Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-02-16

i the foot of the shed q bottle Of whisky
such as had never drunk and did
not know how to resist Catching it
up, | ran about the house to where l
had left my rig. 1t was safe. and in
my relief at finding it | knocked off
the head of the bottle and took a long
drink.
"Then l drank again; then l sat
down in the snow and drank again.
In short, nearly finished it: then |
became confused. | looked at the piece
of broken bottle in my hand. took
fancy to its shape and, breaking off
a bit more, thrust 1t into one of my
big pockets; then | staggered up to
the horse, but did not unite him.
Curiosity seized me again. and l
thought | would take another look at
the ladies-perhaps they might want
me-perhaps-I was pretty well con-
fused, but | went back and crawled
once more into the window
This time the place was siient-not
sound. not breath-but could see
a faint glimmer of light. | followed
this glimmer. Still there was no
sound
81 came to an open door. A couch
was before me, heaped with cushions
A long ray of moonlight had shot in
through a communicating door. and |
could see everything by it. This was
where the ladies had been when | lis
tened before. but they were not here
now.
Weren't they? Why did l tremble
so. then, and stare and stare at those
cushions? Why did feel must pull
them away. as presently did? l was
mad with liquor and might easily have
imagined what there saw. but I did
not think OF this then. l believed what
l saw instantly. Miss Cumberland
was dead, and | had discovered the
crime. She had killed herself-no; she
had been killed.
"Should yell out murder? No, no;
could be sorry without that. | would
not yell. Mistresses were plenty. l
had liked her, but need not yell.
There was something else ! could do.
"She had ring on her finger-a ring
that for months hau alouted over
and gloated over any other beautiful
thing in my life. wanted It'll had
always wanted it. 1t was before me
for the taking now. should be a
fool to leave it there for some other
wretch to pilfer. | had loved her. I
would love the ring.
Reaching down. | took it. l drew
it from her finger. put it in my
pocket. l-God in heaven, the eyes
had seen glassed in death were look
ing at me!
"She was not dead; she had been
witness of the theft. Without a
thought Of what was doing my hands
closed round her throat. 1t was drink,
fright. terror at the look she gave me,
which made me kill her, not my real
self. My real self could have shrieked
when in another instant | saw my
work.
But shrieking would not bring her
back. and it would quite ruin me. Miss
Carmel was somewhere near. | heard
her now at the telephone In another
minute she would come out and meet
me. | dared not linger.
Tossing back the pillows, l stun.
bled from the place. Why l was not
heard by my young mistress | do not
know. Her ears were deaf. just as my
eyes were half blind. In half hour
was dancing with the maids, telling
them of the pretty stranger with whom
/ had been sitting out an hour Of fun
In a quiet corner. They believed me.
and not particle Of suspicion has any
man ever had of me since.
But others have had to suffer, and
that has made hell of my nights. ! re.
stored the ring to my poor Mistress
but even that brought harm to one
had no quarrel with. But he has es.
capped conviction. and If | thought Mr.
Ranelagh would also escape might
have courage to live out my miserable
life and seek to make amends in the
way she would have me.
But fear for him. | fear for Miss
Carmel. Never could testify in an
other trial which threatened her peace
of mind. | see that. instead Of being
the selfish steaer of her sisters happi
ness. as | had thought. she is an ange
from whom all future suffering should
be kept.
'orhis is my way of sparing her. Per
haps 1t will help her sister to forgiv,
me when we meet in the world t,
which am now going"