The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-02-08


know-I forget she stammered with
heartbroken sigh. poor Veronica
Wretched Veronica! How shall ever
tell him? How, how can we ever>pre-
pare him?"
The captain took advantage of this
reference to Mr.. Jeffrey to ask where
that gentleman was. The young lady
did not seem eager to reply, but when
pressed, answered, though somewhat
mechanically, that it was impossible
for her to say; Mr.. Jeffrey had many
friends, with any one of whom he
might be enjoying social evening
But it is far past midnight now,"
remarked the captain. rs he in the
habit of remaining out late?"
Sometimes, she family admitted.
1.-TWO or three times since his marriage
he has been out till IL
Were there other causes for the
young brides evident disappointment
and misery besides the one intimated?
There certainly was some excuse for
thinking so.
Possibly some one of US may have
shown his doubts in this regard, for
the woman before us suddenly broke
forth with this vehement assertion:
Mr.. jeffrey was loving husband
n my cicf /,
she emphasized; Then, growing des s-
| perately pale, she added, II have never
known better man, and stopped.
| Some hidden anguish in this cry,
some self consciousness in this pause,
suggested to me a possibility which
was glad to see ignored by the captain
in his next question.
when did you see your sister last?"
| he asked. Were you at home when
she left her husbands house?'
"Alas!" she murmured Then, see
| ing that more direct answer was ex-
| pected of her, she added with as little
appearance of effort as possible: II
was at home, and heard her go out
But ! had no idea that it was for any
purpose other than to join some social
gathering"
Dressed this way?"
The captain pointed to the floor, and
her eyes followed Certainly Mrs. JEFF
frey was not appareled for an evening
company. AS Miss Tuttle realized the
trap into which she had been betrayed
her words rushed forth and tripped
each other up.
4 81 did not notice She often wore
black. 1t became her. My sister was
eccentric"
Worse, worse than useless. Some
slips cannot be explained away. Miss
Tuttle seemed to realize that this was
one of them, for she paused abruptly
with the words half finished on hel
tongue Yet her attitude commanded
respect, ard for one was ready to &C
cord it to her.
Certainly such woman was not t
be seen every day, and if her reptile
lacked candor, there was q nobility ii
her presence which gave the lie to an.
doubt. AT least, that was the effec
she produced on me. Whether or no
her interrogation shared my feeling
could not SO readily determine, for hi
attention as well as mine was sudden
~ diverted by the cry which now es
capped her lips.
'"Her watch! Where is her watch
It Is gone! l saw it on her breast. ant
It's gone. 1t hung just-just where"
''Wait!' cried one of the men VIII,
had been peering about the floor. 81
this ity
He held aloft small object blazin!
with jewels.
EYES," she gasped, trying to take it.
But the officer gave it to the captain
instead.
st must have slipped from her n
she fell" remarked the lattsr, after ,
cursory examination of the ghtterin.
trfnket. 1.-THE pin by which shc attach
ed it to her dress must have been inse
curely fastened" Then quickly ant
with sharp look at Miss T'uttle, sd,
you know if this was considered al
accurate tmepiece?"
Eyes Why do you ask? Is it,
Look" He held it up with the fac
toward us. The hands stood at thir
teen minutes past Z. 1.-THE hour ant
the moment when 1t struck the floor
he declared. "And consequently the
hour and the moment when Mrs. JEFF
frey FELL finished Durbin
Miss futile said nothing, only gasped
"Valuable evidence" quoth the cap
tain, putting the watch ins his pocket
Then. with 2 kind look az her, cal!ee