The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-04-16

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 was
so unfortunate as to have witnessed, he
will be doing me 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
ed to convince the crowd before him.
AS by one impulse men and women.
broke into tumult. Mr.. Sutherland was
forgotten. and cries of "Neverl 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 credible one shall
have TO tell my story from the begin
ming. Am allowed to do &c. Mr.. Coro-
ner?
you are" was the firm response.
Then, 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. I
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
4 or that l was the special object of he.
attention, or that we We're under any
mutual obligations in any way. Why.
i to her in the great strait in which J.
found myself on that day can hardly
4 say. l knew she had money in her
house. This had unhappily been made
acquainted with in an accidental way,
and knew she was of kindly disposi-
ton and quite capable of doing a very
unseltish 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
Il desperate condition of mind, which
made 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
it at once, and. while know this will
have brought upon myself by my late
admissions it is the only explanation
can give you for leaving the ball al
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. 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 some
PERSONS steps down hill. This is yer.
likely true, and those steps were prob
ably mine, for after leaving the hous'
by the garden door came directl.
down the main road to the corner o
the lane running past Mrs. Webb'sycot
tage. Having already seen from tn
hillside the light burning in her uppe
windows, felt encouraged to proceet
and SO FASTENED on till came to til
gate on High street. Here had me
!, ment of hesitation, and thoughts bite
4 4
enough for me to recall them at thi
moment came into my mind, maxim
, that instant perhaps the very worst /
my life. But they passed, thank Goo
; and with nothing more desperate i
: mind than sullen intention of havin
. my own way about this money life
: the latch of the front door and steppe
, in.
! II had expected to find jovial grou
a of friends in her little ground parlor Q
, at least hear the sound of merry voice
q and laughter in the rooms above. bu
no sounds of any sort awaited me. Ii
deed the house seemed strangely siler
!, for one so fully lighted and, astonisl
n ed at this, l pushed the door ajar &
a my left and looked in. An uneXpecte
! and pitiful sight awaited me. Seate
;. at table set with abundance of Ill
q tasted food, l saw the master Of til
4 house, with his head sunk forward Q
o his arms. asleep. The expected guest
e had failed to arrive. and he, tired OIL
d with waiting, had fallen into doze ,
n the board.