Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-01

Numbered 1t was all the same"
she said sullenly, dropping back into
chair nevertheless when docthor
with all the learnin' that goes beyond
the knowledge av woman let's his
wife die an an innocent mite av q
new born baby go down to the grave
with her, it's black murder 1t Is, no
less. How sould she rest quiet after
that, an half her life calm to her,
an the mother that wouldn't let her
go, an had the, power to see? 'Tis
no docthor she wants, but priest, an
no medicine but handful av holy
wather, like my own sisters cousin
Nora that used to sit an'talk with her
lad that was dead eventn's by the
byre wall, an Father Tracy came be-
hind an sprikled the two av thin,
the one he could see an the one he
could not see."
"Who was it that died?" asked
sharply. "Was it Miriam? Did Reid
lie to me when he said so or did
Carucci lie when he said that Reid
was married to Lady?"
She grew suddenly quiet and
cautious, as If she had said too much
already, and must weigh her words.
"Reid told We the truth for once, !
she mattered Twas Antonio lied"
"Then Miriam was his wife and
Lady
EYES," she answered. at was Mir
iam," but she did not meet my eyes.
Then she went on hastily, before |
could speak again.
"Ye see, sir, twas like this. When
Miriam died, her mothers heart
nearly went with her, an SO because
the poor dear loved her more than
enough, she did not 60 quite away.
She used to talk to her, an when the
william that let her die got doctors an
looked like judgment, an said my
poor soul was wrong In her head, an
she ought to be taken away, an they
moved her out there in the country
where they had no friends, an kept
her hidden as II there was a shame
upon her, sure the lovin' soul of the
dead girl followed her mother. They
said she was crazy when she made
them move her daughters room. an
keep 1t up in the new house as II
had been in the old, an would sit an
talk to her there. Sure. twas no sign
at all, an black lie in Reid's black
heart to set the husband an the
daughter again her. Some folks are
that way, that can see the fairy folh
an the COLLINS, an speak with the
wandherin dead A good priest Mrs
Tabor should have when the power
tires her, an not lynn schemin
brute av docthor that wants to put
her away. Twas not much at first
anyhow. But he turned their heads
with his talk av asylums an horrors
to lead them away rom his own
wickedness."
us that the secret. them" I asked
'Is the trouble no more than their
fear that Mrs. Tabor is insane?"
Secret? What secret? There's nc
secret they have at all, only wicked
lie" She was growing careful again
"'Tis all that docthor that's never
happy but dom harm. She's no more
crazy than meself. an no one thinks
nor fears 1t, not even him. They onl!
say so, because" She stopped hersel
again.
"Sheila,' I said, tell me Just on
thing How much truth Is there II
what your husband says?"
"How do know what he says?" Sht
was watching me closely, as If to SET
that I followed her words. "He't
dhrunk half the time. poor divil, an
| he says one thing today an one to
morrow. Never We mind him. sir"
| "But there must have been some
| thing for him to go on" I persisted
"Did Reid have some affair abroad
before his marriage, or not?"
She hcsitated, her apparent hatred
of Reid struggling with her loyalty tc
the family and her recovered caution
! There was some matther av s
woman in Germany" she said at last
reluctantly, "but never rightly knew
about it, nor Antonio either" Their
more rapidly "An' it's angry I've been
J Mr.. Crosby, an it's like I've said more
meself than mean" She paused.
HAS that nothing to do with thu
trouble in the family Shelia, you know
I'm their good friend, and I'm no
merely gossiping. You must have
seen" for the life of me coult
not 60 on.
s.I'll say no more" she answered
obstinately. Its weary am for you
an the poor darlin that's bewitchet
We. but" her eyes filled, and she
shut her mouth with a snap. Say
what | would after that, ! could not
move her. She had said enough al
ready, and she trusted a gentleman
like me that it should go no further
That was all.
"Sheila," I said, as rose to go, is
all you have told me true?"
"Thrue?" she started as II I hac
struck her. Eyes, it's thrue-an' sor
row fell them that made 1t 3d."
| took up my hat and stick from the
table.
1--WE will have another talk about
this some day, Sheila." l said. And
! closed the door behind me.
CHAPTER Xxx.
For the next few days I think