Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-06-21
c'''der tie Cloud.
By s. S. WILLIAMSON.

suddenly and 50 cl0Se to him that the
young man shrunk back with a cry of
pain, while several near him shud-
dered in sympathetic hOrror-for was
it not the weapon that had robbed him
Of his promised wife?
Its a Derringer. ! have seen
dozens"
One of the jurymen here objected
that the answer was not direct one
to the question; but the objection was
waived as being unimpOrtant.
One of the men employed at the the
alter then deposed to having seen the
two Misses Warrington leave together,
and that about half an hour later Mr..
Weare drove up, passed into the the
alter without speaking, but, as he came
out again, asked him if Miss Ada War
rington had left. On hearing that she
had departed with her sister, he sent
away his brOugham, and expressed
the intention Of walking home.
The manager of the theater said that
the two Misses Warrington had been
engaged by him four or five months
before. They were very quiet and re-
served.
On being asked if they had had any
admirers whom it had been found
necessary to discourage, he hesitated
a little.
you see, sir, their position was a
very unusual one" he answered slowly
at last. Every one knew who they
were, they acted under their own
name, and had swell friends to back
them up. l don't say they hadn't
bouquets and verses sent to them
anonymously, but l don't think they
had any disa agreeable adventure until
until"
Until when?" the coroner inter
posed.
"It was about a month ago." con-
tinued the manager, ''Since Miss
Elaine came to me in a great rage,
and nearly threw up her engagement
Some one, she said, had followed them
home, spoken to them in spite of their
persistent GOODNESS, and would have
continued his impertinence had not a
policeman fortunately come up and
freed them from the annoyance. She
was just furious when / told her that
things of that sort must be expected
in the profession which she and her
sister had adopted, and wanted to
cancel their engagements on the spot,
, till I suggested remedy"
''What was that?' asked the coroner,
with half smile.
81 recommended her to buy a pistol,
and use it if necessary"
"And she did that?'
: Yes ....
: There was a GREATNESS silence in the
, room, during which the coroner once
more lifted the pistol from the table
in front of him. Before, however, he
had time to frame a question the wit
, ness broke out impetuously-
! Eyes, it was a Derringer; but there
| are hundreds of them, and-Let me
| have it in my hand. Merciful heaven,
! it is the same! I know it by the dent
upon the silver stock. The first time
she fired it off she was frightened by
the explosion and let the pistol drop"
Did she ever fire it again"
Before a week had passed she was
as good a shot as [ who taught her.
She had a capital eye and wonderful
nerve for a woman"
"Ah, that was at a target or mark
! of some sort! Is it your belief that
she would have raised it against ler
unwelcome admirer, for instance"
tn
say"
Did she every say what she would
do if such a contingency occurredY'
! I asked her once whether she
| thought she could use it if occasion
! offered"
What did she say|
"She said. I should use It without
compunctiOn were I so insulted a&ain,
and aim at the heart
4 SILVER Of repulSiOn seemed IL lass
! simultaneously through the occ1)au5s
of the room. Every one remembered
where the dead girl had re:2ived her
hurt and scarcely one doubted now
but that her sister had fired ;he fatal
motiOned to stand down.
Mrs. Day, the landlady of the house
where the two girls had lodged, was
then called to testify.
The coroner's first question to her
seemed to have no reference to what
he had just heard.
'"Tha two Misses WARRINGTON havn
occupied your rooms since their
father died, l believer" he began; and
the garrulous tongue of the landlady,
never difficult to unlOose, needed no
further stimulus 1t was evident that
she was not unwilling to disclose all
she knew.
The sisters had been most desirable
dodgers, had given very little trouble
and received no visitors. though they
went out great deal to big parties,
She believed They had lots OF lovers,
no doubt; put none ever came to the
house. Miss Elaine was especially par
ucular i'll that respect, though she had
often heard Miss Ada laugh at her
about it, and call her a prude. Several
times gentlemen had called. but had
been denied. Mr.. Weare had been adj
mitted only during the last week, from
which she had surmised that he and
one of the young ladies were going to
make match of it.
Did you also guess which of them
it WASP put in the coroner. quietly