Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-10-20
CHAPTER III.
A SCRAP OF PAPER.

lay u pOllCt dTTlNeu, anu i
could hear the whole house be-
ing ransacked. l had found
my shoes and was sitting in my own
private room before a fire which had
been lighted for me on the hearth.
was in state of stupor now.
The storm. which had been exceed
ingly fierce while 1t lasted, had quiet
ed down to steady fall of snow.
Had It's mission been to serve as
blanket to this crime by wiping out
from the old snow all telltale foot
steps and such other records as sim
plify cases of this kind for the detec-
tives 1t could not have happened more
apropos to the event. While this filled
me with relief In one way, it added
to my care in another, for the storm
which could accomplish so much in so
short a time was bitter one for
young girl to meet, and Carmel must
have met 1t at its worst in her lone
some struggle homeward.
The door behind me opened. and
turned to face DR.. Perry. once prac-
hcing physician and my fathers init
mate friend. now a county official of
no ordinary intelligence and. what was
better, of no ordinary feeling.
His attachment to my father had
not descended to me. and for the mo.
ment he treated me like stranger.
II am the coroner Of this district.
said he. II have left my bed to have
few words with you and learn If
your detention here is warranted.
They have told me what you had to
say in explanation Of your presence
here where crime Of some nature
has taken place. But should like to
hear the story from your own lips.
You have been intending to marry
Miss Cumberland"
"Yes" l looked the man directly in
the eye. "Our wedding day was set"
"Did you love her? Pardon me. II
I am to be Of any benefit to you at
this crisis / must strike at the root Of
things. If you do not wish to answer
say so. Mr.. Ranelagh."
II do WISH" This was lie. but
what was I to do. knowing how dan
gerous 1t would be for Carmel to have
It publicly known where my affections
were really centered? "I am in no
position to conceal anything from you.
did love Miss Cumberland. We have
been engaged for year."
~ see. and she returned your lover
Sincerely" Was the room light
enough to reveal my guilty flush? She
had loved me only too we'll, too jeal
ously, too absorbingly for her happi
ness or mine.
"And the sister|
1t was gently but gravely put, and
instantly I knew that our secret was
out, however safe we had considered
1t. This man was cognizant Of it, and
If he. why not others? Why not the
whole town. made my reply in thest
words:
"Her sister is her sister. / hardly
think that either Of us would be ap
to forget that Have you heard other
wise, sir?"
He was prepared for equivocation
possibly for denial, but not for attack
His manner changed and showed dis
trust, and I saw that had lost rathe
than made by this venturous move.
''Is this your writingT" he suddenl!
asked, showing me morsel of pape
which he had drawn from his yes
pocket.
looked and felt that now under
stood what the pines had been tryinl
to tell me for the last few hours Tha
compromising scrap Of writing had no
been destroyed. 1t existed for her an,
my undoing. But Carmel was no foo
even If she had wild and demonlaca
moments. This could not be my not
to her-that fatal note which woul
make all denial of our mutual passio
upauailinR-