The Portland daily press., 1898-03-30

ANoAo NAebleNer, tHsWeESu.
81 frequently saw Mr.. Ogle on the river
of an afternoon with Miss Laing," the
man observed. Was there, as far as you
are aware. any affection between thamP'
CHANGING at Ella, saw she had turne d
even paler than before, and was tremb-
ling. The question ponplussed me. In
my heart l strongly suspected that some
attachment existed between them; but
resenting this impertinent question from
q man who struck me as local busy
body, / made a negative reply.
"Then jealousy, it would appear, was
not the cause of the crime - the foreman
observed to his fellow -jurymen. The
Coroner, however quickly corrected him.
pointing out that they had not yet ascer-
tanned whether death had, or had not,
been due to natural causes.
Turning to Inc, he said: 81 believe
am right IN assuming that you are en-
gagged tc be married to Miss Laing, am
not?"
ST was engaged to her, replied
hoarsely.
"Then you are not engaged at the pres
ent moment. Why was the match broken
off p
hesitated for several moments. trying
to devise some means to avoid answering
this abrupt question The bitter thought
Of Ella's s double dealing occurred to me,
and with foolish disregard for conse
quences | resolved not to spare her.
because of a confession she made to
me-" said.
ga confession! What of?''
"Of unworthln6SS. -
"She acknowledged herself unfaithful
to you, presume" observed one of the
jurymen who had not before spoken; but
to this 1 made no reply.
stNow, have you any suspicion that any
secret affection existed between her and
the deceased?' the Coroner asked, in a
dry. distinct voice that could be heard all
over the room.
III cannot say faltered.
The movement among the audience
showed the sensation my reply had caused
and it was increased by Ella suddenly
rising from her place and shrieking hys-
terically, "That answer is LEA foul
lie !'
"Silenoe!'' shouted the Coroner, who
above all things detested a scene in his
court. 'If that lady interrupts again she
must be requested to leave.
'Have You any further question to ask
Mr.. Deedes?'' he inquired, turning to the
jury; but as no one replied he intimated
that the examination was at an end, and
I felt that l had, at last, successfully
passed through the ordeal | had dreaded.
Retiring to a seat, my place as a witness
was at once taken by Beck, but scarcely
had I sunk into chair near where Ella
was sitting when felt within my hand
the object I had taken from among the
things found in the dead mans possess
ion It had not been mi ssed, and won
dered whether its loss would ever be de-
tected. To keep it was, felt, extremely
dangerous; nevertheless I sat holding it
in my palm listening TO the evidence of
>the we'll known Member for Vest Rut-
landshire. His story, related in that loud
bombastio tone that had at first SO preju
diced me against him, was much to the
same effect as mine regarding the dlscov-
cry of the body, it's removal into the
house, and the subsequent examination
by the doctor; until there commenced the
minute cross-examination.
"How long have you known the de-
ceasedP'' the Coroner inquired, looking
up suddenly from his notes.
"a few months. About six, | should
think, he answered.
"Have you any suspicion that he had an
enemy?"
mo. He was about the last man in
tine world who would arouse the hatred of
anybody. In fact he was exceedingly
popular.
visitor at Mrs. Laing's. Now, from
your own observations, have you seen any
thing that would lead you to the belief
that be loved Miss LaingG"
"Nothing whatever, he replied. ella
was engaged to Mr.. Decides, and although
she was on the river a great deal with
Ogle, I am confident she never for mo-
ment regarded him as her lover"
"Why are you so confldent?"
because of certain facts she has con-
fided In me. -
"What are they?"
He was silent. Evidently he had 10
intention of being led on in this manner,
but, even finding himself cornered, his
imperturbabie coolness never deserted
him. for he calmly replied with faint
smile
'sI refuse to answer
"Kindly reply to my question, sir, and
do not waste the time of the court" ex-
claimed the Coroner with impatience.
what were these factsP"
Again he was Silent. twisting his gloves
around his fingers uneasily.
"Come, answer If you please"
"Well, - he replied, after considerable
hesitation. "Briefly, she gave me to un-
derstand that she loved Decides, and had
refused to listen to the deceased's declara-
ton of Affection
"How came she to confile this secret of
hers to you?' the Coroner asked eagerly.
Through my memory at that moment
there flashed the scene had witnessed in
secret in the garden on that memorable
night when had detected this man with
his arm around Elias waist, and looked
Il am a friend of the family" he an
swered with calm, irritating smile
moment later. "She has told me many
of her secrets.
1 knew from the expression upon his
face that be lied. Was it not far more
likely that on that night when had dis
covered them he was uttering words of
affection to her, and she, in return, had
confessed that she loved me.
"Are you aware whether Mr. Decides
had any knowledge that the deceased was
his rival for Miss Laing's handF' in
quired the Coroner, adding half apologet-
ioally, "I much regret that am com
pelled to ask these questions, for 1 am
aware how painful it must be to the
family"
"I believe he was utterly ignorant of
it, Beck replied. "He regarded Mr..
Ogle as his closest friend"
ga false one, to say the Least" DIR.
Diplock observed in tones that were just
audible. Beck shrugged his shoulders, but
did not reply.
The inq uisitive foreman of the jury
then commenced series of clumsy, i'm
pertinent questions, many of which the
witness cleverly evaded. He resented
this mans crossHexamination just as had
done and during the quarter of an hours