Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-05-03
The House
of the
Whispering
Pines
BY ANNA KATHARINE GREEN
Copyright. 1910. by Anna Katharine
Rohlfs
BY ANNA KATHARINE GREEN
CHAPTER XII.

OMETHING went on at dinner
- 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. want to forget that dinner
I want to forget everything but the
two things l live for-to see that fel-
low hanged and to- The words
choked 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
CarmeVs hand" he painted out. 4
saw him. but I didn't take 1t In. l
wasn't thinking. was
who broke the glasses" urged his
relentless inquisitor. zone at your
plate, one at Carmels and one at the
head Of the board where sat your sis
ter Adelaide"
Must l tell these things1 Have 1t,
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 one way. while
wanted pleasure. q free time and a
good drink whenever the fancy took
me. You know what am. Dr.. Perry.
and everybody In town knows. but the
impulse which has always ruled me
was not q downright evil one. or II it
was I called it natural Independence
and let it 60 at that But Adelaide
suffered. ! didn't understand 1t. and
/ didn't care 4 fg 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 on me. I was an
gry-angry at them all-and wanted
a drink. 1t was not her habit to have
wine on the table. but sometimes
when Ranelash 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 Us ALL It was brutal. and I
knew 1t. but I was reckless and wild
for the wine. So. I guess. was Rane-
lagh. for be smiled at her. and she
rang for the champagne When the
glasses had been set beside each plate
she turned toward Carmel We will
Ill 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 one Of us spoke till the glasses
were filled and the maid had left the
dining room and shut the door.
Then Adelaide rose We win drink
standing said she. and never had
seen her look a. she did then. She
drank. We wouldn't call II drinking.
for she Just touched the wine with
her lips. but to her It was debauch.
Then she stood waiting. with the
strongest CLEAN in her eyes. while
Ranelagh drained his glass and I
drained mine. Ranelagh thought she
wanted some sentiment and started to
nay something appropriate. but bis
eye fell on Carmel. who had tried to
drink and couldn't. and be bungled
over his words and at last came to q
pause under the steady stare Of Ade-
laide's eyes.
"'Never mind. Elwood.' she said
4 know what you would like to Gay.
But that's not what I am thinking Of
now. am thinking Of my brother.
the boy who will soon be left to 6nd
his way through life without even the
unwelcome restraint Of my presence.
I want him to remember this day. I
want him to remember me as stand
here before him with this glass in my
hand. You zee wine In Il. Arthur; but
! see poison. Carmel you have griev-
Cd a. well a. I over what has passed
for pleasure In this house. Do a. /
Do. and may Arthur zee and remem-
ber.'
':Her fingers opened: the glass fen
from her hand and lay in broken frag.
ments beside her plate. Carmel fol.
lowed suit. and. before ! knew It. my
own fingers had opened and my own
glass lay In pieces ON the tablecloth
beneath me. Only Ranelagh's hand NJ
manned steady. She held her breath.
watching that hand. and I can hear
the gasp yet with which she saw him
Get bis glass down quietly on the
board. That's the story Of those three
broken glasses" -.
The district attorney sought out and
lifted q paper from the others lying on
the desk before him. 1t was the first
movement he had made since Cumber.
land began bis tale.
I'm sorry" said he. with a rapid
examination Of the paper In bis hand,
'but I shall have to detain you q few
minutes longer. What happened after
the dinner? Where did you go from
the tablet"
II went to my room to smoke. I
was upset and thirsty as a fish,"
"Have You liquor in your roomT
Sometimes"
did you have any that night?"
mot a drop. ] didn't dare. want.
ed that champagne bottle. but Adelaide
had been too quick for me. It was
thrown out-wasted-I do believe, vast.
ed"
$50 you did not drink? You only
smoked in your room?"
Smoked one cigar. That was all
Then I went down town"
MAY I ask by which door you left
the houseT'
THE side door-the one I always
take"
"What overcoat did you wear?'
II don't remember. The first one I
came to. I suppose"
But you can surely tell what hatr'
They expected q violent reply. and
they got it
mo. I can't What has my hat got
to do with the guilt of Elwood Rane-
lagh7"
Nothing. we hope" was the imper-
turbable answer. But we find it nee.
essary to establish absolutely Just
ga hat ~ x,o,> ~unp~