Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-28


Marin Woods came this afternoon, TAX
ing advantage of Phoebe's absence on q
dressinaking errand. Marin has aged
ten years in tho last few weeks. Her
hair is white, her cheeks are fallen in,
her pretty color Is gone
May | have the ring--he gave me
forty years agor she FILTERED.
/ gave II to her; she kissed it, and
sobbed like a child. "Phoebe took 1t
away from me BEFORE" she said, "but
she sha'n't this time"
Maria related with piteous little sobs
the story of her long subordinatlon to
Phoebe Dole This sweet, child-like
woman had always been completely I'M
der the sway of the others stronger ma
.ture. The subordination went back be-
yond my fathers original proposal to her;
she had, before he nnde love to her as q
girl promised Phoebe she would not
marry, and il WAS Phoebe who hnd, by
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, il he had not-died,' she said.
"IIe was going to give me this ring again,
and he had had the other date put in. l
should have been so nappyI
She stopped and stared at me with hor-
ror-strcken inquiry.
what WINS Phoebe doing out in your
back yard at o'clock that nightT' she
cried.
What do you meani" returned.
III saw Phoebe come out of your back
shed door at / o'clock that very night.
She had bundle in her arms. She went
along the path about as far as the old
we'll; then she stopped down and seemed
to be working ut something. When she
got UP she didn't have the bundle. was
watching Mt our back door. / thought
heard her go out q little while before,
and went down stairs. and found that
door unlocked. l went in quick, and up
to my chamber, and into my bed, when
she started home across the field. Pretty
soon heard her come In; then l heard
the pump going. She slept down stairs
she went on to her bedroom. What was
she doing In your back yard that night?'
"You must ask her." said l. / felt my
blood running cold.
i've been afraid to-" moaned Maria
Woods. shes been dreadful strange
lately. wish TINT 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
withercd bosom. Again. l cannot be-
lieve this.
Thursday.-It is all over; Phoebe Dole
has confessed l do not know now in
exnctly what way Mr. Dix brought il
about-how he accused her of her crime
After breakfast l saw them coming
across the field Phoebe came first, ad
yancing with rapid strides like q man
Mr.. Dix followed, and my fathers pool
old sweetheart tottered behind, with her
handkerchief at her eyes. Just as l no
ticed them the front door bell rang;
found several people there, headed by the
high sheriff They crowded into the sit
ting-roorn, Just as Phoebe Dole came rush
ing in, with Mr.. Dix and Maria Woods.
81 did it, Phoebe cried out to me. 81
am found out, and have made up my
mind to confess. She was going to marry
your father-I found it out. l stopped /
once before. This time I knew couldnt
unless l killed him. She's lived with M,
In that house for over forty years. Their
are other ties as strong as tho marriag,
one that are just as sacred. What RICH
had he to take her away from me an(
break up my homer
IL overheard your father and Ruff
Bennett having words. l thought folk
would think he did it. / reasoned It al
out. l had watched your cat go in tina
: little door. l knew the shed door un
. hooked, knew how long my arm was;
thought l could undo it. l stole owe
, here a little after midnight. l went al
round the house to be sure nobody wa
awake. Out in the front yard l hap
pened to think my shears were tied OF
my belt with a ribbon, and l united them
| thought put the ribbon in my pocket
!, II was piece of yellow ribbon-but
suppose l didn't, because they found |
afterwards, and thought it came off you
young mans whip.
II went round to the shed door, un
hooked il and went in. The moon CAV
light enough. l got out your father
overalls from the kitchen closet; / knew
where they were. l went through tn
sitting-room to the parlor. In there
slipped off my dress and my skirts an
put on the "~eralls. l put n handker
chief over my face. leaving only my eye
exposed. crept out then into the sitting
room; there l pulled off my shoes an
Z: went into the bedroom.
"Your father was fast asleep; it wa
such hot night the clothes were throw
: back and his chest was bare. The frs
=, .,'ir. ! Jaw was that pistol on the stan
beside his bed. suppose he had ha
. some fear of Rufus Bennett coming bac
after all. Suddenly thought Id bette
shoot him. 1t would be surer and quick
err; and if you were aroused knew tina
I could get away and everybody woul
suppose he had shot himself
II took up the pistol and held II clos
to his head. l had never fired a pisto
but l knew how It was done. l pulled
, but 1t would not 60 off. Your fatht
stirred little--I was mad with terror