Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-09-28

had chartered about IN ner sleep, TO
find 1T, press it, and then to hear, down
In the dark Of the fearsome recess, the
sound of something deadly strike
against what took to be the cushions
Of the old settle standing at the edge
Of the library hearthstone.
II think 1 must have tainted, for
when found myself possessed of suf-
flcient consciousness to withdraw from
that hole of death the candle in the
candelabrum was shorter by an inch
than when first thrust my head into
the gap made by the removed draw
ers. In putting back the drawers I
hit the candelabrum with my foot, up
setting it and throwing out the burn
Ing candle. AS the flames began to
lick the Worm eaten boarding of the
floor momentary impulse seized me
to rush away and leave the whole
place to burn, but did not. With a
sudden frenzy l stamped out the flame
and then, finding myself in darkness,
CROPPED my way downstairs and out.
If l entered the library do not remem-
Der 1t. Some lapses must be pardoned
man involved as was"
But the fact which you dismiss so
lightly is an important one" insisted
the major. 1--WE must know positive
ly whether you entered this room or
not"
II have no recollection of doing So"
'Then you cannot tell us whether
the little table was standing there,
with the candelabrum upon it orr
II can tell you nothing about It,"
The major, after a long look Mt this
suffering man, turned toward Miss
Tuttlc.
you must have loved your sister
very much" he sentcntiously remark.
ed.
She flushed, and for the first time
her eyes fell from their resting place
on Mr.. Jeffrey's face.
Il loved her reputation" was her
quiet answer, and The rest died
in her throat.
| But we all-such Of us, mean, who
were possessed of the least sensibility
or insight-inew how that sentence
sounded as finished in her heart, "And
l loved him who asked this sacrifice
| of me-"
Yet was her conduct not quite clear
And to save that reputation you
tied the pistol to her wrist?" insinu.
ated the major.
NO" was her vehement reply. "l
never knew what l was tying to her
| My testimony in that regard was abso
lutely true. She held the pistol con
cealed in the folds of her dress. l did
not drcam-I could not-that she was
contemplating any such end to the
atrocious crime to which she had con
fcssed. Her manner was too light, toe
airy and too frivOlOus-a manner adopt
ed, as now see, to forestall all ques
tons and hold back all expressions OF
feeling on my part. Tie these hanging
ends of ribbon to my wrist were hel
words. Tie them tight; knot under
and bow on top. I nm going out
There, don't say anything. What you
want to talk about will keep till to-
morrow. For one night more I an
going to make merry-to-to enjoy my.
SELF She was laughing. I thought
her horribly callous and trcmbled with
such an unspeakable repulsion that !
had difficulty in making the knot. To
speak at all would have been impossi.
BILE. Neither did l dare to look in her
face. was touching the hand that
and she kept on laughing-such hol-
low laugh. covering up such an awful
resolve! When she turned to give me
that last Injunction about the note this
f'resolve glaredst in her eyes,"
"And you never suspected"
mot for an instant. did not do
Justice either to her misery or to her
conscience. fear that 1 have never
done her justice in any way. Thought
her light, pleasure loving. I did not
know that 1t was assumed to hide q
terrible secret"
"Then you had no knowledge Of the
contract she had entered into while a
schoolgirl"
mot in the least. Another woman
and not myself had been her confidant
q woman who has since died. No init
nation Of her first unfortunate mar.
riage had ever reached me till Mr.. JET.
frey rushed in upon me that Tuesday
morning with her dreadful confession
on his lips"
The district attorney, who did moi
seem quite satisfied on n certain point
passed over by the major, now took
the opportunity of saying:
"You assure US that you had no idea
that this once light hearted sister OF
yours meditated suicide when she left
your"
"And repeat 1t, cir"
"Then why did you Immediately go
to MIR. Jeffrey's drawer, where you
could have no business, unless 1t was
to see If she had taken his pistol with
herr"
Miss Tuttle's head fell, and soft
flush broke through the pallor of her
cheek.
because was thinking Of him; be-
cause.I was terrified for him. He had
left the house the morning before In a
half maddened condition and had not
come back to sleep or eat since. did
not know what a man 30 outraged in
every sacred feeling of love and honor
might be tempted to do. l thought Of
suicide. remembered the old house
and how he had said: 4 don't believe
her. l don't believe she ever did SO
cold blooded an act or that any such
dreadful machinery is In that house.
l never shall believe 1t till have seen
and handled it myself. 1t is q night
mare, Cora. We are insane Thought
of this, sirs, and when went into her
room to change the place of the little
note In the book went to his bureau
drawer not to look for the pistol did
not think Of that then-but to see IL
the keys of the Moore house were still
there. 1 knew that they were kept In
this drawer, for had been present In
the room when they were brought in
after the wedding. had also been
shOrtsighted enough tn conclude TINT