St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-08-09


"Thcre is n motive"
"What is it,"
maria Woods shall tell you this after
noon"
lie then wrote:
"Fifth, who was seen to throw n bun
die down the old well, in the rear of Mar
tin Fairbanks house, at o'clock in the
morning? Phoebe Dole"
WAS she-sccnF' | gasped. Mr. Dix
nodded. Then he wrote:
Sixth, who had Il strong motive, which
had been in existence many years ago?
Phoebe Dole"
Mr., Dix laid down his pen and looked
at me again. "Well, what have you to
sayY he asked.
at is impoSsiblev'
"WhyW
"She is woman"
"A man could have fred that pistol. as
she tried TO do"
st would have taken mans strength
to kill with the kind of weapon that was
used" said.
"No. it would not. No great strength
Is required for such blow"
but she is woman!"
Crime has no SEX"
"But she is good woman. n church
member. heard her pray Yesterday
afternoon. 1t is not in character"
1T is not for YOU. nor for me. nor for
any mortal intelligence 70 know what is
or is not in character" said Mr. Div
He arose and went away. could only
stare at him in n half dazed manner
Maria Woods came this n afternoon tok-
ing advantage of phoebr's absence nm n
dressmaking errand. Marin has ored
ten wears in the last few weeks Her
hair is white. her cheeks are fallen in
her pretty color is gone,
MAY | have the rinp-h. yova mo
forty venrs ooog' ,hn foItorod
gave il to her: she kissed if and
sobbed like Il child. phoebe took il
away from me before" she said. 'bnt
she sha'n't this time"
Maria related with piteous little sobs
the story of her long subordnation to
Phoebe Dole. This sweet. child-like
woman had always been completely nm
der the sway of the others stronger ma.
ture. The subordinaton went back be-
yond my fathers original proposal 10 her.
she had, before he made love to her as n
girl, promised Phoebe she would NOT
marry, and it was Phoebe who had. nv
representing to her that she was bound
by this solemn promise, led her to write the
letter to my father declining his offer. and
sending back the ring
And after all, we were going to get
married, if he had not-died,' she said
lie was going to give me this ring again,
and he had had the other date put in.
should have been SO happy.'
She stopped and stared ut me with ho.-
ror-strlcken inquiry.
wv hat was Phoebe doing out in your
back yard at O'Clock that night" she
cried,
what do you mcanT' ! returned
II saw Phoebe come out of your back
shed door at | O'Clock that very night
She had n bundle in her arms. She went
along the path about as far as the old
well; then she stopped down and seemed
to be working at something When she
got up she didn't have the bundle | was
watching ut our back door, | thought
heard her go out II little while before,
and went down stairs, and lound that
door unlocked. went in quick and up
to my chamber, and into my bed when
she started home across the held. Pretty
soon heard her come in; then | heard
the pump going, She slept down stairs;
she went on to her bedroom. What was
she doing III your back yard that nightW
You must ask her" said |. felt nv
blood running cold
I've been afraid to-" moaned Maria
Woods. shes been dreadful strange
lately. | wish that book agent was going
to stay at our house"
Maria Woods went home in about an
hour, got ribbon for her, and she has
my poor fathers ring concealed in her
withered bosom. Again, | cannot be-:
lieve this.
Thursday.-lt is all over. phonha Dolo
has confessed! do not know now in
exactly what way MIR. Dix .bronght IL
about-how he accused her of her crime
After breakfast | saw them COMING
across the field. Phoebe came 6rst nJ'
yancing with rapid strides like a nnn.
Mr.. Dix followed, and INV fathers nonr
old sweetheart tottered behind with bor
handkerchief at her ewes Inst ne NV