Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-08-09

behind it, but tlTcy did not notice any
thing wrong about it, 1t was dark in tho
closet, and, besides, they did not look for
anything Ike that until later.
All these people-the deputy sheriff,
and afterwards the high sheriff and other
out-of-town officers for whom they had
telegraphed, and the neghbors-all hunts
ed their own suspicion, and that was
Rufus Bennett. All believed that he had
come back and killed my futher They
lifted all the facts to that belief. They
made him do the decd with u long, slon-
der scrcwdrlver which he had recently
borrowed from one Of the 1eghbors and
had not returned. They made his finger
marks, which were still on my fathers
throat, fiji the red prints on the sitting
room door. They made sure that he had
returned and stolen into the house by the
east shed door, while futher and sat on
the doorstops the evening before: that
he had hidden himself away, perhaps in
that very closet where my dress hung,
and afterwards stolen out and killed my
father and then escaped
They were not shaken when told them
that every door was bolted and barred
that morning. They themselves found all
the windows fastened down. except IL few
and even these last were raised only the
width of a 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
cuItles in the way, but they fitted them
somehow TO their theory, and two deputy
shcri1s were ut once sent to apprchcud
Rufus.
They had not begun to suspect me
then, and not the slightest watch was
kept on my movements. The ncishbors
were very kind, and did everything to
help me, relieving me altogether Of all
those last otliccs-Iu this case much sad
der than usual.
An inquest was held, and told freely
all | knew, except about the blood stains
ON my dress l hardly knew why kept
that back. had no feeling then that
might have done the deed myself. ana |
could not bear TO convict myself, if | was
innocent
Two of the ncighbors, 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 10 put it in order for the fuuernI.
and ! sat down alone in the kitchen. As
l sat there by the window ] thought Of
my green silk dress, and wondered if the
stains were out. ! went to the closet and
brought the dress ont TO the light. The
spots and strcak~ had almost disappeared.
l took the dress out in the shed and
scraped off the flour paste which was
quite dry; l swept up the paste. burned
it in the stove, took the dress upstairs
to my own closet, and hung it in its old
place. Neighburs remained with me all
night.
At 3 O'Clock in the afternoon of the next
day. which was Thursday, l went over 10
Phoebe Dole'S Ia see about black dress
20 wear to the funeral. The nri.hbors
had urged me To- have my black silk dress
altered little and trimmed with Grape.
found only Maria Woods at home.
When She saw me she gave a little scream
and began to cry. She looked Us if She
had already been weeping Tor hours. Her
blue eyes We're bloodshot.
"Phoebc's gone over to-Mrs. Whit.
uey's TORY on her Dress she sobbcl.
Il want to get my black silk dress
fixed a little said |.
shell be home-prctty Soon" said
Maria.
laid my dress ON the sofa and sat
down. Nnbndy ever rnu,ults Maria about
a dress. She scys we'll. but Pb,,b. dos
all the planning.
Maria Woods continued ia s,b Iil,. o.
child. holdiu. her little sool,cJ bouJl,.r.
chief over her face. Her shoulders b..oy.
ed. As for me l felt like stone; could
not weep.
"Oh." she gaspcd out finally. Il knew.
l knew. l told Phocbc-I knew just how
it would be; I-kuew"'
l reused myself at that. "What do
you mean said |.
when Phoebe came home Tuesday
night and said she heard your father and
Rufus Bennett having words knew
how il would be-" she checked out. Il
knew he had a dreadful temper"
ibid Pbocbe Dol. know Tuesday ni,ht
that father and Kufus Bepnet. Rad
words :" said
Yes" said Maria Woods.
GLOW did she know"
"She ,,os ,,,,i,,... ,,r.,,..b ,.o.,r ,.,rd ,i,o
sbort cut f. Mrs orm.Iy,s ~ :ar,,' b,r
rrnyr, nIn.ca dr.,s Lnrn SGa '.',,1,
ri..bt baria ana ala ,n,. ana ,i', l'.',
beard ,Gn,, .,
"iTovo ,.,', s,,,l,.., If II q, or,.l,,i,. h,,+
r,.+3 said '"'
Maria said she didn't know. sbo migbt
have done so Tb.n She r.unn,nI.raJ
hearing Pborbr herself spral, nf il ia Uor.
riet Sargent when She came in tn trv