Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-20

what I have to say in your presence.
could not bear it. You could not bear It.
Later, if you will wait for me in one Of
these rooms, I will repeat my tale in your
ears but go now. 1t is my last entreaty"
There was a silence: no one ventured a.
dissent no one so much as made a ges-
ture Of disapproval Then Mr. Sutherland
struggled to his feet, cast one last look
around him and disappeared through a
door which had opened like magic before
him. Then and not till then did Frederick
move forward
The moment was Intense The coroner
seemed to share the universal excitement
for his first question was a leading one and
brought out this startling admission:
nave obtruded myself into this inquiry
ana now ask to be heard by this jury, be-
cause no man knows more than I do Of the
manner and cause of Agatha Webb's death
This you will believe when | tell YOU that
was the person Miss Page followed into
Mrs Webb's house and whom she heard
descend the stairs during the moment she
crouched behind the figure of the sleeping
Philemon"
1t was more, infinitely more, than anv
one there had expected. 1t was not ONLY
an acknowledgment, but a confession and
the shock, the surprise. the alarm. even
winch 1t occasioned even to those who had
never had much confidence In this yo5Inp
man virtue was almost appalling in its
intensity HAD 1t not been for the con-
seriousness of Mr.. Suther and's near pres-
ence the feeling would have risen to ont
break; and many voices were held in sinh
lection by the remembrance of this ven
GRATED mans last look. that otherwise
would have made themselves heard in de-
spite of the restrictions of the Mace and
the authority of the police
10 Frederick it was a moment of i'm
measurable grief and humiliation. On every
face, In every shrinking form In s,,hduaJ
murmurs and open cries, he read instant
ana complete condemnation and vet in ali
MS NE, from boyhood up to this hour new
er had he been SO worthy of their esteem
and consideration. But though he faIt tho
IRON enter his soul, he did not lose his de
termined attitude. He had observed
change in Amabel and a change in Agnes
and II only to disappoint the vile triumpf,
OF the one and raise again the droonino
courage of the other he withstood the
ciamor and began speaking again before
the coroner had been able to fully restore
quiet.
II know said he. what this acknowl-
jury and people here assembled. But r. any
one who listens to me thinks me guilty of
the death | was so unfortunate a tn have
witnessed. he will be doing me a wrong
Wnich Agatha Webb would be the first to
condemn. DR.. Talbot and Won. eentIs,nen
or the jury, in the face of God and man T
here declare that Mrs. Webb in INV nrasenca
ana hin before my eyes, gave to herself the
ya Im Tni zen mas robbed US all of most
1t was a solemn assertion. but II fou.d
10 convince the crowd before him. As by
one impulse men and women broke into
tumuit. Mr.. Sutherland was forgotten and
cries or 'Never! She was too good rs ali
ctuumny! A Wretched Her broke in unre-
strained 81 excitement from every part of the
large room In vain the coroner smote wit
MS gavel, in vain the local police enveavor-
ed to restore order, the tide was m and
oVerswept everything for an instant fiji
silence was suddenly restored by the sight
Vi Amabel smoothing out the folds of her
crisp white frock with an tncredulous al
most insulting smile that at once fixed at
tehtlon again on Frederick. He seized the
occasion and spoke up in a tone of great
resolve. Va eie"'
,ou IL have have made an assertion" said he, ''be-
lore God and before this jury. To make IT
seem credible one l shall have to tell my
story from the beginning. Am / allowed to
DO so. Mr.. Coroner"
You are" was the firm response.
men, gentlemen" continued Frederick
sun without looking at AmabeI whose
smile had acquired a mockery that drew
the eyes of the jury toward her more than
once during the following recital. ''you
know, and the public generally now know
that Mrs. Webb has left me the greater
portion Of the money of which she died
possessed. 1 have never before acknowI-
edged to any one, not even to the good man
VINO awaits this jurys verdict on the other
SIDE Of that door, that she had reasons for
TINS, good reasons. reasons which I'D to the
very evening of her death 1 was myself To-.
tions In my regard or that was the special
object Of her attention, or that we were IN
der any mutual obligations in any wav
why, then. / should have thought of going
to her In the great strait in which found
myself on that day 1 can hardly say. I