News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-09-17
BY WILL
N. II A r B E N
4: = = q q q q &

Neither did l." she answered, and
she spoke the truth, but they did, you
see, and we must make the best of it.
/ l am sure that it all comes from that
! meddlesome Tabitha Bogsworth. She
/ started the report about the will. If
| / can trace it to her, | shall sue her
| for deliberate SANDER. | tell you, she
could prove nothing, absolutely moth
ing, against me-"
The heart Of the bridegroom suffered
another fall. The cold, calculating
quality in his wife's voice was respon-
sible for it.
81 don't like to hear you talk that
way" he said. 'It is an awful thing
to think that any one could accuse
you, and that whole body of people
should seem so much in accord as to
act as they did is too bad"
Mrs. Murray pressed his arm and
faced him. IF you are going to turn
against me, l shall be the most help
less little woman in the world" she
diplomatized. IF you doubt me, go
and talk to Mr.. Bates about it. He in
vestigated the whole thing. He was
employed by Mrs. Spriggs and Hal to
look into it, to see if-if they could
gain anything by suit, and he advised
them to drop it."
Glow do you know that? he asked.
"NIr. Bates told me so himself"
"Did you go to see him about it?"
eyes, once"
"Why?"
She squirmed under his sharp gaze,
and when she replied it was with a
wavering glance in her eyes.
''To be frank, l thought maybe
might need a lawyers advice They
were talking about taking it to court,
and l did right to consult him."
"Ah!
They had reached the gate to their
home. Lawyer Bates lived with his
parents in the white cottage across the
street. The minister could see him
standing on the porch looking toward
them.
Mr.. Murray opened the gate and al
lowed her to enter ahead of him.
[AICH AOu III Gllt dohCds
mot now" he returned. ga walk
will do lie good. It's hot. I'll be back
soon. Don't sit up for me-"
His words seemed to stun her. He
saw her looking past him at Bates,
who had lighted cigar and seated
himself on the porch.
You want to talk to him." she said
tentatively. Am | no. right?"
YES"
Bates had left his chair and was
walking back AMI forth on the porch
when Mr.. Murray opened the gate
The click Of the latch caused the smok-
er to turn.
"Ah" he exclaimed, with sinister
little laugh of welcome Come up and
have seat Hot night, isn't it?'
Very. indeed" was the answer as
the preacher sat down in the proffered
chair.
Bates leaned back in his chair and
placed his feet on the banisters and
began to smoke in silence. The minis
ter crossed his legs awkwardly He
hardly knew how to introduce the top
ic on his mind. There was a condem-
natory quality in Bates silence and in
his failure to offer congratulations
which made the preacher feel like an
offending schoolboy before his master.
But a beginning had to be made.
Il was" lie said awkwardly-"' was
speaking to Mrs. Mene-my wife
about the apparent GOODNESS on the
part of the congregation after my an
nouncement tonight. She thought per
haps it might have been due to those
reports which were once circulated
about her and-her husbands will"
Bates took his cigar from his lips.
Perhaps was the word he chose
from the preachers remark-"per-
haps."
Mr. Murray took a deep breath.
"She told me that she had consulted
you, and | thought perhaps you
might
"Ah"' The lawyer flicked the ashes
from his cigar and turned his back to
the full moon. 1t was as if he wanted
to hide the expression of mingled dis
lhC anu NOlllClHpl NulCl Huu llcI Oll
his face. Il don't understand" he
went on untruthfully. "What is it you
want to know? Do you wish to ascer-
tain if there is sufficient available evil
dence to convict your wife of the
crimeY'
The young minister drew himself up
quickly, but the calmness of the law
yer met him like a tangible force and
held him down.
IL do not assume that there is
even the slightest evidence" he STAN
mered.
A current of silence flowed between
the two men. The minister made sew
eral mental efforts to bridge it before
doing so.
81 do not understand you" he said
finally. MY wife told me she had
had a talk with you and that you said
you had advised Mrs. Spriggs and her
brother against taking up the case"
81 told Them" said Bates, pulling his
long beard slowly and firmly-"I told
them that the mere fact of Tabitha
Bogsworth detecting Mrs. Menefee de-
stroying paper while her husband
lay dead and, as was charged, before
she announced the fact to her servant