Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-08-16

| the doctor, severely. Through some
| culpable carelesSnesS. arsenic mus
have been mixed in the tea he drank
! this afternoon
! From Ellen Warde's lips burst fortt
a faint exclamation. 1t was she who
J had given that tea and made it; it haC
! passed through no other hands. Mrs
i The quantity he took was very
small doubtless" he went on, gravely
Indeed it must have been so fol
him TO be alive now, for in his veal
state less than half the ordinary dose
would have proved fatal; but
He stopped abruptly, suddenly con
scious of the fact that no one was lis
| teEing. Mr.. EOwyer's eyes were
| opened wide and were fixed on Ellen
| Warde. Their expression was unmis
takable-full of reproachful accusation
and horror too deep for words
| AS suddenly in her bewildered glance
round, she encountered the fearful loOF
he gave her, with shrill terror.
stricken cry. sNe turned and fled from
| the room.
This is all very terrible-yery ter
rible.' declared the doctor, growing
even grayer than he had been at first
ut is a most unfortunate accident. .
agreed the hOusekGeper: land we must
be thankful it hal not Il more meian-
choly ending. | bought the arsenic my
self today, and placed it in the same
cupboard where the sugar, salt, and
such things are kept. | feel l am
much to blame too for when you are
in hurry it is so easy to make mis-
takes"
When all that she could do was done,
and Mr.. Bowyer had sunk into q quiet
refreshing sleep, Mrs. PriOlo left the
sick-room and went in search of Ellen
WardC.
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 dedantly
feeling intuitively that she had come
on no friendly Grand
What is it|' she asked. haughtily
L y L
must beg to remind you OF q fact you
have hitherto forgotten l am Mr
Bowers sister-in-laW as we'll as his
hOusekeeper; and it is as the former
that [ shall question you now"
What do you want to know
Il want to know how it happened
that arsenic was given to Mr.. Bowyer
in his tea today?"
The girl shuddered slightly but re-
piled with tolerable cOmpOsure-
II know as little about it as you.
I certainly made the tea this afternoon,
but l took the tea and sugar and milk
from their usual places. If arsenic
was mixed with one of them l GER
tainly had no knowledge Of it,"
For that there is only your word;
and you have others to persuade as
we'll as me-"
mo one as hard and cruel as you"
cried the girl desperately. Who else
would believe that Ibis niece-cOuld
do so terrible a thing as that which
your manner Suggests?'
You are not his niece" the house
keeper reminded her, coldly. Mr..
BOwyer had no sisters or brothers eX-
cept my late husband"
You do not know that. It is a mere
conjecture"
rs it? We shall see presently how
much I know, how much [ only guess,
if you drive me to speaking plainly
Il do not fear You. | am innocent
That has to be proved. Everything
is against you; it was you who sug-
gested bringing the poison into the
house; it was you who gave Mr.. Bow
yer the drink in which the poison was
mixed; it was you who had the strong
est reason to wish for his death. I
know that he told you he would leave
you twenty thousand pounds"
What is it you wish me to do?' she
exclaimed, helplessly.
81 wish you to leave the house at
once, never to return, never to cross
our paths here or anywhere again"
You can not mean that. Don't you
see it would be a confession of guilt
were l to go away SOP
"And was it not 4 confession of guilt
when you declined to meet Mr.. Bow
yer's accusing look just now? And
was it not a confession Of guilt when
two years ago yon fed rather rnan
stand your trial for the murder of your
sister,"
Ellen covered her face with her
hands and gave a low moan full Of un-
contrOllable anguish.
"You know that?'' she breathed
family.
"I know all Elaine Warrington; and
I leave you to think what chance you
would have of clearing yourself from
the present charge against you were 1
to reveal that other one which now
rests in allegiance"
The girl fell upon her knees, her
hands clasped above her head, utterly
broken and conquered.
"Oh, spare me, spare me"' she i'm
plored. why do you prosecute me?
Why do you hate me SOP
1T is because I wish you we'll that
1 am speaking to you thus alone, in
stead of publicly denouncing you, as
/ might have done"
Elaine realized the hopelessness of
all appeal, and rose slowly to her feet.
1T is late-too late for you to go
now; but early tomorrow morning
you must leave, or take the conse-
quences. 1 will not sit down to an
other meal with YOU: the house has