The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-13
q don't understand said villlers,


81 don't understand" said villlers,
blankly.
Destroy this letter." went on, land
the whole sad tragedy win pass for the
result of an accident The ring was evil
IDENTIFY poisoned one; il will be conclud-
editor country coroner's juries are cas-
lily satished-that 1t was the lingering
venom of the past, not poison of recent
introduction, which killed your sweet sis
ter"
"Why-should 1 spare that ruhian's
memory" cried Yilliers, fiercely.
mo, but there is every reason why you
should spare poor Maj. Martindale's feel
ings. BY keeping silence you defeat the
most malignant Intention of the wretch
who has gone ta. his account"
Villiers hesitated a moment, then re-
marked:
you are right" and flung the letter in
to the hottest part of the fire, Meantime
carefully cleaned out the tiny bits of
sponge from the ring, and dried the set
ting; for even a country coroner's jury
might question the possibility of frag
ments of sponge remaining moist in a
ring for three centuries.
Villiers and kept our counsel and mat
tiers eVentuated exactly as l had antici-
pated Verdicts of accidental death"
were readily returned in both cases: for
what was more likely Though lamentable)
dentally fallen into the pond in the dark.
The local paper rose to the occasion, and,
while decorousy lamentng over the
promising young life thus suddenly cut
short" made the sapient reflection that
Ibis untimely fate at least spared Mr..
belmont the remorse which he would
doubtless have felt on learning the fatal
accident which had resulted from his we'll
intentioned gift"
For the cause of poor Claras death was
decided to have been the fatal ring.
could most conscientiously depose that /
believed that the poison (which had lurk-
ed in it, had been the cause of death, and
as poison In some shape had undoubtedly
killed the poor girl and there was no
other manner in which 1t could be traced
that poison had been administered, this
explanation was readily accepted. Hap
PLY for our secret, DR.. Carton, worthy,
| but rather self-opinionated man, had form
ed the idea that it was quite possible for
poison even in the most infinitesimal
quantity, to retain its virus for centuries;
and that some constitutions were pecu-
liarly sensitive to the influence of noXious
drugs My medical confrere was person
of influence in the neighborhood, and his
opinion was held in high esteem. There
| fore, although one cavilling juryman VEN
tured to hint that it was marvellous that
| the ring had retained its fatal qualities
for so very long period, and also strange
that the workman who had set the dia-
mond had escaped without injury, this
captious inquirer was promptly snubbed
by the coroner and discredited by his
brother Jurors; while Dr. Carton conde-
scendingly explained that it was only the
wearer, not the handler of the ring, who
was likely to receive scratches which
would serve to introduce the poison into
the system; also that some organizations
were more liable to suffer from such an
| accident.
"a robust workman might not be affect
ed as readily as delicate girl
In view Of poor Villiers' grief, every
| one was anxious to hush UP the sad trag-
edy" as speedily as possible; and the re-
calcitrant juror was too glad to purge
his contempt by ready acquiescence in
the verdict of his brethren.
After all, what benefit could have re-
suited had the rightful sentence of "wilful
murder been recorded against one who
had passed beyond the reach of earthly
tribunals. The occurrence furnished the
local papers with copy for a long time.
Correspondents wrote giving accounts of
other extraordinary cases of accidental
poisoning" and many were the comments
made upon the singular manner in which
such noxious drugs could retain their
virus even for centuries.
Villiers and kept our secret, and Major
Martindale was at least spared the bitter
pain of knowing that he had been the in
direct cause of the tragic death of the
woman whom he adored.
Martindale volunteered for foreign ser
vice in one of our little wars Immediate
ly afterwards; but though l know he
mourned his sweet lost love very sin
cerely, time brought its usual consola-
lions. only a few months ago l came
across Col. Martindale at German pleas
ure resort with a pretty young bride upon
mis- arm. l felt glad that the malice Of
the dead villain had not succeeded in al
together blighting a worthy mans life;
and / am sure that the dear dead girl was
far too unselhsh to have wished her be-
trothed to have perpetually worn the
willow for her sake.
Poor Villiers, however, did not long
survive his sister, he sank into kind Of
lethargic condition after her death, ceased
to take interest in any of his old pursuits
and it was with no surprise that / heard
of his death within year of the strange
and Fatal Occurrence at a Ball." as the
newspapers had described it.
In my desk to-day lies the fatal ring"
Poor Villiers bequeathed It to me. Now
the sponges are removed and the ring
dried, it is possible that II might be worn
with IMMUNITY but have no mind to try
the experiment. 1t Is a grisly object in
my eyes; l know II proved the instrument
of murder in the present century; who can
say how many other innocent victims it
has previously destroyed?
(The Enid
-
EhNnoaa Urm