The Ocala evening star., 1911-06-29
CHAPTER XVI.
At 10 rSsrEAn OF ID

your own officer who swore ne
saw Ranelagh's hands upon my
sisters throat then this world Is all a
tumble and it makes very little differ
ence to me whether I'm alive or dead"
When these words Of Arthur Cum
berland were repeated to me I echoed
them in my inmost soul I. too. cared
very little whether / lived or died.
The grand jury reeled or its cases
and finally took up ours To the last
hoped-sincerely. i think-that I should
be- the man to suffer indictment But
hoped in vain A true bill was
brought against Arthur. and bis trial
was SET for Jan IS.
The first use made of my liberty
was TO visit Adelaide's grave. In that
sacred place I could best review my
past and gather strength for the fu-
ture. The future. Was il under my
control: Did Arthur's fate hang upon
my word? I believed so. But had
strength TO speak that word? had
expected to: I had seen my duty clear
ly enough before the sitting of the
grand jury. But now that Arthur was
indicted. now that it was an accepted
fact that he would have to stand trial
instead of myself, ! was conscious of
such a recoil from my contemplated ac-
ton that lost all confidence In myself
and my stoical adherence to what
considered the claims of justice.
trusted Arthur: ] distrusted Car
mel But she had claims to considera-
ton which he lacked She vas a
woman. Her falT would mean inf
nitely more to her than any disgrace to
him Even he had seemed to recognize
this. Miserable and half hearted as
bis life had been. be had shown him
self man enough not TO implicate his
charge. What. then. was that I
should presume TO disregard his lead
In the difficult maze In Thich we were
both lost? Yet because of the self re-
straint he manifested be had my sym
pathy. and resolved TO stand bis
friend If I saw the case really going
against him. Till then I would con
her condition and injured enough al
ready by my misplaced love and its
direful consequences.
The only Change 7 now allowed my.
self was an occasional midnight stroll
up Huested street This was as near
as ! dared approach Carmers windows.
feared some watchful police spy.
Perhaps | feared my own hardly to be
restrained iongings.
This was before Carmel left with
her nurse for Lakewood. After that
event I turned my head no more In
taking my midnight stroll. was not
told the day or hour of her departure,
happily. perhaps. for US both. for |
could never have kept away from the
deliberately driven past the Whisper
ing Pines. though the other road was
more direct and less free. if anything.
from possible spectators. They thought.
no doubt. that a sight of the place
might reawaken whatever memories;
remained of the last desperate scene
preceding her brother and sisters de
parture for this out OF the way spot.
They little knew how cruel was the
might have overwhelmed her mind as
her eye fell on those accursed walls,
peering from their bower of snow
laden pines. But | did. and | never
rested till learned how she had borne
herself in her slow drive by the two
guarded gateways-merrily - seems
and with no sign of the reWa .brances
! feared.
One sentenc,yand one only. reached
my ears of all she said before she dis
appeared from town.
If Adelaide were only going too,
But I suppose ] shall meet her and Mr.
Ranelagh somewhere before my re
turn. She must be very happy, but
not so peaceful as | am. She will see
that when we meet | can hardly wait
for the day"
One incident more before ] enter
upon the serious business of the trial
I started one night for my walk II
10 O'Clock instead of IL. I went the
old way. and. the old longing recur
ring at the one charmed spot on the
road. l cast a quick look at the desc
lated house which. short as IL was
reused feelings which kept my head
lowered for the remainder OF my walk
north and TO the very moment when
on my return. the same chimneys and
overhanging roofs came again into
view through the wintry branches
Then habit lifted my mead and 1 paus
ed to look again. when the low sound
of a human voice. suppressed into q
moan or sob. caused me IN glance
about for the woman or child who hHd
uttered this note ot sorrow No one
was IN sight nUI Hs started Io move
on I heard NV, EHm.. uttered IN ChokrC
tones from n";iud the hedge >rparat
ing the Fulton grounds from the city
sidewalk.
Had the voice issued from this iSo
| lated point oT darkness: went back
| to Spt. nIriiai n=ure was crnuchIne
there n TRAN. n-iIai'-d girTie heing
lila tuHnn' "SriaImed ''Yor
wish ro <r,.-ly 10 mo-