The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-06-11
My voice partly reused her; she was dream


ing.
"A wrong verdict" she cried, excitedly;
tan unfair one"
"Amt-get up" implored; Bernard is
ILL.,"
"Illl-what's thntp" she cried, opening her
eyes, and fully arousing herself to the pres
ent
"Ohl aunt, for Heavens sake don't lose
time; follow me-"
hastened again to his door, and this time
without ceremony, pushedit it open wide
Heaven! shall lever forget the shock l sus-
tanned? Bernard's face was white MS DEATH
and he stood leaning against the mantel-
piece, and gasping for breath. shrieked
aloud for assistance and my aunt came rum
ming in.
MY goodnessl" she exclaimed, lifting her
hands; show tho room smells of oil of al
monds."
"Oil of almondsp' repeated, huskily, and
rushing TO Bernard. Bernard, DEAR what
is the mattcr?' / cried. "Spcak to mel"
He clasped my hands, and turned his eyes.
uncarthly hollow, and wide open, upon mo.
"Ile is suffering from Madness" I cried,
Shuddering, to my aunt.
AT that moment she rushed to his side, and
his head fell back upon my shoulder.
MAY the Lord help you to bear this-your
cross, poor child" she said, assisting me to
hold his head, and desperately cndeavoring
to speak calmly. "He is poisoned-seep
and she cutched q small phial from his
hand.
"Send for the DOCTOR" cried.
TOO late, child" she answered, placing
her hand to his heart; "he Is dead.''
He is dead! How many times did find my
lips uttering those words; how they rang in
my ears for months after. There are realities
in life which although we know to be facts,
seem to rise before our vision like dread
nightmare. 1t seems impossible for us to be-
lieve them until the healing gphysician-time,
gradually reconciles us to all things.
What contrary effect trouble has on diff
fercnt persons! How it alters the DISPOSE
ton, alters tho tenor of their whole livesl
There are some whom it crushes to earth
finally, who never lift their heads again; but
this is really in n measure "seltishness," for
we have the living to think OF, and this world
requires action. There are others who be-
come adamant-it kills them. l don't mean
actually quenches the vital spark life
itself, but hardens the heart, deadens the
brain, numbs the senses, and stagnates all
the scnsibiities. With regard to myself, l
can't say that it actually had that effect but
1t certainly changed me wonderfully.
1t was some time before awoke to the
truth. Bernard had died from the effects of
the poison; was it suicide, or murder?
If suicide, what reason was there for such
an act-what drove him to ii? Ii murder,
who was the culprit? Who could have possl
bly, put poison into that phIal? What week
of horror it was to all OF us.
There was an Inquest held the following
day.
Thank Heaven, no horrible slur rested on
the venerable grey head of my aunt; nor any
of the establishment.
Questions were asked as to who were in
the house on the previous day. We inform
ed the coroner that Grace Merton was the
only visitor.
l shuddercd, as / uttered that woman's
name, and though no lingering thought
struck any of us before, yet, as l faced the
coroner and his penetrating eye rested upon
Inc, felt the live blood leave my frame.
Good Heavens! surely she was not his
murderesSl
The vision of the dark silent figure, thick
ly yelled, who entered the house on the pre-
text of looking for her music, flashed npon
me Wltll nOrrlDle QlStlnctncSS.
My appearance must have told volumes
rs these thoughts fitted in my brain, for the
coroner said earnestly:
"If you know of any clue, you must speak
up; III a case of this sort you must not shield
anybody"
1t seemed very dreadful that should be
the means of laying a stigma of murder
against the very woman whom had once
H. NO.
friend. stated facts, though, just as they
against Grace Merton.
She was searched for in all directions by
detectives, and at last found. She was ar
rested, and taken to await her trial. My own
heart told me she was guilty, and that had
not been the means of arresting an innocent
woman. How often my amt's saying rang
in my ear: "rhere is no end to the trail of
the serpent"
What a wicked, INSCRIPTIONS wretch this
woman had proved! TrulyI had taken
viper to my bosom when ] took her under
my protection.
Had she done this deed out of frantic, mad
love, or was it merely bitter revenge to-
wards me-po0r, wronged me-who had not
injured hair of this creatures head; who
committing a vile sin?
| will not lead the reader through tho laby-
rinth Of a court of justice. Suffice 1t to say
that the trial was held, and verdict of "ac-
quittal' on the ground of insanity returned.
Grace Merton was ordered to be detained
during Her Majesty's pleasure, and was sent
to al asylum for criminal lunaticS.
Thus the hope of my early youth was cruel
Iy wrecked in the morning of life, and nv
existence for some years rendered a blank;
but time, which heals all things, healed me,
and ten years afterwards married Did |
love my husband? Well, that question takes
little time to answer. Perhaps the love
was not of the same kind.
Fifteen years change the disposition woll-
derfully, and the woman of thirty-ive looke
upon life In adiiferent light to the girl of
twenty-one. Yes; l think loved my hus-
band, although he was not exactly my ideal.
In the first place, he was a widower with o
family, and very business-like man. nj
ways had rather an aversion to a business
like man.
Poor Bernard had been so very opposite
that it made my taste fastidlous. 1t is salmost
as well that woman should not meet her
ideal too early In life; 1t often spolls her for
the realities of after years.
had no children; but my husbands fami-
ly were quite enough to keep me well occu-
pied, and | was always of u disposition TO
suit myself to circumstances.
know now that was simply a business
mans wife, and not the bride of an officer of
rank and position, ns might have been. My
aunt lived with me, and took much of the re-
sponsibillty of tutoring large family off my
hands; had plenty of money, my husband
being wealthy merchant.
Some women would have envied my posi-
ton; but my aunt thought ought to have
done better, having sprung from family of
genius, and been reared in school where
Mammon was not the only God. Yes; Twas
tolerably happy, and yet, notwithstanding
my present comforts, would sometimes find
myself wandering about that little cemetery
at Rothsey, where green mound and white
stone borethe remembrance of my early love,
and yet had not been true to his memory.
1t is not in human nature to be faithful to
the dead for ever. Heaven. in its merciful
Judgment, ordains it otherwise;a veil of OBJ
liyion is thrown over the past.
One early evening in July, having finished
the duties of the day, and administered to
the cont fort of nv household I was temDted