The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-17

"a fOacer 1rOrn by you at the dance udS
found near BdtsUs skirts
"will be as true to the factx as fr !
stood here on L1y oath. / can explain
how a flower from my hair came to be
in Mrs. Webb's house. but not how ii
came to be found under Batsy's feet.
That some one else must clear up
Her little finger, lifted from the rail
pointed toward Frederick, but no one
saw this unless it was that gentleman
himself. II wore this orchid in my
hair that night. and there would be
nothing strange in its being afterward
picked up in Mrs. Webb's house, be-
cause l was in that house at or near
the time she was murdered
You in that houseT"
Yes, as far as the ground floor; no
farther" Here the little finger stopped
pointing. Il am ready to tell you
about it. sirs. and only regret / have
della yed doing SO so long. but 1 wished
to be sure it was necessary. Your
presence here and your first question
show that 1t is
There was suavity in her tone now.
not unmixed with candor. Sweetwater
did not seem to relish this, for he NOV
ed uneasily on his feet and lost shade
of his self satisfied attitude. He had
still to be made acquainted with all the
fns and outs Of the woman's remark
able nature.
1--WE are waiting" suggested DR.. Tai
bot.
She turned to face this new speaker.
and Frederick was relieved from the
sight of her tantaiizing smile.
81 will tell my story simply" said
she. with the simple suggestion that
you believe me. otherwise you will
make a mistake. While / was resting
from a dance the other night l heard
two of the young people talking about
the labels One Of them was laughing
at the old men. and the other was try
ing to relate some old story of early
love which had been the cause, she
thought. of their strange and melan-
choly lives. / was listening to them.
but / did not take in much of what
they were saying till l heard behind
me an irascible voice exclaimi ing: You
laugh. do you? wonder IL you would
laugh so easily If you knew that these
two poor old men haven't had de-
cent meal in fortnight? I didn't
know the speaker. but 1 was thrilled
by his words. Not had a good meal.
these men. for a fortnight! l felt as IL
personally guilty OF their suffering
and. happening to raise my eyes at this
minute and seeing through al open
door the bountiful refreshments pre-
pared for US all in the supper room. l
felt guiltier than ever. Suddenly l
took a resolution. 1t was a queer one
and may serve TO show you some OF
the oddities OF my nature. Though l
was engaged for the next dance. and
though l was dressed in the fimsiest
garments suitable to the occasion. l
decided to leave the hall and carry
some sandwiches down to these old
men in their cottage Procuring bit
of paper, / made up bundle and stole
out of the house without having said
word to anybody of my intention.
Not wishing to be seen. 1 went out by
the garden door. which is at the end of
q dark hail.
"Just as the band was playing
the .Harebell Mazourka,' interpolated
Sweetwater.
Startled for the first time from her
careless composure by an interruption
of which ii was impossible for her at
that minute TO measure either the mo-
tive or the meaning. she ceased to play
with her fingers on the baluster rail
and let her eyes rest for a moment on
the man who had thus spoken. as IL
she hesitated between her desire to an
initiate him for his impertinence and
fear Of the cold hate she saw actuat- /
ing his every word and look Then she |
Went on, as if no one had spoken:
Il ran down the hill recklessly. 4
was bent On my errand and not at all |
afraid OF the dark When l reached /
that part OF the road where the streets /
branch off. l heard footsteps in front /
Of me. / had overtaken some one /