The Washington times., 1894-08-26

maids-they half dressed. she in the same
garments she had on when l parted with her
that evening, which showed she had never
gone 70 bed.
The position OF the furniture prevented
those who entered from seeing Cecil imme-
diatelv. and 1 noticed that Mrs. Harrington 5
first z snce was turned 20 the cupboard She
saw me az the little win4Ow aud instantly
ran forward. took the KEY from her pocket,
a2d opened the door for me. As she she did
so the policeman discovered Cecil. and u 4
moment the men closed around him. while
caught Mabel's hand and said. Don't 20
there. Come away with me az once.
But she would not 20. She forced he- way
10 her husbands side. and. kneelins there,
lifted his head to her bosom. calling MIN by
everv tender name which love could suggest.
He looked IN her eyes-aIl the naIness and
its miserable haIlueination gone from his
gaze and mind.
NV poor Mabel. - be said. Thank God I
have not injured you
went near 70 see what I could do for him,
and as examined the wound Cecil whispered,
NO good, Edwin. I'm done for. and it's
best so. I want 70 tell yoU something's.
He was indeed mortalIy hurt and though I
insisted upon binding up the gasn through
which his Hfe-blood was flowing and other
wise making him more comfortable, knew
il was Of no use
His wife hung over him in an agony Of
sorrow until the time came when had 10 say
10 her brothers, who had been summoned 20
the house. Take her way. for it is al over.
This is not our poor Cecil
Before that moment came, however. ny
most unfortunate friend had IN brief. dis
connected sentences. told me bis unhappy
story II part. The gaps were filed in later
by the evidence Of others, and by my own
convictions,
1t was true that AmOry Rhodes and Cecil
Harrington had been suitOrs az the same time
for MaOel Hynde, but. far from her preierrinZ
the former. she had chosen Cecil in spite OK
the prejudiees Of her brothers and the knowl-
edge that there was hereditary insanity n
his family. If her parents had been alive I
do not doubt their influence would have mad
weight with the girl, but she had been prac-
tieally her own mistress since she LEFT school
| Her brothers were some years younger, and
! had never shown much sympathy with her.
/ There was no one else to advise or warn her,
and she loved Harrington ardeEtly.
Shortly after their marriage she had dis
I covered that he had strange whims az times
which could not be satisfactorily accounted
| for; but sne was very careful cot 70 take
I notice Of these. or draw anv ones attention
! to them and they always passed away with
/ out any trouble following. But shortly befOrs
/ Mr.. Rhodes returned from America Cecils
/ peculiarly became more marked-au tns
/ more so. that he concealed it so carefully
\ from every one except his wife, and she cams
/ by her knowledge only through anxious
| watching, of which he was unaware. Then
/ the incipient disease began 10 take the form
/ of suspecting her. of dishking her presence
at times. OF jealous fanciss. Of morbid IN
/ founded theories regarding her conduct.
/ Rhodes, knowing his cousin well and hav-
/ ing a way of winning confidence. soon led
/ Mabel 10 speak Of the trouble 10 him. she
/ looked upon him as an elder brother. for she
/ believed he had buried his love for herself
/ long before. Therefore her manner was full
/ of frank affection. which he returned as her
| brother might have done.
| 1t was a great help TO the poor girl to lean
/ on her husbands nearest and (as she thought)
\ dearest relative ia her trouble. but when
I Cscil's insanity took the form OF jealousy Of
\ AmOry she saw that some one else must be her
| adviser, so she chose me.
\ 1t was a very simple. plain story when il
| came to be explained. and vet I have often
| since thought how easily a case could have
i been built upon Harrington suspicious II
/ his self-controI had lasted little longer. or
/ had not thought OF hiding in the cupboard
I and discovering myself In an unguarded
moment.
When eonversing with Rhodes OF the
lamentable affair 1 told him of the phiaI
which Cecil had shown me- and Of the extra
ordinary idea ne lad taken about the poison
it contained.
| Poison Rhodes said ''There was no
poison in that bottle when gave it to Mabel.
! We were out sketching-Mabel. Cecil, andI-
and she wanted some water for her cOlOrs.
had filed that phial, as it ehanced to be
standing on my table empty. before leaving
my rooms. and Mabel must have carried il OF
with her painting materials.
If a single doubt OF Mabel or Rhodes had
been left in my mind il must have vanished
two years later, when the latter came to bid
me Sood-by, saying: I'm OF to New York
again l waited. hoping Mabel might relent
some day. but she saws il never can be. SO l
feel must go away anG try TO ger over SEQ
Ond disappointment "a best I may"
No doubt OF her had harbored in my breast
from the moment I saw her lift Cecils dying
form to her bosom. Mabel was from that
hour my ideal of all that is good and fair IN
woman, and she has allowed me to comfort
her for all she has suffered. She is nay wife.
L The EndI