The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-02

fered her. Sue re-neinDered the sve..> at the Cumberland dinner table on that fatal night and shrank from anything that reminded her of it. Ordering the medicine put in a cup. he offered it to her again, and she drank it without question. AS she quieted under it's in fuence the disappointed listeners. now tiptoeing carefully from the room. heard her murmur in final appeal:
 Cannot Adelaide spare one minute from-from her company downstairs to wish me health and kiss me good night?'
 Was it weakness or a settled inabil- ity to remember anything but that which filled her own mind?
 It proved to be a settled ina bility to take in any new ideas or even to re- member much beyond the completion of that dinner. AS the days passed and news of her condition came to me from time to time I found that she had not only forgotten what had passed be- tween herself and the rest of the fam fly previous to their departure for the clubhouse, but all that had afterward occurred at the Whispering Pines, even to her own presence there and the ride home. She could not even re- tain in her mind for any appreciable length of time the idea of Adelaide's death. Even after Dr. Carpenter. with infinite precautions. revealed to her the truth-not that Adelaide had been mur- dered, but that Adelaide had passed away during the period of her own ill., ness-Carmel gave but one cry of grief, then immediately burst forth in her old complaint that Adelaide neglected her. She had lost her happiness and hope and Adelaide would not spare her an hour.
 This expression when I heard of it convinced me. as believe 1t did some others. that her act of self denial in not humoring my whim and flying from rome and duty that night had made stronger impression on her mind than all that came after.
 She never asked for Arthur. This may have grieved him; but, according to my faithful friend and attorney, it appeared to have the contrary effect and to bring him positive relief. When it was borne in on him, as it was soon to be borne in on all, that her mind was not what it was he grew notice ably more cheerful and less suspicious in his manner.
 With this new shock of Carmel's in- ability to explain her own part in the tragedy and thus release my testimony and make me a man again in my own eyes lost the sustaining power which had previously held me up. 1 became apathetic. no longer counting the hours and thankful when they passed. Ar thur had not been arrested, but he un- derstood or allowed others to see that he understood the reason for the sur veillance under which he was now strictly kept.
 Of the inquest, which was held in due course, 1 shall not say much. Only one new fact was elicited by its means, and that of interest solely as making clear how there came to be evidences of poison in Adelaide's stom- ach without the quantity being great enough for more than a temporary dis turbance.
 Maggie, the second girl. had some thing to say about this when the vial which had held the poison was handed about for inspection. She had handled that vial many times on the shelf where it was kept. Once she had dropped it, and, the cork coming out. some of the contents had escaped. Frightened at the mishap. she had filled the vial up with water and put it, thus diluted back on the shelf. No one had noticed the difference, and she had forgotten all about the matter until now. From her description, there must have been very little of the dangerous drug left in the vial and the jury rendered the noncommit- tai verdict:
 "Death by stranguation at the hands of some person unknown"
 I had expected this. The evidence. pointing as it did in two opposing directions. presented a problem which a coroner's jury could hardly be ex pected to solve. I was allowed one sweet half hour of freedom; then l was uSldlueu tO d"dIC tuc dCIlOH UT the grand jury. and so was Arthur.
 When I was informed of this latter fact I made a solemn VOW to myself. It was this: If it falls to my lot to be indicted for this murderous offense l will continue to keep my own counsel. But if I escape and true bill should be found against Arthur then will l follow my better instinct and reveal what I have hitherto kept concealed. even if the torment of the betrayal drives me to self destruction afterward. for no longer cherished the smallest doubt that to Carmers sudden rage. and to that alone, tlS death of Ade 1aide was due.
 My reason for this change from troubled to absolute conviction can be easily explained. It dated from the inquest and will best appear in the relation of an interview I held with my attorney, Charles Clifton, very soon after my second incarceration.
 We had discussed the situation till there seemed to be nothing left to dis cuss. I understand him, and he thought he understood me. He be- lieved Arthur guilty and credited me with the same convictions. Thus only could he explain my inconceivable reticence on certain points he was very well assured I could make clear if vouId That he was not the only man