The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-04-02

+
not embarrass Mr. Courtney. who made
haste to respond in his driest accents.
every well. ! am not particular as to
what you answer first. A flower worn
by you at the dance was found near
Ratsy's skirts before she was lifted up
that morning. Can you explain this,
or rather. will you?'
"You are not obliged to. you know"
put in Mr.. Sutherland with his inexo-
rable sense of justice. "Still. if you
would, it might rob these gentlemen of
suspicious you certainly cannot wish
them to entertain"
"What say" she remarked slowly,
will be as true to the facts as if I
stood here on my oath. can explain
how a flower from my hair came to be
in Mrs. Webb's house, but not how it
came to be found under Batsy's feet.
That some one else must clear up"
Her little finger, lifted from the rail,
pointed toward Frederick, but no one
saw this unless it was that gentleman
himself. g! wore this orchid in my
hair that night, and there would be
nothing strange in its being afterward
picked up in Mrs. Webbs house, be-
cause 1 was in that house at or near
tile time she was murdered"
"You in that house?"
eyes, as far as the ground floor; no
farther Here the little finger stopped
pointing. 81 am ready to tell you
about it, sirs. and only regret l have
=. 1,,,t
to be sure it was necessary. Your
presence here and your first question
show that it is"
There was suavity in her tone now,
not unmixed with candor. Sweetwater
cid not seem to relish this for he NOV
Cd uneasily Oh his feet and lost shade
Of his self satisfied attitude. He had
still to be made acquainted with all the
ins and outs of the woman's remark
able nature.
eve are waiting" suggested DR.. Tai
bot.
She turned to face this new speaker,
and Frederick was relieved from the
sight of her tantalizing smile.
81 will tell my story simply" said
t...t, Will llIS SiluDlS liAae
you believe me; otherwise you will
rake mistake. While was resting
| rsom dance the other night heard
two of the young people talking about
lie labels One Of them was laughing
ct the old men, and the other was try
ing to relate some old story of early
love which had been the cause, she
/ of CIR no 0Tld rpn1qn-
cl.oly lives l was listening to them
| but l did not take in much of what
they were saying till l heard behind
ne an irasciDle voice eXclaiming: you
| laugh. do you? I wonder if you would
Hugh SO easily il you knew that these
! two poor old men haven't had de-
cent meal in a fortnight! didn't
l.now the speaker but was thrilled
by his words Not had good meal,
these men. for a fortnight! felt as if
personally guilty of their suffering,
/ nd, happening to raise my eyes at this
,linute and seeing through an open
toor the bountiful refreshments pre-
pared for us all in the supper room,
felt guiltier than ever. Suddenly
/
| and may serve to show you some OF
the oddities of my nature. Though
was engaged for the next dance, and
though / was dressed in the fimsiest
garments suitable to the occasion,
decided to leave the hall and carry
some sandwiches down to these ole
lnan in their cottage. Procuring BIZ
Of paper, made up bundle and stole
out of the house without having sale
y word to anybody of my intention
Not wishing to be seen, l went out by
the garden door, which is at the end O
!. dark hall"
Just as the band was playing
the .Harebell Mazourlla, (" interpolatet
Siweetwater.
Startled for the first time from he
careless composure by an interruption
of which it was impossible for her a
that minute to measure either the mo
tive or the meaning, she ceased to pla,
with her fingers on the baluSter raj
and let her eyes rest for Il moment o.
the man who had thus spoken, as i
she hesitated between her desire to al
initiate him for his impertinence and
fear of the cold hate she saw actual
ing his every word and look. Then sh
went on, as if no one had spoken:
Il ran down the hill reckIessly.
was bent on my errand and not at a
afraid of the dark When l reache
= that part Of the road where the street
:, branch Off, heard footsteps in fror
Of me. ! had oyertaken some on
3 Slackening my pace so that | shoul
d rot pass this person. whom ! instin
lively knew to be Il man, followe
{ him till came to Il high board fenc
{ 1t was that surrounding Agatha Webb
t house, and when | saw it | could NJ
= help connecting the rather stealth
u gait of the man in front of me with
q story had lately heard of the lars
sum of money she was known to ha,
i in her house. Whether this was befol
s or after this person disappeared roun
,. the corner cannot say, but no SOON
L bad ! become certain, that he was bel
i upon entering this house than my IL
0 pulse to follow him became great,