Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-05-08
The MartlGt Seal.
BY JEANETTE Il. wALwoRTH.

acted as n permanent spur to few tire
less spirits on the detective force. They
had ut last got hold of positive clew,
which they proceeded to unravel with
patient skill. This clew was a seal with
the impress of n martlet upon it, and it
was attached to three inches of broken
gold chain of fine workmanship.
Day by day, hour by hour, the coil of
evidence heightened and strengthened,
until, to the one faithful heart that
chung to him through good and evil re-
port, his case looked hopeless indeed.
Given the established facts that Eu-
gene Norcross' wife at an earlier stage
of her career had been Sibley Fair
banks wife, that their connubial infe-
licity had been even greater than that
of average yoke mates, that Fairbanks
failure to support his wife properly had
led to temporary separation, that dur
ing that separation she had taken steps
to have her marriage declared null and
void, that subsequently she had reap
peared in society as Eugene Norcross'
splendor loving and dashing wife, that
ut about the same period of time Fair
banks returned to the city, in improved
circumstances, but naturally consumed
with a jealous hatred of the woman
who had tossed him aside like misfit-
ting glove, and the groundwork of the
tragedy was complete.
1t only wanted the legal verbiage and
profound platitudes of contending coun-
sci to put this choice morsel into final
shape for rolling under the famished
tongue of public curiosity.
On the morning of the day set for his
trial, Sibley Fairbanks ate his break
fast with sullen stoicism. at may pos
slbly be the last one l shall have the
privilege of ordering to suit my own
TASTE" he said, with grim facetious-
ness, to Ida, pouring out his coffee,
| white-faced, but steady of nerve and
resolute of heart. "If it goes against
me,"-he cracked the shell of his soft
boiled egg with nice deliberation,-
return at once to Glenburnie, with the
child. and-and-if Lorimer seeks you
in spite of all, don't repulse him, my
dear. Promise me that, will you not?'
She did not answer him. She was
watching his deliberate movements
| with strained attention, through q film
that made him look grotesquely unfa-
miliar.
my poor Ida! my truest Of women!
my lion-hearted sister! you are not
| going to break down now?"
"Sibleyr'
| She called his name in a husky
| whisper. Her voice seemed deserting
her along with all the other organs that
had been essential in that other world
she used to live IN. She had needed q
voice once, when as a girl, as a woman,
she had breathed and moved in that
other world, at fair old place called
Glenburnie. But she had nothing In
common with that other girl, that other
world. She was turning to stone. She
was already petrifed. Her heart had
turned to rock Her tears were so
many hard, cold little pebbles. 1t was
more comfortable SO. 1t helped her to
stand things. And there was so much,
oh, so much, to standi
"Sibley!"
"Wel? think 1 answered you be-
fore, Ida"
"There is one question 1 would like
to have you answer before-before-"
"My case is called?"
| Eyes"
"Well?"
you have never said yet-never tc
me, though of course know it, dear
only I would love to have you put it il
words-you have never said, in so many
words: 4 did not do it. Not for the
lawyers-words mean nothing to them
they arc only pebbles for their sings
| But to me. Siblcy, the sister who love
you and VIII Sc heart you have broken.
She w. ""rling towards him will
tender '"' '"rt he'd arms, her worn
thin face all a-quivcr with pain. III
1 ciu Hof fo1
his arms sullenly.
mo. l have never put it into word
for you. l did not know it was neces
| sary. Forgive me, child, every pang
have cost you. l asked the priso
authorities to let me breakfast wit
you this morning, for knew what thi
, day would be to you, and 1 wanted,
possible, to say something comfortin
to you. Somehow, I don't seem to hav
managed very we'll. wish you ha.
some woman friend near you. wis
you had not come to the city with me
1t makes it harder for both of us. VIII
you bring the child here and let me sa
good-by to her? If it goes against me
shall not see either you or her AGAR
would not like you to come SO close
q convicted criminal"
lead. He would not put it into words
| = Tilu!s1 % s.I,.u lIH cOt,.>. 49,. she To-
q | orred Il Il the room Il f't..h Ninett'
In the darker hall she nearly stumble
u over the two prison officials who wer
standing guard ut tn" door of the rool
- where she and Slolcy had just &c
through with that dismal breakfas
One of the men put out n rough han
with kindly intent. He saved her fal
- for which she did not even thank hin
When she came back along the sam
way, after a hurried five minutes speI
In rousing Ninette and buttoniug tin
dressing gown over her nightdress, IL
sentinels were gone. So was Sible!
: He had scrawled a message on an envt
Iope and left it on her napkin.
at have taken the easiest way +
!, both of us. If do not come back
you tonight leave at once for Gle
burnie. 1 wish you had some WON;
Il friend near you. As for my lit