Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-06-17

THE POISONED ONE FOR ME-
tween US two, unless you wish a GER
tainty, Carmel, in which case I will
pour out but one glass and drink that
myself
"She was In a fever now and des-
perate. Death WAS I'm tho ROOM I
felt It In my lifted hair and in her
strangely drawn face. If I screamed
who would hear me7 I never thought
of the telephone, and 1 doubt II she
would have let me use it then. The
power she had always exerted over
me was very strong in her at this mo-
ment.
"HShall I drink aloner she repeated,
and I cried out, No. at which her
hand went to her breast, as I had so
long expected, and l saw the glitter
of a little vial as she drew it forth.
"'Oh, Adelaider I began, but she
needed me no more than the dead.
"On leaving home she had put on a
long coat with pockets, and this coat
was still IN her and the pockets gap
ing. Thrusting her other hand into one
of these she drew out a little flask
covered with wicker and set 1t on q
stand beside her. Then she pulled out
two small glasses and set them down
also, and then she turned her back I
could hear the drop-drop of the liquor,
and dark as the was 1t seemed to
turn darker till I put out my hands like
one RrOning In a sndden night But
everything al Derore me wnen sne
turned around again. Features set like
hers force themselves to be seen.
"She advanced, a glass in either
hand. AS she came the floor swayed
and the walls seemed to bow together,
but they did not sway her. Step by
step she drew near, and when she
reached my side she smiled in my face
once. Then she said: Choose Alright,
dear heart. Leave the poisoned one
for me-
Fascinated, I stared at n glass,
then at the other. Had either OF her
hands trembled l should have grasped
ut the glass it held, but not a tremor
shook those icy fingers, nor did her
eyes wander to the right hand or to the
left. Adelaide l shrieked out, toss
them behind you. Let US live-live9
But she only reiterated that awful
word, Choose. and l dare not hesitate
longer lest l lose my chance to save
her. Cropping, 1 touched a glass;
never knew which one-and, drawing
it from her fingers, l lifted 1t to my
mouth. Instantly her other hand rose.
L don't know which Is which myself
she said and drank. That made me
drink also.
The two glasses sent out a clicking
sound as we set them back IN tie
stand. Then we waited, looking at
each other. which, her lips seemed
to say. which, In another moment
we knew. Your choice was the right
one said she and she sank back into
a chair. Don't leave mel she called
out, for l was about TO run ~shrieking
out into the night. II am happy
now that it is all settled, but I do not
want to die alone. oh, how hot l ann
And, leaping up, she flung of her coat
and went gasping about the room for
air. When she sank down again 1t
was on the lounge, and again | tried
to fly for help, and again she would not
let me.
81 tried TO soothe her-to keep down
my awful fear and soothe her. But
the nearness of death had Gained her
poor heart into its old love and habit
ual thoughtfulness. She was terrified
at m position. Sher recalled our moth
Or and the oath she had taken at that
mothers aeathbed to protect me and
care for me and my brother. And !
have failed to do either she cried.
sA-+h~r I have aIienated, and ycu I