The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-04
CHAPTER ".
Suicide or -


 distracting thoughts. She sat dowr on the sofa beside Mrs. Markham then she Jumped up suddenly and started for the door. only to turn about and resume her seat on the sofa. Here she sat for a few mo- ments apparently in deep thought Then she rose, and slowly stalked from the room and went upstairs.
 After a few moments, Marie, the French maid, also rose and silently left the room
 Having concluded it was case for the county physician, Doctor Hills apparently considered that his per- sonaI responsibility was at an end and he sat quietly awaiting the com ing of his colleague.
 After a time, Miss Morton return ed, and again took her seat on the sofa. She looked excited and a little Hurried, but strove to appear calm.
 It was a dreadful hour. Only rare ly any one spoke, and though glances sometimes shot from the eyes of one to the eyes of another, each felt his gaze oftenest impelled toward that eread. beautiful figure by the table
 At last Schuyler Carleton, with an evident effort, said suddenly ''Ough'nt we to send for Tom Will ard?" nI
 Mrs. Markham gave start. "Oi course we must" she said. "Poor Tom. He must be told. Who will tell him?"
 T will" volunteered Miss Morton and Doctor Hills looked up, amazed at her calm tone. This woman puz- zled him, and he could not under stand her continued attempts at au- thority in household where she was comparative stranger. And yet might it not be merely a kind con- sideration for those who were nearer and dearer to the principals of this awful tragedy?"
 But even as he thought this over Miss Morton had gone to the teIe- phone, her heavy silk gown rustline as she crossed the room, and her every movement assertive of her own importance.
 Calling up the Mapleton Inn, she succeeded, after several attempts, in rousing some of it's occupants, and finally was in communication with young Willard himself. She did not tell him of the tragedy, but only ask ed him to come over to the house al once, as something serious had hap pened, and returned to her seat with 9. murmured observation that Tom would srrive as soon as possible.
 Again the little group lapsed into silence. Cicely Dupuy was very nerv. ous, and kept picking at her handker- chief, quite unconscious that she was ruining it's delicate lace edge.
 Doctor Hills glanced furitively from one to another. Many things puzzled him. but most of all he was at a loss to understand the suicide of this beautiful girl on the very eve of he1 wedding.
 At last Tom Willard came.
 Miss Morton met him at the door and took him into the drawing-roon before he could turn toward the lib. rary.
 Schuyler Carleton's frantic touche. on various electric buttons had turn ed on all the lights in the drawing room. AS no one had noticed this the great apartment had remained illuminated as if for a festivity, anl the soft, bright lights fell on the floral bower and the elaborate decora. tions that had been arranged for the wedding day.
 What is P" asked Tom, his owr face white with an impending sense of dread as be looked into Miss Nor. tons eyes.
 AS gently as possible, but in hel own straight-forward and inevitabl, somewhat abruptly way. Miss Nor. ton told him.
 "I want to warn you," she said, "te prepare for a shock, and I think i kinder to tell you the truth at once Your cousin Madeleine-Miss Var Norman-has taken her own life?"
 'What?" Tom almost shouted tht word, and his face showed an abso. lutely uncomprehending amazement
 "She killed herself tonight" Mis-. Morton went on, whose efforts were now directed toward making the young man understand, rather thar towards sparing his feelings.
 But Tom could not seem to grasI it. What do you mean?" he said catching her by both arms. Made leine? Killed herself?"
 "Yes," said Miss Morton, shaker out of her own calm by Toms ex cited voice. "In the library, after ws had all gone to bed, she stabbed her self with that horrible paper-cuttel thing. Did you know she was un happy?"
 Unhappy? No; why should sh. be? Tomorrow was to have been he1 wedding day"
 To-day" corrected Miss Morton b"It is already the day on which ou,