The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-12
with what courage could. my own brok-
en- and disjointsd life.
XIV

!. Z \ < I-7.
An Old Catastrophe II Recalled.
This idea as advanced by Hope was fan
tastical to a degree; yet it made its inn
preston upon me and was still in my
mind when / opened the evening paper
for the latest news concerning the Giles
pie murder. The first paragraph I en-
countered proved that had not warned
her an hour, too soon of Leighton Giles
pies position.
Fresh disclosures in the Gillespie
poisoning case. Leighton Gillespie, long
regarded as the most respectable and
hitherto best-esteemed son of the MUIR
dered man, discovered to hav been for
years the owner, and at times the occu-
Oranges, where, unknown to the world at
large
Here followed some open illusions to
Mille-f1uers.
Other statements were added to this.
among them resume of the facts ad-
vanced to me the evening before by Res
enthal. At the end were these lines:
'The district attorney has the whole
matter In charge and the public is prom
ised some decided action Tomorrow
I folded the paper, put it in my pocket.
and went directly to DR.. Benefits Office.
i had not seen the good physician since
the inquest and naturally the sight Of his
face recalled the strange and moving in
cidents which had first brought us to-
gether. But made no allusion to these
past experiences, and his first remark
was wholly professional.
I hope it is not as a patient I see you.
Mr.. Outhwaite?"
With a shake Of the head took out
the newspaper had been careful to bring
with me, and pointed out the paragraph
concerning Leighton and Mille-feurs.
is this news to you?" asked. IT make
the inquiry solely in the interests of Miss
Merideth, who has hitherto had unbounded
confidence in this cousin
He glanced at the lines, frowned, and
then, with panied look, replied:
Il do not believe this Of leighton. He
or all Mr.. Gillespies sons is the furthest
removed from the suspicion connecting
them with the crime which had wrecked
the1r good name. He is incapable of
OIL any serious wrong doing; incapable
even OF what these lines suggest. I have
known, him from his BIRTH
would have gladly have left this kind
hearted physician in undisturbed possess
sion OF this confidence, but the sit uation
was too serious to trif1e with.
He enjoys good name,' I allowed
and has been ever known Of exert him,
selr In many acts of benevoleuce towards
the unfortunate and the suffering. Ant
some natures, and they are freonent Nv
those IRON which most is to be expected
nave reverse side. which will not hear
the scrutiny either Of their friends or the
"orld at large. Leighton Gillespie has
one OF these natures. This story OF the
little house Is true"
Inc doctor, who. was evidently heart
and soul with this family, showed dis.
tress at this avowal which spoke we'll for
| the hold which this especial member of It
| had UPON his affections
seeing that, while not ready to question
my word. he was anxious to know the
| sources of my information, / was about
to enter UPON the necessary explana-
lions, when he forestalled me by saying:
There have always been unexplained
traits In this man. He stands alone
among the other members of the family.
lie has neither the social qualities OF
George nor the luxurious tastes Of Al
fred. Nor Is he like his father. /, who
knew his mother we'll. nave no difficulty
In attributing to their correct source the
religious tendencies which form so dis
tinct part Of his character. But the
melancholy which pervades his life is not
an Inheritance but the result of nervous
shock incident UPON an extreme grief in
early life. and while I do not profess to
understand him or the many peculiarities
W Wulcu LIS IdIuSf FignLlully raised OBJ
lection, / am positive that he will never
be found guilty of a depraved act I
am ready to stake my reputation on it,
You should talk with Miss Meredith, y
I suggested. "She believes, or endeavors
to believe. in him also. But even she
finds herself forced to accept the truth Of
this report. The facts favoring it are too
| unmistakable. I can myself supply evil
dence enough to make his guilt in this re-
gard quite sure"
And, without preamble, I entered upon
a detailed account of the discoveries
made by me sat Mother Merry's. They
were, rs you we'll know, convincing in
their nature, and allowed but two con-
illusions to be drawn. Either Leighton
Gillespie was monster of hypocrisy or
he was the victim of the mental derange-
ment so fondly suggested by Hope.
This last exclamation left to the per-
spicacity of the trained physician. Would
he seize upon it as she did? Or would
he fail to see in these results any symp-
toms of the strange mental malady allud-
ed to by Hope? I watched him anxiously.
Evidently no such explanation was likely
to suggest itself to him unaided. In
deed his next words proved how far any
such conclusion was from his mind.
| "You overwhelm me-" said he. "It was
hard enough to look upon George or AL
| fred as CAPABLE of crime so despicable,
but Leighton!-I shall have to readjust
all my memories and all my fancied rela-
lions with this family II he Is to be
looked upon with suspicion. Then there
| Is Claire!"
Pardon me-" I ventured. in vague
apology for an interruption which seemed
out of place from stranger. Have
you looked upon leighton as we'll man
You speak of a great grief"
1.-THE less of his wife,"
IT supposed so. Now, could this grie1
have disturbed the even balance OF his
mind so as to make these abnormal de-
velopments possible? Did he SHOW
the Inconsistencies you mention prior t.
the event you speak Of? 1t might be wei
to inquire"
| Insanity" he intimated. "Will tina
be the plea?'
EDO you think 1t can be advanced? HI
has not yet been arrested OF even openl.
accused, but I am confident he will be
and soon, and it is well for his friend
to be prepared
'That is a question I cannot answe
without serious thought" rejoined tn
doctor, restlessly pacing the room. In
timately as I have been associated wit
him I have never for moment felt my
self called upon to doubt his perfect san
ity Does Miss Meredith regard his &c
centricities in this light?"
Miss Meredith's inherent belief in tn
goodness of this favorite cousin leads he
to give him the benefit of her doubts
She regards him as man cursed by re
current alterations of mind; in othe
words, victim of double consciousness.
Hope does? What does she kno,
about the nice distinctions governing thi
| peculiar condition? She must hav
brought all her imagination to bear o
the subject to find such an excuse 70
his contradictory actions. This argues