The Harlowton news., 1912-06-21
The Woman Who
I alked to Herself
BY MARTIN B. ERl-lcH

1t was a bright moonlight night--tbe
10Th Of April, 1871. l was walking
along tile street of the city in which
lived and heard a town clock strike
with it's deep tones the hour Of TO-
This is a double anniversary for
me- said to myself.
What | meant was this: Ten years
before. on the 10th Of April, 1861. |
had been with the troops cutting their
way through Baltimore to the relief Of
the national capital, threatened by the
secessionists, and on the present 18th
of April, 1871, | had only an hour be-
fore heard the clock strike been ac-
cepted as the future husband Of the
woman who has for forty years been
my wife.
There is a third reason why hnve
remembered that 10Th of April, 1871.
While passing before 4 dwelling a Wo-
man came out. muttering inlprecatlons
on some one. She was SO wrought up
by what she was thinking about that
she did not appear to see me. walk
ed on behind her and heard h*>r talk
ing to herself | don't remember her
words, but she was heapips maledic-
tions upon the head OF her husband.
who had deserted her, leaving her to
supnort and care for two little chill
dren. These words | remember hear
ing her say:
Poor dear little Bob, sick and hun
cry and nothing to give him to eat but
dry bread when he needs dainties! ia
| like to kill
She turned into baker shop and
asked for loaf Of bread. Offering 4
cents instead of the full price. which
was s. The baker had evidently
granted similar requests.
When she came out / spoke to her.
! told her that had overheard her talk
| ing to herself and what she had said.
She burst into tears and wrung her
hands. | told her that it would give
/, me pleasure to supply her immediate
wants and handed her bill quite suf
ficient for that purpose. Not only
were my sympathies enlisted for her,
but | was myself at the moment the
happest man in the world
AS she thanked me the moon shone
down full Oh her face. showing it to
me distinctly. It was face not soon
TO be forwotten-not beautiful but sad.
We would like to forget the sad sights
of life, but we can't. 1t is much easier
to forget the happy ones.
A few months later the public be
came interested in the trial of WON
an accused of having murdered her
husband. | read some accounts of the
trial, and certain features of it seemed
familiar to me. Witnesses swore that
they had heard her say that she was
going to kill him if she hanged for it.
Where and when had heard some
one say 81 should like to kill Then
it came to ME that it was the woman
whom | had seen come out of house
talking to herself. who had been de
serted by her husband. whose sick boy
needed dainty food and for whose i'm
mediate wants | had provided.
A thrill of horror ran through me
the thought that she had been int1u
enced by her wrongs to do what sht
had said she would like to do. | re
solved not to speak to any one OF m,
having met such a woman lest ! b.
, called to testify against her. 70
awhile | kept away from the court
rooms, but something uncanny-
| strange c,lriosity-drew me there, an
on the day of the summing up ylelo
: ed and went to the courtroom.
] had not been mistaken. Ihe prls
A oner's face was the same that | ha
last seen on the street in the moonllgh
4 though the sadness of it had give
y place to sort of stupor
e The prosecutor was summing up q
e entered the courtroom. l heard MI
a say that he had proved that the w
Il man had threatened to kill her lln
!, band; that at the hour Of 0 at night h
l. had left friend to go to his nome, sa.
ing that he had received some none
e and was going to return with 1t TO n
], wife. At ten minutes past 10 one
+ the adjoining house had heard CT.
y had gone in and found the man mu
IL dered, the money gone Later his Wi
le had been found at a confectoner's wit
4 ten dollar Dlil UuslnS uetleaNle
d, What could be palmer than that 81
~ had in a mad desire for revenge kilt
y him. taken the money and gone out
~ an ordinary errand to avert suspicion
- sprang from my seat among Il
20 spectators and cried out: THAT Womi
NC is innocent. I know it | can pro
1e N it. Put me on the stand"
- There was hubbub in the coul
~ ~ room, but when I took the witne
I'' stand and had been sworn all was
--~ lence to hear what would say. ! to
- how I had followed her to the bal
shop and had given her ten doll
bill. When asked how | remember
n the date and the hour. even alme
L the minute. gave the reasons | ha
III ~, Cf thiS