Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-05-21
CHAPTER XXX.
cross-Examination.

Madeline did not cry out or falnt'
Her tears were dried as II by magic
and she stood with so pale and pas
sionatc front that Lady Esler lifted
her hands In Mortified amazement
Shameless. quite shameless she
muttered to herself; then In a louder
tone. "Have you nothing to say for
YOURSELF"
you cannot believe me guilty Of
such wicked conduct, Lady Esler?'
said Madeline. Surely II Is impossi-
BILE? You cant think that would do
such a thing?'
The pleading ring Of her voice, the
tears In her eyes, moved Lady Esler
little She looked uncertainty at Con
stance,
1T does seem very extraordinary,
believe Il Of one Of my own relations.
perhaps Madeline will kindly tell
us what abe was doing In this room
last night Constance said IT was
her refusal to tell me that excited my
suspicious So very peculiar Why
could she not have said what she was
DOING"
The very refinement OF malice was
In her eyes Madeline looked AT her
plteously for moment, then looked
away and wrung her hands together
"Oh Constance, she said, How can
you be 40 cruel2"
Constance Is not cruel I said Lady
Eslers judicial voice "she is perfectly
right Why were YOU in this room last
night
II was not Ia this room
"Rut Madeline YOU know saw you
In the corridor said Constance, In
the gcntest Of tones.
Yes in the corridor not in the
room
And, pray, what were you doing in
the corridor"
"a came 10 see whether The house
were safe whether any one had 90.
In, said Madeline Even TO herself
the explanation sounded lame, Yet
what could she shy
And what made YOU think that any
one was in The house? Did you hear
noises of amy kind
Lady Esler spoke IN a less ley tone
She had remembered that Constance
also had spoken Of noises In the house
Perhaps there was here a possible eX.
PLANTATION for Madoline's extraordinary
conduct hut 20 her great surprise.
with appalling Hips and with downcast
eyes. Madeline answered mo. I
heard no noises"
Did YOU see anything. them"
Nor moment Madeline hesitaIed.
II seemed 10 her there was i way Of
answering this question quite truly.
yet without hctraying Constance Not
III the house, She began in i iesitat-
INK tone. whereupou Constance caught
her up mereilessly
Ii not III The house MhM ala Il mat
ter The fact In you heard nothing.
you saw nothing but yourself Aunt
Setua. / wonder ii Your patience with
such pre1Aricatlon
Madeline looked up With 4 Hash 81
the eyeS which made Constance teel
that sne had perhaps gone Toe far.
what might Madeline not say beN
But tho girl flushing aud paliug 81
turns and biting her under ltp, low
cred bel eyes and did not speak Shf
dared rai ti3a she spoken ~ an IN
that moment u emptation she would
have launched tba whole story ,ttalght
In the lace Of Che 1--WE listeners But
her sense Of honor keculy tuad. wss
sun ien ID uphold hen iii the nomCnl
81 lis probation, and she Eep, also
late silence silence Witch toid
against bar In the eyes of Lads Esler
who Mould haye understood hNserie.
and Wila accusations ana appe4ls muaf
better than Maanlines proud uiaMte
u repeat, saii Lady Esler. ma8esa
eally what We're You doing II tht
corridor between Coustanee's bedroom
ara lily dressing room There vas u
necessity tor you N he thcrs at tha
time 81 night
eau only say what | have Syid NJ
tare that | came To see whether Mn,
person WAS 81 The house Who might ne
to he there saia Madeline 'igmN