The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-10-04

MY distinguished opponent would
have you believe that the defendant
did not 6y az the moment declared.
but that he waited to fuInIl the foul
| deed. which Ia the only serious matter
10 dispute In his 40 nearly destroyed
case | hear as though be were now
speaking the attack which he will
make upon my client when he comes
to review this matter with you. Let
me see II | cannot make you hear
| those words too" And, with a daring
smile at his discounted adversary.
AIonzo Moffat launched forth into the
following sarcasm:
Arthur Cumberland. coming up the
kitchen stairs. hears voices where he
had expected total silence. sees light
where he had left total darkness. He
large coat pockets. II they are In his
hands he sets them down and steals
| forward to listen. He has recognized
the voices. They are those OF his two
sisters one of whom had ordered him
to hitch up the cutter for her to es-
| cape. az he had every reason to be
lieve. the other Curiosity-or is IL
some nobler feeling?-causes him to
1raw nearer and nearer to the room In
which they have taken up their stand
He can hear their words now, and
what are the words he hearst Words
that would thrill the most impervious
heart, call for the interference Of the
most Indifferent. But he Is made of
ice, welded together with steel. He
sees flor no place save one from which
he can watch and see-namely. the
dark dancing hall-would satisfy any
man of such gigantic curiosity AIDE
lalde fall at Carmeps feet In recogni-
ton Of the great sacrifice she has
made for her. But he does not move;
he falls at no ones feet; he recognizes
no nobility. responds to no higher APP
peal. Stony and unmoved. he crouches
there and watches and watches. still
curious or still feeding his hate on
the sufferings Of the elder. the for
bearance of the younger.
"And on what does he look? You
have already heard. but consider 1t.
Adelaide. despairing of happiness. de-
cides on death for herself or sister.
Both loving one man. one of the two
must give way To the other. Carmel
has done her part: she must now do
hers. She has brought poison: she
has brought glaSses-three glasses for
three persons. but only two are on the
scene. and so she fills but two. One
| has only cordial in II. but the other IS.
as she believes. deadly. Carmel is to
have her choice. But who believes
! that Adelaide would ever have let her
drink the poisoned glass?
"And this man looks on as the two
faces confront each other-one white
hope. the other under the stress of suf-
fering and a fascination of horror sutti-
cient to have laid her dead without
poison at the other ones feet This is
what he Sees-a brother-and he makes
no move, then or afterward. when. the
fear and falls into a seemingly dying
state on the couch.
docs he go now? Is his hate or his
cupidity satisfied? No He remains and
listens to the tender interchange OF
| final words and all the late precau-
tons of the elder to guard the younger
woman's good name. Still he is not
softened. and when. the critical mo-
ment passed. Carmel rises and totters
about the room IN ner endeavOr to full
fill the tasks enioined upon ner by ber
sister ne glOats over a death which Will
give him independence ana gluts him
Self with every evil thought wnlcn
could blind him 10 the pitiful aspects
of a tragedy such as few men in this
world could see unmoved a brother.
But this Is not the worst The aw
full cup of human greed and hatred Is
but filed to the brim. II mas not yet
overtiowed. Carmel leaves the room.
She has a telephone message to de-
liver. She may be gone minute; she
may be gone many. Little does he
care which He must see the dead.
look down on the woman who has
been like mother TO him and see II
her influence Is forever removed. If his
wealth is MS and his Independence for
ever assured.
Safe in the darkness of the gloomy
recesses of the dancing hail. he steals
slowly forward. Drawn as by a mag
net. he cutters the room OF seeming
death. draws up 10 the pillow laden
couch. pulls off first one cushion and
then another till face and hands are
bare and
"Ah. there's movement! Death
has not. then. done its work. She lives
the hated one lives. And he Is no
longer rich. no longer independent.
With a clutch he seizes her at
the feeble seat Of life, and as
the breath ceases and her whole
body becomes again inert he stoops
to pull off the ring which can have no
especial value or meaning for him. and
then. repiling the cushions over her.