look Of loving admiration that
he had cast upon her.
" It Is not that; 1t Is not from any
feeling Of magnanimity or mercy" she
murmured, in low abashed voice.
8 Then what Is It 2"
9 From fear. She can inJure mech,
more fatally then you can imagine pos
sible lii she Is driven to desperation"
But surely you don't wish her to go
scot-free, 80 that II she chooses she may
be at liberty to continue her cruel
schemes against your"
" Is there no middle course ~
!" None that / can see. You are upset
now, naturally, and incapable Of judging
for yourself let me judge for you.
Nothing she could bring against you
would be 80 terrible as the suspicion Of
having tried to poison your best friend,
your benefactor."
She shrunk back, silenced. She felt
that she could no longer face the
inevitable.
The housekeeper had been hanging
anxiously on every word In their low
toned conversation. Her fate as we'll as
Elaine's was trembling In the balance
they would stand or fall together; IL
would almost console her for her own
loss II this girl were seen at last In her
true colors.
She held up her head and stood up
right again, feeling that, with Ellen
Warde TO back her up, she might dictate
her own terms.
There 10 . middle course. Miss
~ j