The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-06-08
THE FARMER: JUNE s. 1911

Il ALeMLh. q \ ~ d ., LSIl
| from the w., - .e.--- - lnc No-l-
| an in whose arms she felt herself sup
ported:
Explain! Where am II"
"At Lakewood, in hotel. You have
been i'll and are only just recovering"
Her hand went up to her cheek, the
| one that had been burned. and still
showed the deep traces Of that acct
dent.
II remember" said she. Then, with
another glance at her dress, which had
studiously been kept cheerful, she re-
| marked, with deep reproach: My Sis
| ter is dead. Why am 1 not in black"
The nurse, realizing her responsible
| ity (she said afterward that it was
the most serious moment of her life),
subdued her own establishment at this
| proof Of her young patients knowledge
of a crime of which she was universal
| ly supposed to be entirely ignorant
and, bestowing an assuring smile on
| the agitated girl, observed softly:
you were too ill to be burdened
with black. You are better now and
| may assume it il you will. / will help
| you buy your mourning"
eyes; you look like kind woman.
What is your name, please, and are we
| here alone in this great hotel?'
| Now, as q matter of eXpediency,
| to save Carmel from the uncomfortable
| curiosity of the crowd and herself
| from the opportunities of the New
York reporters, Miss Irwin had reg
| istered herself and her charge under
assumed names. She was, therefore,
| forced to reply:
"My name is Huckins, and we are
| here alone. But that need not worry
| you. 1 have watched over you night
| and day for many weeks
"You have? Because of this slight
| burn" Again Carmers hand went to
| her cheek.
"Not on account of that only. You
| have had serious illness quite apart
from that injury. But you are better;
| you are almost well-well enough to
go home, if you will"
81 cannot go home-not just yet.
1'm-I'm not strong enough. But we
| man to look after us. Miss Huckins,
| where is my brother?'
At this question, uttered with en-
phasis, with anXiety-with indignation
| even-Miss Irwin felt the emotion she
| lad so successfully subdued up to this
| moment betray itself in her voice as
she answered with a quiet motion to-
| ward the elevator: Let US go up to
| our room. There I will answer all
your questions"
| But Carmel, with the waywardness
of her years, or perhaps with deeper
reasoning powers than the other would
| he apt to attribute to her, broke softly
away from Miss Unwin's OBTAINING
hand and, walking directly into the
office, looked about for the newspaper
stand. She reached 1t just as boy
| stepped into view with the evening
bulletin, on which had been written
these words:
The last juror obtained in the trial of
| Arthur Cumberland for the murder OF his
| sister, Adelaide.
Carmel saw and stood, breathlesS
image of horror. A couple of gentle
men came running but the nurse wav-
ed them back and herself caught Car
mel and upheld her. in Eaomentary
dread of another mental if not phys
ical collapse.
But Carmel had come back into the
world of consciousness to stay. Ac-
cepting her nurses support, but CIV
lug no sign of waning faculties or i'm
perfect understanding of what she had
seen, she spoke quite clearly and with
her eyes fixed upon Miss Irwin.
$50 that is why l am here, away
from all my friends. Vas too Ill to
be told? Couldn't you make me know
what was happening-yod or the doc
tors or-or anybody"
you We're much too ILL.," protested
the nurse, leading her toward the ele.
vator and SO by degrees to her room.
And Arthur-pOor Arthur, has been
the sufferer! Tell me the whole story
can bear it, she pleaded. 81 can
bear anything but not knowing. Why
should he have fallen under suspicion
He was not even there. | must go to
him. Pack UP our clothing, Miss Huck-
ms. / must go to him at once"
With the sudden rending of the
clouds which had o5scured her intel
lect strange powers had awakened in
this young girl.
You shall CO." began the nurse, and
| stopped.
Carmel was not listening. Another
change Of thought had come How
can ~ fell i'll unconscious betrayal
from her lips. How can T." Then
she stood silent, CHASTITY with lack of
color one minute and rosy red with
its excess the next, until it was hard
to tell in which extreme her feeling
spoke most truly.
What was the feeling? Nurse Irwin
felt it imperative to know. She ap-
preached Carmel with renewed offers
of help and such expressions of SYM
pathy as she thought might lure her
into open speech.
But discretion had come with fear.
and Carmel, while not disdaining the
others kindness. instantly made it ap-
parent that. whatever her burden and
however unsuited it was to her present
weak conaition, it was not one she felt
willing to share.
II must think" she murmured as
tie finally followed the nurses lead
md seated he,geIf on lounge. ar
thur on trial FOR his life! Arthur on