Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-07-27


they used to sit"
Loretta, regret to put this ques-
ton, but after your replies 1 owe 1t
to the jury, II not to the parties them
selves, to make Miss Tuttle's position
in this household thoroughly under
stood. Do you think she was well
come visitor in this house?
II can only repeat what once heard
said about this by Mr.. Jeffrey himself.
Miss Tuttle had just left the dining
room and Mrs. Jeffrey was standing in
one of her black moods. with her hand
on the top of her chair, ready to go,
but forgetting to do SO. l was there,
but neither of them noticed me; he was
staring at her, and she was looking
down. Neither seemed Mt ease. Sud
denly he spoke and asked, Why must
Cora remain with us?' She started
and her look grew strange and fright
ened. Because l want her to- she
cried. I cannot live without Cora"
These words, SO different from what
we were expecting, caused sensation
in the room and consequently stir.
AS the noise of shifting feet and NOV
ing heads began to be heard in all d.
rections, Miss Tuttle's head dropped
little, but Francis Jeffrey did not be.
tray any sign of feeling or even Of at
tention. The coroner, embarrassed,
perhaps, by this exhibition of silent
misery SO near him, hesitated little
before he put his next question. Lo-
retta, on the contrary, had gathered
courage with every word she spoke
and now looked ready for anything.
ut wis Mrs. Jeffrey, then, who
chung most determinedly to her sisterW
the coroner finally suggested.
Il have told you what she said"
"Yet these sisters spent but little
time together?'
"Very little; as little as two per-
sons could who lived together in one
house."
This statement, witch seemed such
a contradiction to her former one, in
creased the interest, and much disap-
pointment was coyertly shown when
the coroner veered off from this topic
and brusquely inquired:
did you ever know Mr.. and Mrs.
Jeffrey to have any open rupture?"
The answer was decided one
Eyes. On Tuesday morning preced-
ing her death they had long and
angry talk In their own room, after
which Mrs. jeffrey made no further
effort to conceal her wretchedness. In.
deed, one may say she began to die
from that hour"
Mrs. Jeffrey's death had occurred on
Wednesday evening.
"Let us hear what you have to say
about this quarrel and what happened
after it."
The girl, with renewed flush, cast
a deprecatory look at the mass of faces
before her. and. meeting on all sides
but one look Of intense and growing
interest, drew up her neat figure with
relieved air and began story which
will proceed to transcribe for you in
the fewest possible words.
Tuesday mornings breakfast had
been a silent one. There had been
ball the night before at some great
place on Massachusetts avenue; but
no one spoke of it. Miss futile made
some remark about friend she had
met there. but rs no one listened to
her she soon stopped and in little
while left the table. Mr.. and Mrs.
Jeffrey sat on, but neither said any
thing. Finally Mr.. jeffrey rose and,
speaking in voice hardly recogniz-
able, remarked that he had something
to say to her. and led the way to their
room. Mrs. Jeffrey looked frightened
as she followed him; SO frightened that
1t was evident that something very
serious had occurred or was about to
occur between them. AS nothing of
this kind had ever happened before,
Loretta could not help waiting about
TILL Mr.. Jeffrey reappeared, and when
he did so, and she saw no signs of re-
lief in his face or manner, she watch
ed. with the silly interest of q girl
who had nothing else to occupy her
mind, to see If he would leave the
house In such mood and without
making peace with his young bride.
To her surprise, he did not go out at
the usual time, but went to Miss Tut.
ties room. where for full half hour
he remained closeted with his sister
in-law, talking In excited and unnatu-
raj tones. Then he went back for
few minutes to where he had left his
wife in her own boudoir. But he could
not have had much to say to her this
time. for he presently came out again
and ran hastily downstairs and out
almost without stopping to catch up
his hat.
AS 1t was' Mary's business, and not
the witness, to make Mrs. Jeffrey's
bed In the morning, Loretta could
think Of no excuse for approaching her
mistress room at this moment: but
later, when letters came, followed by
various messages and some visitors,
she went more than dozen times to
Mrs. Jeffrey's door. She was not nd
mitted, nor were her appeals answer
ed, except by sharp go awayw
Nor was Miss Tuttle received any
better. though she tried more than
once to see her sister, especially rs |
night came on and the hour approach
cd for MIR. Jeffrey's return. Mrs. JEFF
frey was simply determined to remain
alone, and when dinner time arrived,
and no Mr.. jeffrey, she could be in
duced TO open her door only wide
enough to take in the cup Of tea which
Miss Tuttle insisted upon sending her.
The witness here confessed that she
had been very much excited by these