Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-14

Ny love had evidently come to town and
kept an appointment with the old man.
The situation was startling and required
explanation.
Tell me, Ethelwynn," I sad.- in a hard
stern voice. What does all this mean?
She drew herself up and tried to face me
firmly, but was unable. had burst in upon
her Unexpectedly, and she seemed to fear
how much of the converse ton had ever
heard.
Noticing her silence, my friend Jevons
addressed her saying:
Miss Mivart you are aware of all the
circumstances of the tragedy at Kew
Please explain them. Only by frank admis-
sion can you clear yourself. remember. To
prevaricate further is quite useless.
She glanced at the cringing old fellow
standing on the further side of the room;
the man who had raised his hand against
her. Then, with a sudden resolution she
spoke saying:
cit is true that 1 am aware of many facts
which have been until today kept secret.
But that | know the horrible truth
they shall remain mysteries no longer. l
have been the victim of a long and das-
tardly persecution, but now hope to clear
my honor before you, Ralph, and before
my Creator" Then she paused taking
breath and drawing herself up straight
with an air of determined resolution.
First let us go back TO the days soon
after Mary's marriage. l think it WAS
about a year after the wedding when 1
suddenly noticed a change in her. Her in
telect seemed somehow weakened. Hither-
to, she had possessed a strong well-defined
character, but this suddenly developed into
a weak. almost childish balance of the
brain Instead of possessing will of her
own, she was no longer the mistress of her
actions. but as easily led as an infant. Only
TO myself and to my mother was this
change apparent. To all her friends and
her acquaintance she was just the same.
About that time she consulted this man
here-Sr Bernard Eyton her husband 8
fripp1-rp riding other ailmeDt and
he no doubt at once detected that her intel
lect had given way Although devoted to
her husband, nevertheless the influence of
any friend of the moment was Irresistible,
and for that reason she drifted into the
pleasure seeking set in town.
But the tragedy" Jevons exclaimed.
Tell us of that My own inquiries show
that you are aware of it all. Mrs Cour-
tenay murdered her husband l know"
"Mary-the assassin" / gasped.
ALAS, It is too true. Now that my poor
sister is dead concealment is no longer nee
essary," my love responded with a deep
sigh MARY killed her husband. She re-
turned home, entered the house secretly
and ascending to his room struck him to
the heart.
But the wound-how was it inficted?''
demanded eagerly.
"With that pair of long, sharp-pointed
scissors which used to be on poor Henry
writing table. You remember them. They
Were about eight inches long. with ivory
wound puzzled you. but to me it seems plain
that after striking the blow, in an endeavor
to eXtricate the weapon she opened 1t and
closed 1t again, thereby infiictug those ter
rible injuries that were infinitely de-
scribed at the inquest. Well, on that night
j heard a sound and. fearing that the in
valid wanted something, crept from my
room. AS | gained the door | met Mary
upon the threshold. She stood facing me
with weird, fixed look and in her hand
was the weapon with which she had killed
her husband. That awful moment is fixed
indelibly upon my memory. l shall carry
Its recollection to the grave. 1 dashed
quickly into the room. and to my horror
were for Mary-to conceal her guilt Whis-
pering to her TO obey me, | led her down
stairs, through the back premises and sc
out into the street A cab was passing and
j put her into 1T, telling the man to drive
10 the Henni<ers, with whom she had beer
spending the evening. Then cleaning the
scissors of blood by thrusting them several
times into the mold of a garden | was pass.
ing. / crossed the road and tossed them
over the high wall into the thick under.
growth which TANKS the gardens. At thai
spot felt certain that they would never be-
discovered. AS quickly possible 1 re.
entered the. house. secured the door by
which / had made my exit. and returned
again to my room. with the awful knowl
edge of my sisters crime upon my con.
science"
What hour was that?'
When l retired again to bed my watcf
showed that it was barely half-past 1. Al
O'Clock Short, awakened by his alarm
clock. made the discovery and aroused the
house. What followed you know wei