Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-06-21

THE POISONED ONE FOR ME-"
tween us two, unless you wish a GER
tainty, Carmel, in which case 1 will
pour out but one glass and drink that
myself
"She was in a fever now and des-
perate. Death was in the room.
felt 1t In my lifted hair and in her
strangely drawn face. If l screamed
who would hear me? never thought
Of the telephone. and l doubt If she
would have let me use it then. The
power she had always exerted over
me was very strong In her at this mo-
ment
"'Shall drink alone" she repeated.
and l cried out. NO at which her
hand went to her breast. as had so
long expected. and l saw the glitter
Of little vial as she drew it forth.
"'Oh. Adelaide- l began. but she
needed me no more than the dead
ION leaving home she had put on a
long coat with pockets. and this coat
was still on her and the pockets gap
ing Thrusting her other hand into one
Of these she drew out Il little flask
covered with wicker and set it on a
stand beside her. Then she pulled out
two small glasses and set them down
also. and then she turned her back. I
could hear the drop-drOp of the liquor,
and dark as the room was it seemed to
turn darker till put out my hands like
one cropping in sudden night But
everything cleared before me when she
turned around again. Features set like
hers force themselves to be seen.
'She advanced, glass in either
hand. AS she came the floor swayed
and the walls seemed to bow together,
but they did not sway her. Step by
step she drew near, and when she
reached my side she smiled in my face
once. Then she said: Choose Alright,
dear heart. Leave the poisoned one
for me-
Fascinated, 1 stared at one glass,
then ut the other. Had either of her
hands trembled should have grasped
ut the glass 1t held, but not tremor
shook those icy fingers. nor did her
eyes wander to the right hand or to the
left. Adelaide l shrieked out, toss
them behind you. Let us llve-livev
But she only reiterated that awful
word, 'Choosev and dare not hesitate
longer lest l lose my chance to save
her. Cropping, 1 touched glass-I
never knew which one-and, drawing
it from her fingers, I lifted 1t to my
mouth. Instantly her other hand rose.
4 don't know which is which myself
she said and drank. That made me
drink also.
1.-THE two glasses sent out clicking
sound as we set them back on the
stand. Then we waited, looking at
each other. which, her lips seemed
to say. which, In another moment
we knew. Your choice was the right
one.' said she and she sank back into
a chair. Don't leave me" she called
out, for I was about to run shrieking
out into the night. II am happy
now that it is all settled. but l do not
want to die alone. Oh. how hot am!
And, leaping up, she flung off her coat
and went gasping about the room for
air. When she sank down again 1t
was on the lounge. and again l tried
to fly for help, and again she would not
let me.
II tried to soothe her-to keep down
my awful fear and sOothe her. But
the nearness of death had Gained her
poor heart into its old love and habit
ual thoughtfulness. She was terrified
at my position. She recalled our moth
er and the oath she had taken at that
mothers deathbed to protect me and
care for me and my brother. And l
have failed to do either she cried.
Arthur 1 have alienated. and you 1
am leaving to unknown trouble and
danger
''She was not to be comforted.
saw her life ebbing and could do
nothing. She chung to me while she
called up all her powers and made
plans for me and showed me way Of
escape. was to burn the note, fling
two Of the glasses from the window
and leave the other and the deadly
vial near her hand-this before l
left the room. Then l was to call up
the police and say there was some.
thing wrong at the clubhouse, but I
was not to give my name or ever ac-
knowledge was there. Nothing can
save trouble she said. but that trou-
bic must not come near you. Swear
that you will heed my words-swear
that you will do what l say
Il swore. All that she asked prom
Used. l was almost dying. too. and
had the light gone out and the rafters
Of the house fallen in and buried us
both it would have been better But
the light burned on, and the life in
her eyes faded out, and the hands
grasping mine relaxed heard one
little gasp. then n low prayer, Tell
Arthur never-never-again to- Then
silence"
Sobs, cries, yelled faces, then ST.
lence In the courtroom too. 1t was