Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-11-26
A STRANGE TESTIMONY.

Anything more exquisitely beautiful
than Mrs. Westhayen wenld be difficult |
10 imagine. met her with her husband /
and sister, two months before the murder
trial I'M which eve were nfterward con-
cerhed, at famous health resort In Cali
fornin. She was a woman OF three-and-
twenty, perhaps, tall, graceful, and OF
ideal coloring. She sat opposite me at |
the table d'hotc, and when she first lifted |
her eyes 10 mine | started uncontrollnbly.
They were wonderful eyes, dark, tender
with certain childish appeal in them
which stirred all the chi4alry in a mnn's
nature in response. Tnimprcssionable,
soured old bachelor that | was, found
myself ON the instant yowing to protect
this beautiful creature, who was exceed
ingly we'll cared for, apparently, and had
no need of my protection whatever.
Mr.. Westhayen was the most dscon-
tented looking man I ever saw. Thin,
dark, restless, and with nervous irri.
liability of manner which never varied ex-
cept when addressing his wife's sister,
Miss Cariyon, to whom ne showed the
most affectionate consideration.
Miss Carlyon, for whose health Mr.
and Mrs. Westhaven were travelling, was
delicate, fragile creature, and except
for sameness of contour of the faces
there was nothing to betray the relation.
ship between the two women.
We had been nearly month In the
hotel together before became acquainted
with Westhaven His manner was most
cordial, and he told me that lac had asked
for this introduction, saying that | was
not unknown TO him by reputation, and
speaking in the kindest way of the sue
cess | had achieved in certain electrical
experiments He also confded To me
his own deep Interest in studies of like
nature
Mrs Westhaven met me with great
kindness, and Miss Carlyon raised her
head from the cushions of her chair and
gave me tiny hand like birds claw
which was lost in my grasp. She was 4
weird, uncanny little creature, with gilt
tering eyes full of a restless, suspicious
questioning, marvelously white skin
and thin, cruel mouth, An unpleasant
face altogether, though with some claim
TO prettiness, and one from which gladl,
turned to gaz e upon that of her beauti
full sister.
have a passionate admiration of beaut
in women, and Mrs. Westhaven's beaut
was fiawless and extended over her Ell
tire personality, to her delicate finge
tips, 10 her arched, exquisite feet, ht
graceful, perfect pose, her swaying cal
rage.
traveller, cultured, and treating g
many things with a brilliant, glancin
satire which showed that he was clos,
IL not kind, student of human nature
Miss Carlyon was evidently in sympath
with him upon most subjects, and woul
often carry out his idea gracefully frol
the point where he left 1t. She was inte
hgent, well read and witty
After my first evening with this singuli
family group / went out upon tho piazi
to indulge in q speculative smoke.
think am not curious person. hal
prided myself all my life upon an indiffe
ence to the affairs and interests Of 9th
people, but there vas about this famil
IN spite of gentle breeding and case
manner, an atmosphere OF mystery whit
provoked, II not investigation, ut lea
speculation. determined TO sea more
them.
Westhaven gave me every opportunit
lie sought me upon all occasions, M
evinced a fondness for my society and
respect for my opinions which could n
but fiatter me from So young and so bri
liant "A man Ills culture was remar
able and his information widely extends
He had been sluse student all his If
he said, until now. About his preset
interests he WAS strangely Ietieent, al
most casual way. | rarely saw him
the afternoons; whatever his occupatii
or study, II engrossed him then, and ha
ing grown sufficiently intimate with hi
TO warrant my going informally and II
announced To his rooms, / found that
the afternoon | was rarely admitted.
Mrs. Westhaven walked and drove OF
constantly attracting attention and a
miration wherever she was seen. :
had certain individuality of style, WIFI
i believed grew from her perfect unen
seriousness of her beauty aud the consp
uous position she occupied III publ
Once | spoke of her wonderful loveline
to her husband. lie received my enth
siastic observations In moody silence, nj
the expression of discomfort deepened
his handsome face.
/ had Of course long before this cor
TO the conclusion that Nesthayen "
nnhappily married, and more than hf
suspected That he had awakened 10 a [.
rible certainty That he had married L
wrong Miss Carlyon. This Thought
tried 10 close my eyes upon rs an II
worthy suspicion against the man "
showed me IA consideration that hu
rarely met with in iife which was c,
tainly unusual from a mere aequail
ance.
| persisted not without many discol
agements, in my determination To knt
Mrs Westhayen better, and my sucet
was at Inst crowned by II mest disii
pointing discovery She had what ]
iirst believed 10 be an aversion To const
sation | never heard her say nnythin
even in the way of Il reply, which co
tanned an unnecessary word, and If s
ever volunteered remark II must In
been In the privacy Of her own ehamht
Yet she was neither difliaent nor i'll lei
pered ON the contrary, her expressii
was pleased and pleasing, and her pref
smile was always upon her lips.
/ fancied she might have peeuli
bent of mind and cndeayored To diseoy
II. | ended by satisfying myself beyul
doubt that she possessed no mind
all She was simply an exquisite al
empty casket-a beautiful mindless, sot
less things creature without sensibi
ties, or even the capacity of receiving II
pressions. The emotions Of living ere
lures, the passive loyeliness of mamma
objects, the fragrance of flowers, q
charm of music, the wonderful, ev
changing interest OF the whole Great,
world passed before her unseeinR eve
fell upon her unlistening' ears, left h
calm, untouched with that changsle
nnmcaning smile forever curving h
beautiful mouth.
When | made this discovery | kne
that Westhaven's life WAS burden
Il Il ~ "a A7gasH a#saaat