Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-09-08

Would Mr. Jeffrey answer 1t, or, re- membering that these questions were rather friendly than official, refuse to satisfy a curiosity which he might we'll | consider intrusive? The set aspect of his features promised little in the way of information, and we were both sur prised when a moment later he re- sponded with grim emphasis hardly 10 De expected from one or his iInpul- sive temperament: "Unhappily, no. My attentions nev- CT went so far"
 Instantly the coroner bounced on the one weak word which MT. Jeffrey had let fall.
 ssUnhappily?' he repeated. ''Why do you say 'unhappily?'
 MT. Jeffrey flushed and seemed to come out of some dream.
 Did say 'unhappilyY he inquired. 'Well, I repeat it-Miss Futile would never have given me any cause for jealousy"
 The coroner bowed and for the pres ent dropped her name out of the con- versation.
 ! "You speak again of the jealousy aroused in you by your wife's impetu- osfties. Was this increased or dimin- ished by the tone of the few lines she l left behind herr"
 The response was long in coming. 1t | was hard for this man to lie. The ] struggle he made at it was pitiful. As 1 I noted what it cost him, began to have new and curious thoughts con- corning him and the whole matter un- der discussion. T shall never overcome the remorse reused in me by those few lines," he l finally rejoined. "She showed con- sideration for me-
 "Whatg'
 The coroner's exclamation showed all 1 the surprise he felt. MT. Jeffrey tot tered under it. then grew slowly pale, as if only through our amazed looks he had come to realize the charge of inconsistency to which he had laid himself open.
 'I mean,' he endeavored to explain, "that Mrs. Jeffrey showed an unex- i pected tenderness toward me by taking l all the blame of our misunderstood l ing upon herself. It was generous of her and will do much toward making my memory of her gentle one.' I He was forgetting himself again. Indeed his manner and attempted ex- plantations were full of contradictions. To emphasize this fact Coroner 2. ex- claimed:
 ''I should think so! She paid a heavy penalty for her professed lack of love. You believe that her mind was un- seated?'
 Does not her action show it
 "Unseated by the mishap occurring at her marriage?' I "Yes"
 ''You really think thatr' l "Yes.''
 "By anything that passed between your"
 l "Yes.''
 l May ask you to tell us what pass ed between you on this potnt2'
 t'Yes."
 He had uttered the monosyIlable so often 1t seemed to come unconsciously from his lips. But he recognized all most as soon as we did that it was not natural reply to the last question, and, making gesture of apology, he added, with the same monotony of tone which had characterized these re plies:
 "She spoke of her strange guests un- accountable death more than once, and whenever she did so 1t was with an unnatural excitement and in an un- balanced way This was so noticeable to us all that, the subject presently was tabooed among us, but though she henceforth spared us all allusion to it she continued to talk about the house itself and of the previous deaths which had occurred there till we were forced to forbid that topic also. She was never really herself after cross ing the threshold of this desolate house to be married. The shadow which turks within it's walls fell at that in stant upon her life. May God have mercyn-
 The prayer remained unfinished His head, which had fallen on his breast sank lower.
 He presented the aspect of one who is quite done with life, even its sor. rows.
 I But men in the position of Coroner z. cannot afford to be compassionate Everything the bereaved man said deepened the impression that he was acting part. To make sure that this was really so the coroner, with just the slightest touch of sarcasm, quietly observed:
 And to ease your wife's mind the wife you were so deeply angered with you visited this house and, at an hour which you should have spent in reconciliation with her, went through its ancient rooms in the hope-of what7''
 MT. Jeffrey could not answer. The words which came from his lips were mere ejaculations. I T was restless, mad. found this adventure diverting. had no real purpose in mind" T "Not wheA you looked at the old pic. ture?'
 "The old picture2 What old pic.