Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-22
mentioned at the trial"

w no can say WISH 10 GooO"
ness had helped your butler to
raise Sir Alan's lifelcss body. But
about this family dispute Was there
a scene-'eara, recriminations?"
Not bit. You don't know Rita.
We used 10 call her Rita because. as
boys, we leased her by saying her
name was MarEharita, and not Mar
garet."
Why"
she has such a foreign manner
and style"
How did she acquire them"
She was a big girl, six years old,
and tall for her age, when her pa
rents settled down in England. She
first spoke Italian. and picked up
italian ways from her nurse, an old
party who was devotedly attached TO
her Even Alan was good Italian
linguist, and given to foreign man
ners when a little chap. But Harrow
soon knocked them out Of him. Rita
retained them"
II see. a curious household. |
should have expected this young lady
to upbraid her brother after the style
Of the prima donna in grand opera"
mo. He told me she laughed at
him, and invited him to witness the
trying on Of fancy dress costume.
the Queen of Night, which she wore
at II: xsssuue the night he was
murdered"
when did she get married."
Last January. at Naples, very
suddenly. and without the knowledge
OF any of her relatives"
She had been living at Beech
croft nearly a year. them"
Yes, she went South in the win
ter. The reason she gave was that
the Hall would be depressing on the
anniversary Of her brothers. death.
She had become most popular In the
district. Helen Is very fond OF her.
and was quite shocked to hear Of her
marriage. The local people do not
like Signor Capella"
Why"
at Is difficult TO give reason.
Miss Layton does not indulge In de-
tails. but that is the impression l
gather from her letters"
quick glance at him.
Finish what you were going to
say" he said.
only this-Helen and I have mD-
| tually released each other from our
engagement. and in the same breath
have refused TO be released. That ia,
you understand"
The barriser nodded
The result is that we are both
thoroughly miserable. Our respective
, fathers do not like the idea of our
marriage y. der the circumstances.
We are simply drifting IN the feeble
hope that some day kindly Provi-
| 3ence will dissipate the cloud that
hangs over me. All, Mr.. Brett, I am
Sch man. Command the limits OF
my fortune, but clear me, Prove TO
| Helen that her faith in my innocence
| IS justified.
For goodness sake light another
| cigarette" snapped the barrister.
You have interfered with my line Of
thought. 1t is all wriggly.'
Quite a minute elapsed before he
began again.
Il think I can explain that It
seems that Alans father told him
! 70 get married.
Told HIM"
Well, left instructions
How"
II do not know. | only gathered
as much from my cousins remarks.
! Well, It was not until his final home
coming that he realized what beau
tfful woman the jolly little girl h6
knew as boy he'd developed into.
She was Just the kind OF wife hs
wanted, and I fancy he imagined l
had stolen march on him. But be-
was a thoroughly straightforward,
manly fellow. and something very
much out of the common must have
upset him before he vented his anger
! on mo and Helen"
/ Have you any notion"
Not the least Pardon me. I sup
pose you were going to ask II I
guessed the cause?"
Yes"
ut is quite unfathomable. Wa
parted the best of friends IN London,
although he knew all about the en-
gagement We met again at & pm.
on New Years Eve, and he was very
short with me. I can only vaguely
assume that some feeling Of resent
! ment had meanwhile been working
up In him, and It found expression
during his chat with Helen IN tha
! conservatory.
did you use threats to him dur
Ing the subsequent wrangle?"
Threats Good gracious. no. I
was angry with him for spelling Miss
Laytons enjoyment. l called him an
ass. and said he had better have re-
manned away another year than come
back and make mischief That is all.
Mrs. Eastman was far more out
spoken"
Indeed, What did she say?"
she limited that his temper was
a "Reminiscences Of his Southern birth.
always a sore point with him, and
contrasted me with him, 10 his dis
advantage. All very unfair. OF
course. but. you see she was the
hostess, and Alan had upset her par
ty very much"
80 you walked home. and re-
solved TO hold out the olivs
branch"
Most decidedly. ! was older. per-
| haps a trihe more sedate I knew