Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-08-16

father and then escaped.
They were not shaken when | told them
that every door was bolted and barred
TINT morning. They themselves found all
the windows fastened down, except few
which were open on account of the heat,
and even these last were raised only the
width of n sash, and fastened with
sticks, so that they could be raised no
higher Father was very cautious about
fastening the house, for he some
times had considerable sums of money
by him. The officers saw all these diff
culties in the way, but they fitted them
sor'ehow to their theory, and two deputy
sheritfS were at once sent to apprehend
Rufus.
They had not begun to suspect me
then, and not the slightest watch was
kept on my movements. The neighbOrs
were very kind, and did everything to
help me, relieving me altogether of all
those last otfices-ln this case much sad
der than usual.
An inquest was held, and | told freely
all l knew, except about the blood stains
on my dress. l hardly knew why l kept
that back. l had no feeling then that
might have done the deed myself, and
NOhlh lOl bNtlA W NOuNlCl sell, IL L WIS
innocent.
Two of the neighbors, Mrs. Holmes and
Mrs. Adams, remained with me all that
day. Toward evening, when there were
very few in the house they went into the
parlor to put it in order for the funeral,
and | sat down alone in the kitchen. As
l sat there by the window l thought of
my green silk dress, and wondered if the
stains were out l went to the closet and
brought the dress out to the light. The
spots and streaks had almost disappeared.
l took the dress out in the shed and
scraped off the flour paste, which was
quite dry; ! swept up the paste, burned
it i'll the stove, took the dress upstairs
to my own closet, and hung it in its old
place. Neighbors remained with me all
night.
AT ) o'clock in the afternoon of the next
day, which was Thursday, l went over to
Phoebe DOle's to see about n black dress
to wear to the funeral. The neighbors
had urged me to have my black silk dress
altered little and trimmed with Grape
found only Maria Woods ut homo.
When she saw me she gave Il little scream
and began to cry. She looked us if she
IlN ullttlhS uttll weeping lOl IOuIS. lltE
blue eyes were bloodshot.
"Phoebe's gone over to-Nlrs. Whit
ney's tory on her Dress" she sobbed.
Il want to get my black silk dress
fixed little" said |.
Shell be hOme-prctty soon," said
Maria.
l laid my dress on the sofa and sat
down. Nobody ever consults Maria about
Il dress. She sews well, but Phoebe does
all the planning.
Maria Woods continued to sob like a
child, holding her little soaked handkcr-
chief over her face. Her shoulders heay-
ed. As for me felt like stone; could
not weep.
oh" she gasped out finally, 81 knew,
l knew. | told Phocbe-l knew just how
it would be; knew"
l reused myself at that. "What do
you meanY" said |.
"Whcn Phoebe came home Tuesday
night and said she heard your father and
Rufus Bennett having words, | knew
how it would be-" she chokrd out ~
knew he had IL dreadful temper"
Did Phoebe Dole know Tuesday night
that father and Rufus Bennett had
words sad l.
Yes" said Maria Woods.
"IIow did she know"
''She was going through your yard, the
short cut to Mrs. Ormsby's. to carry her
brown alpaca dress home. She came
right home and told me; and she over
heard them"
Have you spoken of it to anybody but
me-" said |.
Maria said she didn't know; she might
have done so. Then she remembered
hearing Phoebe herself speak of it to Har-
riet Sargent when she came in to try
ON her dress. 1t was easy to see how
people knew about it.
| did not say any more, but | thought
it was strange that Phoebe Dole had
asked me if father had had words with
anybody when she knew it all the time.
Phoebe came in before long. | tried on
my dress, and she made her plan about
the alterations and the trimming
made no suggestions. | did not care
how it was done, but if | had cared it
would have made no difference. Phoebe
always does things her own way. All
the women in this village are in Il man
ner under Phoebe Dole's thumb Their
garments are visible proofs of her force
of will.
While she was taking up my black silk
on the shoulder seams. Phoebe Dole said:
LET me see-you had green silk dress
made at Digby three summers ago, didn't
you"
yes" l said.
'Well" said she, why don't you have
it dyed black? Those thin silks dye real
nice. 1t would make you good dress"
scarcely replied, and then she offered
to dye it for me herself. She had recipe
which she had used with great success.
l thought it very kind of her, but did not
say whether | would accept her offer or
not. l could not fix my mind upon any
thing but the awful trouble was in.
I'll come over and get it tomorrow
morning." said Phoebe.
| thanked her. ! thought of the stuins,
and then my mind seemed to wander
away again to the one object.
All the time Maria Woods sat weeping.
Finally Phoebe turned to her with impa,
thence. IF you can't keep calmer, you'd
better go upstairs, Maria" said she.
You'll make Sarah sick. Look at herl
she doesn't give way-and think of the
reason she's got"
''Ivc got reason, too" Maria broke out,
then, with a piteous shrek, "Oh, I've got
-reason!'
'Maria Woods, go out of the roomlH
Il II