The Newtown bee., 1900-07-27
that" said Malcolm.


A sad and fleeting smile passed over
her wan face. A picture was lying face
down on a chair beside her, and she mo-
toned Malcolm to take 1t up. 1t was a
faded photograph of a fragile woman of
middle age, and on either side of her was
q young girl. One, with oval face and
high brow, Malcolm guessed was Pris-
ella, and the other, more youthful and
prettily girlishlooking, was Of course her
sister.
II want to tell how 1t happened" Prls-
ella said. She spoke with difficulty,
but her voice did mot fail until all her
story had been told.
"There were Just US three, mother,
Bessie and ], and we were all the world
to one another. Mother had known
great trouble-and was old enough to
know-and be of sone comfort to her,
but Bess knew nothing of it; she was
Just happy, light '-earted child.
"Then presently-another came into
our lives. He-care for me-and II
feared that I might care-and did not
wish TONY mother needed me. So 1
Il made him think did not care-and
then 1 thought that he would 60 away
and leave US three again in peace! But
he did not 60 instead, he turned-to
Bess. And she-we thought she was
just happy child, and before we sus-
pected how it really was-he had won
her heart. But when saw that mother
WAS really pleased-I let them believe
that was as pleased as they.
"Soon after that came mothers illness.
She was sick long, long time-and she
suffered fearfully,-oh, 1t almost wore
her out! And at last the doctor left US
something to give her when the pain
grew too severe. But we were to take
great care and never to give her more
than just certain small amount"
''She was i'll for many months-and
though Bess helped take care Of her dur
ing the day, always slept with her and
looked after her at night. But one night
camel was 80 tired out fell into q
deep sleep and did not hear her when she
awoke."
"But Bessie heard her groan and the
child got out of her bed-stil half.
asleep-and came and poured out the
quieting medicine--and gave 1t to her
and then went back to her own bed-and
fell asleep.
"How long 1t was after that when 1
awoke do not know,-I only know that
mother was quite still. 1 put out my
hand and touched her-and she was cold
1 was frightened, sprang out of bed and
turned up the lamp saw that she was
dead. Then on the table saw the medi-
cine bottle and the glass-as Bess had
left them-and- saw at "a glance
that the child had poured for her too
much.
'In that awful instant foresaw how
the knowledge Of what she had careless
ly done would break her young heart and
ruin her life-and hie-and sat there
alone through those awful hours-think-
ing thinking out what must do. So 1
waited, oh, such hours of agony-until
day came-and then reused Bessie with
shrek.
"She came running to me-and she
saw what had taken place. Priscilla y
she cried and chung to me in her grief.
"But when she saw the bottle in my
shaking hands and awful idea came over
her. You knew had given mother the
nledicine-and you gave her more y she
gasped. what If did?' T answered
duly. Then she has had an OVERDOSE
she cried, drawing away from nae. 'Pris.
ella, you have kill her, she cried, and
then she shrieked, You are a murderer !,
"She shrank from me in horror-as he
Neutrality-suspicious. every one else-but
you-has done ever since that day! But
for Bessie's sake-and for his-I kept
my secret-and let them-think-tha it,
indeed-was L"
In spite of their affection for him, NAL
collins unaccountable interest In Priscilla |
had been strongly disapproved OF by a /
part of bis people. And when at his own |
expense stone was raised to mark her /
resting place in Gods acre, and on that |
stone they read: "In memory of Pris-
ella Prindle, brave and loyal SOUL"
they looked at one another and nodded,
whispering, SIT is true then, she was
witch,--for see,-she most certainly be-
witched the minister.