The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-03-02

distressed felt She raised her hand 10
heaven To swear her innocence. She
convinced me for the time that she might
be telling the truth. told her | would
see Bywaters aud ask him 10 explain
why he was In that rOon, but she beg.
ged me not TO. She said such action
would only create suspicion and bIiug
trouble between him and her.
| went % Washington and met By
waters on he stIset he said be wac go
lag to the races at Benniugs. | WAS on
my way 10 Norfolk.
q How did you feel about your sister
at that TIM?
A.-Well, hoped for the beet. Tnen
got letter from Viola requesting
$25 She said she wanted 10 visltAn old
schOolmats in Fduquier SEM the
money An 4 she lett home.
Q-What was the next information
you received?
AGAlN CALLED HOME.
Al got "A telegram from Philip from
Washington Dee. L. requesting me TO
come 10 Culpeper. bal told French OF
the first "Trip and when | was leaving
Welch | met him and got him TO ACCOM-
pany me- On the train told him
about the matter. When | reached
Culpeper Philip told me Of the trip to
Washington with Mrs. Gaines. which
had been inspired by a letter from Viola
saying she was ILL., Later Philip got a
telegram from Viola saying she would
return that evening. She came back and
went 10 RotherwOOd.
a Whap al vot, soa hatp
A.-When got home decided To let
French and Mrs. Gaines talk with her, for
she had denied every thing 10 me the first
time She said she had been in Fauquer,
but found out she had not been there.
Then she said she had been in Washing
ton having her back treated
French looked after Viola and | went
to town. While he and my sister Nellie
tredlto find out what had happened 10
Viola sat in Dr. StrOther's office wait
ing to hear from them over the telephone.
Finally French and Dr. StrOther told rue
all they knew. Phil p was there and
heard the material facts, 50 told them
! would 60 right home.
THOUGHT SHE WAS DlING.
| reached there about dark. Viola was
in bed, and We supposed she was dying
She cried bitterly WHEN talked with her
| Ny sister Nellie asked me To help destroy
evidences of the operation. aud did.
We burned up bed-clothes aud things
! Ar. Jsfsies-Now recite what occurred
Saturday.
THAT FATEFrL SATURDAY.
/ James Strother-In the morning talk
ed with Viola again IL was distress
ing interview, but asked her searching
questions | knew she was under the in
! fuence of Bywaters aud wanted 10 see
/ what position he took, II he Were honest
IN his intentions and from her own state
meuts concluded he did not love her,
and told the family 50.
Q-What happened then
SETTLED ABOUT THE WEDDING.
Ave decided to have the marriage
that evening.
Did Bywaters have any intimation
then that the wedding would take place
that evening?
A-No. We left DR.. Strother's Office
French, Phil and I-ior the purpose Of
looking for him. IL was agreed that the
fret one 20 meet him would tell him OF
the plan and ask ii he intended keeping
his promise.
Q-WhO met him first?
A-Phil.
Q-What did Philip tell you he said?
BYwATERs WANTED DELAY.
A-Phil said he asked Bywaters il he
was ready 10 do A. he had prOmis, ID and
be said he was. On tie way to the clsrk's
Office, Phil said, he stopped and talked
about postpOning the wedding. Then he
stopped again at the door of the clerks
office and again brought up postpone
ment. Finally he went In. | was follow
ing them down the street and ! met him
in the clerks Office. Alter the license had
been made out we went into another
room for conference.
HE shook hands with me and called
NE Cousin jim, aud addressed him as
Will. for had always trusted him. he
started with excuses, but | told him |
knew enough. After insisting that he
tell me something about it, he talked |
about a postponement. | told him we
had determined that the marriage should |
take place that evening.
ARRANGED FOR START IL LIFE.
Then told him owed Viola 81 900 !
for her part of the home place, which |
bought, also that French would give
$500 and that Sister Nellie wolld give |
feWshundred dollars. | told him he |
could go into business or buy q home
and raise hogs and horses to make liv-
ing for her. But advis' d that the
property be put in Viola's name. My |
talk did not interest him and he spoke
again OF a postponement. ! told him
the best way was TO say that Viola had |
typhoid feve'; that they wanted to be
married 80 that he could be with her be-
fore she died After reasoning that this
was not unusual, he accepted the plan
Q.-What did you do then?
Al told several persons that Viola
was i'll with typhoid fever and that she
was about 10 be married to Bywaters.
also told Rev. Mr. Ware the same thing
O-What became OF Bywaters?
Ale went home after some clothes.
Q-Went TO bis mothers home?
A-Yes, and was gone half an hour
[ met him driving back in his own buggy.
although we had told him we would
take him back in Pills. He dismissed
the driver Wutu lOlu liui WOulu Ihlh-
or he would drive out with Phil.
BOUGHT THE WEDDING RING.
"When he came up in his buggy, be
showed me a diamond ring He said he
loaned it to his sister several years ago
and that he had paid SO for It, He
asked me if be should give it to Viola aud
declared he had always intended she
should have it. told him he would have
TO decide that matter. Then he asked
II plain gold ring were needed for the
wedding. said did not know. and he
asked me to ascertain and buy one il il
was. | asked Mr.. Ware II a plain ring
was necessary, aud he replied that
was, 80 bought it myself.
STILL WORKING FOR DELAY.
Q-You went to ROtherwoOd with Mr. 4:
Ware, | believe?
A.-Yes, drove him out and left him
downstairs while talked with Viola.
When reached her room realized that
Bywaters had urged a pOstpOnement.
I told m he knew his understanding
with French.
4 l..