Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-01-02

81 know" said he, "what this ac-
acknowledgement must convey to the
minds of the jury and people here as
sembled, but If any one who listens to
me thinks me guilty of the death l was
SO unfortunate as to have witnessed, he
will be doing me a wrong which Aga
tina Webb would be the first to con-
denim. DR.. Talbot and you; gentlemen
Of the jury, in the face of God and
man, here declare that Mrs. Webb in
my presence and before my eyes gave
to herself the blow which has robbed
us all of most valuable life. She was
not murdered"
1t was solemn assertion, but it fail
AS by one impulse men and women
broke into tumult. Mr. Sutherland was
forgotten, and cries of Never! She
was too good! It's all calumny! A
wretched lie" broke in unrestrained
excitement from every part of the large
room. In vain the coroner smote with
his gavel; in vain the local police en-
deavored to restore order; the tide was
up and overswept everything for an in
slant till silence was suddenly restored
by the sight of Amabel smoothing out
the folds of her crisp white frock with
an incredulous, almost insulting, smile
that at once fixed attention again on
Frederick. He seized the occasion and
spoke up in a tone Of great resolve.
81 have made an assertion" said he,
"before God and before this jury. To
make it seem a credible one l shall
have to tell my story from the begin
ming. Am allowed to do SO, Mr.. Coro.
ner?"
'sYou are" was the firm response.
"Tben, gentlemen" continued Fred
erick, still without looking at Amabel,
whose smile had acquired mockery
that drew the eyes of the jury toward
her more than once during the follow
ing 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 acknowledged to any
one, not even to the good man who
awaits this jury's verdict on the other
side of that door, that she had reasons
for this, good reasons, reasons which
| UP to the very evening of her death
was myself ignorant of, as I was ig-
norant of her intentions in my regard
or that was the special object of he.
attention. or that we We're under any
mutual obligations in any way. Why,
then, should have thought Of going
to her in the great strait In which !
found myself on that day can hardly
say. I knew she had money in her
house. This had unhappily been made
acquainted with in an accidental way,
and knew she was Of kindly disposl-
ton and quite capable of doing very
unselfish act. Still this would not seem
to be reason enough for me to intrude
upon her late at night with plea for a
large loan of money had not been in
u desperate condition of mind, which
Ismade any attempt seem reasonable that
| promised relief from the uncomfortable
burden of a pressing and disreputable
debt.
II was obliged to have money-a
great deal of money-and had to have
1t at once, and, while know this will
not serve to tighten the suspicion /
have brought upon myself by my late
admissions, 1t is the only explanation
I can give you for leaving the ball at
my fathers house and hurrying down
secretly and alone into town to the lit.
| tie cottage where, as had been told
early in the evening, small entertain
ment was being given which would in
sure its being open even at SO late al
hour as midnight. Miss Page, who
will, l am sure, pardon the introduc
| ton Of her name into this narrative
has taken pains to declare to you tina;
in the expedition she herself made int
town that evening she followed SONS
persons steps down hill. This is yer,
likely true, and those steps were prob
ably mine, for after leaving the house
by the garden door came directly
down the main road to the corner o.
the lane running past Mrs. Webb's cot
tage. Having already seen from the
hillside the light burning in her upper
windows, l felt encouraged to proceed
and SO fastened on-t till l came to tn,
gate on High street. Here had a mo
ment of hesitation, and thoughts bittel
enough for me to recall them ut thi.
moment came into my mind, making
that instant perhaps the very worst il
my life. But they passed, thank God
and with nothing more desperate ii
mind than sullen Intention of having
my own way about this money l lifted
the latch Of the front door and stepped
| in.
II had expected to find jovial grouI
Of friends in her little ground parlor O.
at least hear the sound of merry voice!
and laughter in the rooms above. bu
/ no sounds of any sort awaited me. In
deed the house seemed strangely silen
for one SO fully lighted, and, astonish
ed at this, pushed the door ajar u
my left and looked in. An unexpected
and pitiful sight awaited me. Seated
\ at table set with abundance of I'm
tasted food, saw the master Of thu
house, with his head sunk forward OF
his arms, asleep. The expected guestl
had failed to arrive, and he, tired GU
with waiting, had fallen into doze a
| the board.
This was condition of things To-
which was not prepared. Mrs. Webb
whom wished to see, was probably
up stairs, and while l might summon
her by sturdy rap on the door, be
side which stood, had so little desire
to wake her husband, of whose menta
condition ] was well aware, that
could not bring myself to make any
loud noise within his hearing. Yet
had not the courage to retreat. All my
hope of relief from the many Difficult
| ties that naenaced me lay in the gen
erosity of this great hearted woman
and If cut of pusillanimity let this
hour so by without making my appeal
nothing but shame and disaster await
ed me. Yet how could hope to lure
her down stairs without noise? could
not, and SO yielding to the impulse OF
the moment. without any realization,
here swear, OF the effect which my un
expected presence would have on the