Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-06-21
CHAPTER Il

ton ran through the room as the door
opened and Elaine Warrington en-
tered She came In slowly. Yet With
no hesitation or apparent dread Of the
ordeal before her. The large gray eyes
had a. haggard and weary look, and
seemed larger and more beautiful
than ever by reason OF the deep circles
round them, caused by the long
anxious night, during which she had
neither slept nor wept
An elderly gentleman who had taken
a deep interest in the proceedings
started forward eagerly and offered
her his chair.
She thanked him sweetly. if some
what abSently, but did NOT sit down.
She stood behind it. resting her fingers
on the back rail; and 10 some Of the
spectators it appeared as though she
was already In the prisoners dock
standing on her trial
The cor0ler put his first question.
Miss W, ~r,nZtcn, can you tell me
the date Of y0Ir sisters engagement
TO Mr.. Ger3.L Wcaref"
last Friday believe 1t was then
my sister told me"
II her loneliness had already touched
the hearts OF those present, the sound
Of her voice completed the charm. 1t
was low and sweet. yet 50 clear that
it was audible at the furthest end OF
the room AS il rose and fell there
was something exquisitely and caress.
ingly tender in its cadence
And 1t came upon you as a sur
priseF
Yes"
you did not know that he thought
OF proposing to herr
'N-o'-sull with evident hesitation;
and then, with a CLEAN Of defiance
How should ~
'Of course not His attentions were,
believe, so equally divided that no
one seems to have known for whom
they were especially intended. Per
maps you yourself were also in the
dark
The blood rushed to the girls face.
and something rising in her throat
,
then she said to the coroner
Il never thought about it, nor did
Ada, till he spoke
You disapproyed Of The match
THAT would rave been rather q
scns"css thing On my part, DON Y: u
think, s. eing that had no power 10
prevent It? Besides, Mr.. Weare was
rich and we'll connected; it was more
for his friends to object than for me -
The girl started nervously.
WAS it about Mr.. WeareT
No reply; but throughout the small
hurrledly formed court silence was
taken to mean assent,
Il decline to tell you anything Of a
conversation that was strictly private, 90
she said at last, with an effort.
Il must warn you. in your own in
tereSts, Miss Warrington, that this
5 lence is ill-judged, and may be mis-
understood" said the coroner, severely.
II am not afraid of what people may
think or say. Anything | can tell you
connected with my sisters death I will
certainly not withhold, but the CONVEX
sation referred to occurred a week ago.
and has nothing to do with it,"
THAT Won should allow rs TO judge"
suggested the coroner; but when the
girl maintained an obstinate silence,
either from courtesy or from pity he
refrained from pressing the question.
This pistol is said TO be yours" he
observed. changing the subject
abruptly. and touching the weapon as
he spoke.
eyes its mine. Where did you fl d
it?"
"Near the place We're your sister
was found dead last night"
The girl stared at him helplessly. the
pallor Of her face rendered yet more
noticeable by the crimson Of her parted
lips and her dark be-ringed eyes
There was intense excitement, and
the coroner could not resist a dra-
matte denouement
There Is no doubt" he declared
gravely. that 1t was the instrument
which caused your sisters DEATH
ooh nO-nO-no,'
Nut utN ltlAel upon 4tf hHttNt anu
sobbed rather than spoke the words in
a paroNySm Of horror-or was II fear2
The elderly gentleman who had Of
fered her a chair on her first entrance
came nearer to her. unnodced in the
general movement
"You lost it-rllslaid It." he said. in
a low voice. as though speaking to
himself, yet intending the remark for
her
Il must have left it at the theater
last night she gasped. in a whisper,
answering him perhaps-or was it
merely a prompt adoption Of his sug-
geSuon5
II beg your pardon-may I request
you 10 speak louder?" said the coroner.
More composed now. the girl re-
peated what she had just said but
without uacovering her face. Had she
guessed to what sll these questions
were leading. what was the terrible
suspicion that was gradually growing
and establishing itself IN mems minds
Yet you had carried it habit1ally
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