Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-12-08
CHAPTER XII.
MUST TELL THESE THINGs?"

put in the district attorney
You and your sisters
stop! Don't talk to me about that
dinner. | want to forget that dinner.
want to forget everything but the
two things live for-to see that fel-
low hanged and to- The words
choked him, and he let his head fall.
but presently threw it up again. THAT
bastard. whom may God confound,
passed letter across Adelaide into
Carmels hand" he painted out. II
saw him, but / didn't take it in. |
wasn't thinking. | was'-
who broke the glasses" urged his
relentless inquisitor. "one at your
plate. one at Carmel's and one at the
head of the board where sat your sis
ter Adelaide?"
Must | tell these things? Have 1t,
then, Heaven knows think of it
enough not to be afraid to speak it
out in words. Adelaide never had
much patience with me. She was q
girl who only saw one way, while
wanted pleasure. free time and a
good drink whenever the fancy took
me- You know what l am. Dr. Perry,
and everybody in town knows. but the
impulse which has always ruled me
was not a downright evil one. or if it
was | called it natural independence
and let it go at that. But Adelaide
suffered didn't understand 1t, and
| didn't care a fig for it. but she did
suffer God forgive mel"
He stopped and mopped his fore
head. THAT afternoon" he presently
resumed. "she was keyed up more
than usual. She loved Ranelagh. and
he had played or was playing her
false. She saw him look at Carmel.
and she saw Carmel look at him.
Then her eyes fell on me. was an
gry-angry at them all-and | wanted
drink. It was not her habit to have
wine on the table. but sometimes
when Ranelagh was there she did.
She was slave to Ranelagh. Ring
the bell' l ordered. and have in the
champagne. | want to drink to your
marriage and the happy days in pros
pect for us ALL 1t was brutal. and
knew 1t. but l was reckless and wild
for the wine. So, guess. was Rane-
lagh, for he smiled at her, and she
rang for the champagne. When the
glasses had been set beside each plate
she turned toward Carmel we will
all drink, she said. to my coming
marriage This made Carmel turn
pale, for Adelaide had never been
known to drink a drop of liquor in
her life. felt little queer myself,
and not one of us spoke till the glasses
were filed and the maid had left the
dining room and shut the door
'Then Adelaide rose. We will drink
standing said she. and never had l
seen her look as she did then. She
drank. We wouldn't call It drinking,
for she just touched the wine with
her lips. but to her it was debauch.
| Then she stood waiting. with the
strangest CLEAN in her eyes. while
Ranelagh drained his glass and
drained mine. Ranelagh thought she
wanted some sentiment and started to
say something appropriate. but bis
eve fell on Carmel. who had tried TO
| drink and couldn't. and be bungieC
over his words and at last came to a
pause under the steady stare of AIDE
ladies eyes.
".Never mind. Elwood,' she said
| Il know what you would like to say
But that's not what | am thinking OF
| now. | am thinking Of my brother
| the boy who will soon be left to hnd
his way through life without even the
unwelcome restraint of my presence
| | want him to remember this day.
want him to remember me as | STAND
here before him with this glass In my
hand. You see wine in 1t. Arthur; but
| see poison. Carmel. you have griev'
ed as we'll as over what has passed
for pleasure in this house. DO as
do, and may Arthur see and remem
ber.'
"Her fingers opened; the glass fel
from her hand and lay In broken frag
ments beside her plate. Carmel fol
| lowed SulC. anu, beloiC hhN " ~ -J
own fingers had opened and my owl
glass lay in pieces on the tableclott
beneath me. Only Ranelagh's hand re
mained steady. She held her breath
watching that hand. and can hea
tbe gasp vet with which she saw hin
SET his glass down quietly on th'
board That's the story of those three
broken glasses.
The district attorney sought out ant
lifted a paper from the others lying OF
the desk before him. 1t was the mrs
movement he had made since Cumber
land began his tale
I'm sorry" said he. with rapll
examination of the paper In his hano
"but shall have to detain you rev
minutes longer. What happened are
the dinner? Where did you go iron
the table"
~ went to my room to smoke
was upset and thirsty as fish"
"Have you liquor in your roomF'
sometimes" o,
"Did YOU have any that nightT
mot a drop. | didn't dare. wan
ed that champagne bottle, but Adeialu
had been too quick for me. IL wa
thrown out-wasted-I do believe was
ed" .,
| .lv11r