The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-05-19


/ IN his walk to fling out this ejacula-
ton. Il admire and respect Miss Tut.
tie" he went on 10 declare. "but new
er loved her-not as did my Wife"
he finished. but with a certain hard ac-
cent apparent enough 10 sensitive
ear
"Pardon me. it is as difficult for me
TO put these questions as II is for you
to hear them-were you and Miss Tut.
tie ever engagedT
started. This was a question which
half Of Washington had been asking
itself for the last three months.
Would Mr.. jeffrey answer It. or. re-
membering that these questions were
rather friendly than official. refuse TO
satisfy a curiosity which he might well
/ consider intrusiveY The set aspect Of
his features promised little in the way
Of information. and we were both sur
/ prised when n moment later he re-
sponded with grim emphasis hardly
to be expected from one OF his lnIpul-
/ sive temperament:
"Unhappily. no. My attentions new
/ er went so far"
Instantly the coroner pounced on the
one weak word which Mr. jeffrey bad
let fail
"Unhappiy?" he repeated "Why
/ do you say unhappilyY
Mr. Jeffrey flushed and seemed to
come out of some dream.
did l say 'unhappiyT" he inquired.
"Well. I repeat it-Nliss Tuttle would
never have given me any cause for
/ jealousy"
The coroner bowed and for the pres
ent dropped her name out Of the con
versnton.
you speak again Of the jealousy
aroused In you by your wife's impetu-
osities Was this increased or dimin-
ished by the tone Of the few lines she
left behind herr"
The response was long in coming. 1t
was hard for this man TO lie The
struggle he made at Il was pitiful. As
/ noted what II cost him, | began 10
have new and curious thoughts con
cerning him and the whole matter un.
| der discussion.
"E shall never overcome the remorse
reused in me by those few lines" he
! finally rejoined. "She showed a con
Bideration for me-
"Whatr
The coroner's exclamation showed all
the surprise he felt Mr. jeffrey tot
tered under it. then grew slowly pale,
as if only through our amazed looks
be had come to realize the charge Of
inconsistency TO which he had laid
himself open
~ mean" lie endeavored to explain.
that Mrs. jeffrey showed an unex-
pected tenderness toward me by taking
all the blame of our misunderstand-
/ ing upon herself 1t was generous of
her and will do much toward making
my memory of her gentle one
He was forgetting himself again.
Indeed his manner and attempted ex-
plantations were fun OF contradictions
TO emphasize this fact Coroner z. ex.
claimed:
Il shoyld think so. She paid heavy
penalty for her professed Jack OF love
You believe that her mind was un-
seatedf"
Docs not her action show it?'
"Unseated by the mishap occurring
at her marriageT
YES"
"You really think thatT"
Yes"
"By anything that passed between
your
yes"
MAY 1 ask you to tell US what pass
ed between you on this pointT
yes"
He had uttered the monosyilable 50
often it seemed 10 come unconsciously
from his lips. But he recognized al
most as soon as we did that IL was not
natural reply to the last question
and. making a gesture OF apology, be
added. with the same monotony OF
tone which had characterized these re
plies:
'1she spoke Of her strange guests un
accountable death more than once, and
whenever she did 10 1t was with al
unnatural excitement and In an un
balanced way. This was 80 noticeable
TO us all that the subject presently
was tabooed among US, but though
She heneetorth spared us all allustoE
to IL she continued to talk about the
house i'self aud OF the previous deaths
which aad occurred there tiil we were
forced 70 forbid that topic also. shs
was never really herself after cross
ing the threshold OF this desoiate house
10 be married. The shadow which
turks within its walls fell at that in
stant upon her life. May God have
mercy
The prayer remained unfinished Hi
head, which had fallen on his breast
sank lower
He presented the aspect OF one who
is quite done with life, even It's sor
rows.
But men IN tf7a position Of Coroner
4. cannot afford TO be compassionate
Everything the bereaved man sale
deepened the impression that he was
acting a part 70 make sure that thii
was really so the coroner with jus
the slightest touch Of sarcasm. quietly
observed:
"And TO ease your wife's mind-th,
wife you were so deeply anEered Will
you visited this house and at an
hour which you should have spent 81
reconciliation with her went through
its ancient rooms in the hope-O
whatT
Mr.. Jeffrey could not answer Thl
words which came from his lips werl
D