The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-05-13

lliH zap Hldtt ny luc itllitNtI tidN r.
ers IN putting back the drawers !
hit the candelbrum with my foot up
setting ii and throwing out the burn
ing candle. As the flames began to
lick the worm eaten boarding of the
floor Il momcntary impulse seized me
TO rush away and leave the whole
place to burn. but did not. With a
sudden frenzy stamped out the flame
and then, finding myself In darkness,
CROPPED my WAY downstairs and out.
If entered the library | do not remem
Der it. Some lapSes must be pardoned
a man involved as was"
But the fact which you dismiss so
lightly is an important one" insisted
the major we must know positive
~ whether you entered this room or
not"
Il have no recollection Of doing So"
Then You cannot tell us whether
the little table was standing there,
with the candclabrum upon it or"
II can tell you nothing about it,"
The major, after a long look ut this
suffering man, turned toward Miss
Tuttle
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.. IefIrey'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-knew how that sentence
sounded as finished in her heart, And
| 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" inslnu-
atcd the major.
mo" was her vehement reply. 81
never knew what | was tying to her
My testimony in that regard was abso
lutcly true. She held the pistol con
cealod in the folds of her dress did
not drcam-G could not-that she was
contemplating any such end to the
atrocious crime to which she had con
fessed. Her manner was too light. too
airy and too frlvolous--a manner adopt
ed. as | now see. to forcstal all ques-
tons ana hold back all expressions Of
feeling on my part. Tic these hanging
ends of ribbon to my wrist were her
words. Tie them tight; a knot under
and Il bow on top | am going out
There, don't say anything What you
want to talk about will keep TIL to
morrow, For one night more | am
going Ia make mcrry--to--to enjoy my
self She was laughing | thought
her horribly Gallons and tremblcd with
snch on unspeakablc repulsion that |
had difficulty IN making the knot. TO
speak at all would have been impossi-
Bile Neither did dare to look in her
face. | was touching the hand that
and she kept on laughing such a hol-
low laugh covering up such an awful
rcsolycl When she turned TO give me
that last injunction about the note this
resolve glared still in her eyes
and you never suspected"
"Not for an instant | did not do
Justice either to her misery or to her
conscience | fear that have never
done her justice in any way. thought
her light, pleasure loving. / did not
know that it was assumed to hide a
terrible secret"
Then you had no knowledge Of the
contract she had entered into while
schoolgirl
"Not in the least Another woman
and not myself had been her confdant.
a woman who has since died. No inti-
nation Of her first unfortunate mar.
rage had ever reached me till Mr. JEFF
frey rushed in upon me that Tuesday
morning with her dreadful confession
on his lips"
The district attorney, who did not
seem quite satisfied on a 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 it, sir"
"Then why did you Immediately 60
to Mr.. Jedrey's drawer, where you
could have no business. unless it was
to see if she had taken his pistol with
herr
Miss Tuttle's head fell. and a soft
flush broke through the pallor of her
check.
Because was thinking Of him; be-
cause | was terrified for him. He had
left the house the morning before in
half maddened condition and had not
come back TO sleep or eat since. | did
not know what a man 80 outraged in
every sacred feeling of love and honor
might be tempted to do. ! thought of
suicide | remembered the old house
and how he had said. 4 don't believe
her | don't believe she ever did so
cold blooded an act or that any such
dreadful machinery is in that house.
never shall believe il till have seen
ami handled it myself Il is night
mare, Cora. We are insane thought