Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-12-15
DRY GOODS AND
CLOTHING
ISLAND POND, VT

"You will not drink" The coroner's
| voice rang deep; he was greatly moved
"You will not drink. and you will come
to the Office at O'Clock tomorrow
We may have only good news TO i'm,
part We may find nothing to compli
cate the situation
Arthur Cumberland shook his head
ITS not what you will fnd"- said
he, and stopped. biting his lips and
looking down.
Twenty-four hours later in the cor.
oner's office, sat an anxious group dis
cussing the great case and the possible
revelations awaiting them. The dis
trict attorney. Mr.. Clifton. the chief
of police and one or two others
among them Sweetwater, made up
the group and carried on the conver.
sation. DR.. Perry only was absent.
He had undertaken to make the au-
topsy and had been absent for this pur,
pose several hours.
Five O'Clock had struck. and they
were momentarily looking for his re-
appearance. but when the door open
ed, as it did Mt this time. it was to
admit young Cumberland, whose white
face and shaking limbs betrayed his
suspense and nervous anxiety.
The door opened again and the coro-
ner appeared. looking not so much de-
pressed as stunned. Picking out Arthur
from the group, he advanced toward
him with nlDnnlppn mark
but desisted suddenly and turned upon
the others instead.
81 have finished the autopsy" said
he. 81 knew just what poison the
vial had held and lost no time in my
various tests. A minute portion OF
this drug. which is dangerous only
in large quantities, was found In the
stomach of the deceased, but not
enough to cause serious trouble. and
she died. as we already decided, from
the effect of the murderOus clutch
upon her throat But" he went on
sternly as young Cumberland moved
and showed signs of breaking In with
one of his violent invectives against
other discovery of still greater purport.
When we lifted the body out of its
resting place something besides wither-
ed flowers slid from her breast and
fell at our feet. The ring, gentlemen
the ring which Ranelagh says was
missing from her hand when he came
upon her ana which certainly was not
on her finger when she was laid in the
casket-rolled to the floor when we
moved her. Here it is. There is one
person here at least, who can identify
it. But ! do not ask that person to
speak. That we may well spare him."
He laid the ring on the table, not too
near Arthur, not within reach of his
hand. but close enough for him to see
it. Then he sat down and hid his face
in his hands. The last few days had
told on him. He looked older by ten
wears than he had at the beginning of
the month.
The silence which followed these
words and this action was memorable
to everybody there concerned. SOME
had seen and all had heard of young
Cumberlands desperate interruption
of the funeral and the way his hand
had invaded the flowers which the
children had cast in upon her breast.
When at last Arthur looked up it was
with dazed air and an almost humble
mien.
providence has me this time," he
muttered Il don't understand these
mysteries. You will have to deal with
them as you think best"
Turning away, he made for the door.
There was in his manner desperation
approaching to bravado, but no man
made the least effort to detain him.
Not till he was well out of the room
did any one move: then the district at