Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-10-20
Absolutely Pure

hill | wrote IL few lines to her sister,
urging her TO trust me with her fate
and meet me at the station in time for
the 1920 train. meant to carry her
at once to F., where | had friend in
the ministry who would at once unite
us In marriage was very peremp-
tory. for my nerves were giving way
under the secret strain to which they
had been subjected for so long. and she
herself was looking worn with her own
silent and uncommunicated conflict.
ITO write this note was easy, but to
deliver 1t involved difficulties. Miss
Cumberland's eyes seemed to be more
upon me than usual. Mine were oblig-
ed to respond. and Carmel. seeing this,
kept hers on her plate or on the one
other person seated at the table. her
brother Arthur. But the opportunity
came as we all rose and passed togeth.
er into the drawing room. Carmel fell
into place at my side, and l slipped the
note into her hand. She had not ex-
pected it. and | fear that the action
was observed, for when l took my
leave Of Miss Cumberland shortly aft
er was struck by her expression.
had never seen such look on her face
before, nor can conceive of one pre-
senting a more extraordinary contrast
to the few and commonplace words
with which she bade me good evening.
II neither knew Adelaide nor did I
know the girl whose love had so
overestimated. She failed me, DR..
Perry. l was met at the station not
by herself, but by letter-a few hur-
ried lines given me by an unknown
man-in which she stated that | had
asked too much of her-that she could
not so wrong her sister who had
brought her up and done everything
for her since her mother died. | have
not that letter now or / would show
1t to you. In my raging disappoint-
ment I tore it up on the place where
received it and threw the pieces away.
had staked my whole future on one
desperate throw, and had lost. If l
had had pistor'- stopped, warned
by an easy movement on the part Of
the, man | addressed that | had better
not dilate too much upon my feelings.
l pulled myself together and proceed
ed to finish my story with greater di.
rectness.
II did not leave the station till the
1920 train had gone. 1t was from
sheer preoccupation of mind that
drove this way instead of straight out
by Marshall avenue. AS reached the
bend in the road where you get your
first sight Of the buildings l saw
thin streak of smoke rising from one
of its chimneys, and, anxious as to its
meaning. | drove in
"Wait, Mr.. Ranelagh, | am sorry to
interrupt you. but by which gate did
you enter?"
"By the lower one"
"Was it showing at this time?"
mot yet. 1t was just before the
clouds rushed upon the moon, | could
see everything quite plainly"
My companion nodded. and went
breathlessly on. Any question of his
staggered me- was ignorant of the
facts at his command. was not able
to conjecture by what chance or at
whose suggestion the police had raid
ed the place and discovered the trag-
edy which had given point to that
raid. continued. but l omitted all
mention Of the most serious part of
my adventure-said nothing of my vi
sion of Carmel or the terrible conclu.
sions which her presence there had
awakened.
"There is no more to say" | conclud-
ed. 81 know nothing. 1t is all
phantasmagoria to me-with no more
meaning than nightmare. She Is
dead--I know that-but beyond that
all is sdoubt-confusion. l can neither
understand nor explain"