The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-08-09

bastard. whom may God confound
passed letter across Adelaide Inc,
Carmel's hand" he painted out. II
saw him. but ! didn't take II In. |
wasn't thinking. was
who broke the glasses" urged bis
relentless inquisiior. "one at your
plate. one az Carme's and one at the
head OF the board where sat your sis
ter AdelaideT'
Must tell these thingsy Have II,
then. Heaven knows | think Of II
enough not 10 be afraid TO speak IL
out In words Adelaide never had
much patience with me. She was a
girl who only saw one way. while
wanted pleasure. free time and a
good drink whenever the fancy took
me- You know what ! am. DR.. Perry,
and everybody in town knows. but the
| Impulse which has always ruled me
was not a downright evil one. or II 1t
was | called II natural independence
and let II go at that But Adelaide
suffered didn't understand II. and
] didn't care tg for It, but she did
suner Goa forgive me-.
He stopped and moppcd his fore
head THAT afternoon" he presently
resumed. she was keyed up more
than usunl she loved Ranelagh. and
he had played or was playing her
false. She saw him look at Carmel.
and she saw Carmel look az him.
Then her eyes fell on me. ! was an.
gry-angry az them all-and I wanted
a drink. II was not her habit 10 have
wine on The table. but sometimes
when Ranelagh was there she did.
She was q slave TO Ranelagh. Ring
the BELL I ordered. and have In the
champagne. want TO drink TO your
marriage and the happy days in pros
pect for us ALL IL was brutal. and
knew IL. but ! was reckless and wild
for the wine. So. guess. was Rane-
lagb. for be smiled at her and she
rang for the champagne When the
glasses had heen set beside each plate
she turned toward Carmel We will
all drink. she said. to my coming
marriage This made Carmel turn
pale. for Adelaide had never been
known TO drink a drop of liquor In
her life. felt little queer myself.
and not one of us spoke till the glasses
were filled and the maid had left the
dining room and shut the door.
Then Adelaide rose. We will drink
standing, said she. and never had I
seen her look as she did then. She
drank. We wouldn't call IL drinking.
for she just touched the wine with
her lips. but TO her 1t was debauch.
Then she stood waiting. with the
strangest CLEAN In her eyes. while |
Raneagh drained his glass and I
drained mine. Ranelagh thought she
wanted some sentiment and started TO
say something appropriate. but his
eve fell on Carmel. who had tried to |
drink and couldn't. and be bungled |
over his words and at last came to a |
pause under the steady stare of Ade- |
ladies eyes
Never mind. Elwood.' she said. !
i know what you would like to say.
But that's not what ! am thinking of |
now. | am thinking of my brother.
the boy who will soon be left TO find |
his way through life without even the
restraint of my presence.
! want him 10 remember this day.
want him TO remember me as l stand
here before him with this glass In my
hand. You see wine in IL. Arthur; but
! see poison. Carmel. you have griev-
ed as well as ! over what has passed
for pleasure in this house. Do as |
do. and may Arthur see and remem.
ber.'
"Her fingers opened; the glass fell
from her hand and lay in broken frag-
ments beside her plate. Carmel fol-
lowed suit. and. before knew 1t. my
own fingers had opened and my own
glass lay in pieces on the tablecloth
beneath me. Only Ranelagb's hand re-
manned steady. She held her breath,
that hand. and | can hear
the gasp yet with which she saw him
set his glass down, quietly on the
board That's the story Of those three
broken glasses"
The district attorney sought out and
lifted paper from the others lying on
the desk before him. Ii was the first
he had made since Cumber
land began his tale.
I'm sorry" said he. with a rapid
examination of the paper IN his hand.
but shall have TO detain you a few
minutes longer. What happened after
the dinneri Where did you so from
the table?"
Il went 10 my room TO smoke.
was upset and thirsty as fish"
Have you liquor in your roomT
Sometimes
did you have any that nightY'
mot drop. didn't dare. | want
I'd that champagne bottle. but Adelaide
had been too quick for me II was
thrown out wasted-l do believe. vast
ed"
$50 you did not drink? You only
smoked In your rOom;"
Smoked one cigar That was all
Then ! went down town"
May ! ask by which door you left
the houseT"