The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-03-16
FROM LAST WEEK

on their return. high words had passed
between them, while the very presence
of the dagger pointed to premedita-
ton. A clearer case there could not be
made, and It seemed certain that unless
other important evidence was forthoom-
ing the prisoners life hung by very
slender thread. At the earliest moment
possible I obtained an interview with
him.
He had indeed altered in the last few
weeks. and it was scarcely possible to
recognize In this broken down wreck,
with worn face and hagSard eyes, the
strong, bright, active man Of few
short weeks ago. For one moment q
trace of his old look crossed his face
when he saw who was his visitor.
"Ah, you have come, Brett! knew
you would. Good God, isn't it awful?"
And ha buried his face in his hands
thin, wasted hands.
I had determined to find out at this
interview whether there was possible
chance of his being innocent, so after a
few minutes I asked the brutal ques-
ton:
"What on earth possessed you to kill
her, Fenton?"
He drew back as if I had struck him.
Then he looked at me steadily, and re-
piled:
"Brett, I thought you knew me! /
murder Harriet? I would have given
my life willingly for hers at any mo-
ment Brett, by all that is holy, I swear
I have nothing to do with her death"
"Tell me all that happened that aw-
full night" rejoined. 5"We are NOV
ing heaven and earth for evidence. Per-
haps you may give me clew."
cts weary work going over it all
again, Brett. Harriet and I had been
out for walk together, and as we turn
ed toward Spiege!eisen' S again urged
her to give some reason for refusing to
marry me. She would not do so, and
told me she wished would leave her
forever, as was only making us both
unhappy by my persistence. There was
just enough in her words, or, rather, her
tones, to make me hope, and I caught
hold of her hand and begged her to pity
me. She tried to withdraw it from my
grasp, but 1 would not yield it. And
this suppose some passerby took for a
quarrel. l could not make her alter her
determination, and So left her. had
not gone far away-certainly not more
than score of yards-when I heard a
smothered cry and dull thud. I look
ed back to see Harriet on the ground
and man running away. l rushed to
her assistance, and the first thing l saw
was that cruel weapon in her breast. In
the agony of my despair tried to with
draw the dagger, but the hilt broke off,
and at that moment you came up. You
know the rest
'And the mani" asked. could
not you describe him?''
Impossible. 1t was dark at the time
and my thought was all for my poor
love. He left absolutely no impression
on my mind"
My heart sank as I heard him speak.
If this was all he could say, felt there
was indeed no hope for him, for what
jury would believe such statement,
unsupported by little of proof, in face
OF all the evidence against him? I was
eager to know him to be innocent, not
only for his sisters sake, and because
my marriage depended upon it, but be-
cause liked the lad, yet will honest
~ confess, when he told me what had
occurred, did not believe him. lam
afraid my face must have shown what
I felt, for he looked at me in panied,
troubled way, as much as to say, eff
you, my friend, doubt me, what can l
expect from those who do not know
me?" But such thoughts were unprofit-
able. l came in search of a clew, and as
yet he had given me none.
"Can you tell me anything about her
people:" asked. ''The police seem Mt
terly at fault, and according to them
she was quite alone in the world"
Fenton shook his head.
"She could not have been without
relatives and friends, but she would
never speak about them"
But why?" asked. "What was the
mystery about her, George?'
II do not know. I felt there was
mystery all along, but did not think
had any right to find out more than she
chose to tell me, and that was little
enough. She never mentioned her IA
ther or mother, or. in fact, anything of
her past life. Sometimes I tried to lead
her on to the subject, but she always
seemed to scent danger and kept clear /,
OF all personal matters This thing I |
know at any rate-she was Of gentle
birth and certainly had never been
brought up with the idea of being a
Not only did learn it by her
many neutrality-suspicious., mu-
sic, singing, languages-which che
went out Of her way to hide from me-
but which, nevertheless, would keep
cropping up-but from her manner Of
looking at everything, one could sac
the spoke from standpoint far above
The position in which she was placed.
II pictured her, Duncan, brought up
IN refined English home, in easy cir
substances. with every social and in
ellectuaT advantage. Then, perhaps.
Ter father died and his affairs were
ound to be embarrassed. Grief and
'nxiety hurried her mother to prena A.
"a GzAsA. Ana Ahs AnRshtAA. aDsis