Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-12-21
XII.

MUST I TELL THESE
"~OMETHING went on at dinner
va time. 1t was not a usual meal"
put in the district attorney.
You and your sisters
Stop! Don't talk to me about that
dinner. l want to forget that dinner.
l want to forget everything but the
two things | live for-to see that fell
,xow hanged and to- The words
Hioked him. and he let his head fall,
but presently threw it up again. THAT
bastard, whom may God confound,
passed a letter across Adelaide into
Carmel's hand" he painted out. Il
wasn't thinking. was"-
"Who broke the glasses" urged his
relentless inquisitor, lone at your
plate, one at Carmers and one at the
head Of the board where sat your sis
ter Adelaide?"
Must l tell these things? Have it.,
then! Heaven knows l think of it
enough not to be afraid to speak it
out in words. Adelaide never had
much patience with me. She was a
girl who only saw n way. while 1
wanted pleasure. a free time and a
good drink whenever the fancy took
me. You know what I 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 l called it natural independence
and let it go at that. But Adelaide
suffered. l didn't understand it. and
/ didn't care a fig for it, but she did
! suffer. God forgive me-"
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 IN me. was an
gry-angry at them alI-and I wanted
a drink. 1t was not her habit to have
wine on the table. but sometimes
when Ranelagh was there she did.
She was a slave to Ranelagh. Ring
the BELL I ordered. and have in, the
champagne. I want to drink to your
marriage and the happy days in pros
pect for is ALL 1t was brutal. and I
knew it. but l was reckless and wild
for the wine. So. I 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 a little queer myself,
and not n of us spoke till the glasses
N<ere filled and the maid had left the
dining room and shut the door.
'Then Adelaide rose. we will drink
standing said she. and had !
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 I
drained mine. Ranelagh thought she
wanted some sentiment and started to
say something appropriate. but his
eye fell OF Carmel. who had tried to
drink and couldn't. and he bungled
over his words and at last came to a
pause under the steady stare Of Ade-
ladies eyes.
"'Never mind. Elwood.' she said.
4 know what you would like to say.
But that's not what ! am thinking of
now. am thinking Of my brother.
the boy who viii soon be left to find
his way through life without even the
unwelcome restraint OF my presence.
I want him to remember this day. !
want him to remember me as I stand
here before him with this glass In my
hand. Yon q wine in II. Arthur; but
u see poison. Carmel. you have grlev-