Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-02
"And Violet admitted thiS?"

"Liar. Liar!' muttered Miss Bull
But she is always the same. MY slste
has enjoyed the good things Of thi
life. She has had money, position
praise. and all that a woman desires
Az for myself
''1'hcn it really was Mrs. Ward VIII
left tho ball.
1T was. She lays the blame on m!
shoulders Miss Bull paused. ant
her mouth worked nervously. doc,
she accuse me Of the crime?"
no. She says that you left Mr.
Nnne at the gate Of the hotel"
oh muttered Miss Hull, "Perc,
came MS far ms that with her. did he
And she said he left her ut the doc
of the room where tho ball was bcin:
held. Liar. Liar. Violet has told hel
story. now will tell you mine. I wan
10 know. however. exactly what she
said. in the exact words If You can re
member them
Il did moi hear her speak" con
fessetl George. lit was my GRANDPA
Their and Mr. Ireland to whom she tolt
the story
STORY. Fable. Lie. Romance"
said Miss Eull vehemently. "Well
tell me what you can remember
This George did as conciscly as pos
sihlc, for he feared lest Margery
should interrupt the interview. Mis-.
Bull listened with downcast fac,
and pursrd up lips Not n word die
she say. hut when George ended she
looked NJ with a bitter smile
she has simply put herself in my
place. She said Watt
For a moncrt or so she tried tc
compose herself Then she raised hcl
head and looked her visitor s1uarely
in the eyes. II am going to tell the
TRUTH said Miss Bull brnvely
"Thercfore have no need to shur
your gaze. Mr.. Ercndon, loved your
father
so Mrs. Ward said
And Violet loved him also
He must have been n sngularly at
tractive man" remarked Brendon
wondering mt this revelation. MY
mother clopcd with him, her maid
was in love with him, and now YOU
and Mrs Ward
oh Violet really did not love him.
1t was simply desire to take him
from me that made her behave as she
did. Violet never loved any one in
her life save the person she sees in
the mirror every day
Il don't quite understand, but il you
will relate the story
II shall TO so at once. You may rs
we'll know all. and know also what a
bad woman | have for a sister. II she
ly. II wouldn't raise finger to save
her life
Brendon said nothing. and in few
moments Miss i'ull composed herself
sufficiently 10 toll what she knew MY
father was General Howard she
said quietly. and Niolet was my only
sister We never got on well together.
Violet was jealous Of admiration, and
as | was said To be prettier than she
was she hated Inc intensely"
"iou limited that she took my IA
Their away" said Rrendon
she did at least She tried to. But
If he had not been murdered l should
have been Mrs. Nane in spite Of Vic.
let's arts
well, tell me how you came to San
Reno ana met my father"
"Oh. knew him before that We
were six months al Como and saw
Your father frequently then. He and
the general used to talk politics. Mr.
Nane was always bringing us books
and magazines. and we used to climb
Mount Risbno. What Il delightful
summer that was. | remember you
them she added. looking Mt George
with interest. You we're scarcely two
years olda dear, good. fair little fell
low. ! met you and the nurse some.
times and often carried you"
Was the nurses name Eliza
Stokes"
No. 1t Was-let me see. some
Scotch namc-Jane Fraser l think"
"Ah. Then Eliza Stokes was not at
Como
IL never saw her. MIR. Nanc told inc
that he had to dismiss her ut Milan
for impcrtincnce.'
George snw that Miss Bull was not
keeping strictly to the truth. and cor.
rected her mt once, You knew Eliza
Stokes at San Rcmo:'
sGn I did I anita fnrrot NI;s,
put her hand Ia her head, with a puz.
zled mir. But since my illness ! have
forgotten so much. 1t is all a blanl;
to me"
BrendOn remembered that she had
been in an asylum, and thought that
her mind was still weak. 1t might he
that after all she had not told an ull-
truth, but had quite forgotten Eliza
Stokes. George was confirmed in his
supposition by her next remark.
Eliza Stokes. remember. Mrs.
Jersey"
You knew shc WAS Mrs. Jersey"
Yes. That was why | came TO this
house.
Did You like her them"
Miss Bulls eyes flashed. ''She was
another Violet. | hated her. oh. how
] hated her. found her through my
sister mentioning that Lord Derring.
ton had given her this house, SO
came here to board"
but your sister knows nothing
about you. She says you ran away
and that ii was supposed you were
dead"
Miss Bull laughed bitterly. Ny