The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-22
The Woman Who
Talked to Herself
By MARTIN B. ERICH

1t was bright moonlight night--tht
10th Of April, 1871. / was walking
along the street of the city in which
lived and heard a town clock strike
with its deep tones the hour OF TO-
This is double anniversary fol
me-" said to myself.
What | meant was this: Ten years
before, on the 10th Of April, 1861,
had been with the troops cutting theil
way through Baltimore to the relief OF
the national capital. threatened by the
Isecessionists. and on the present 10th
lof April, 1871, had only an hour be-
fore l heard the clock strike been ac-
lcepted as the future husband of the
woman who has for forty years been
my wife.
remembered that 10Th of April, 1871.
While passing before dwelling a wo-
man came out, muttering imprecations
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 her talk
ling to herself. / don't remember her
words, but she was heaping maledic-
Itions upon the head of her husband,
who had deserted her, leaving her to
support 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! I'd
like to kill
She turned into a baker shop and
asked for loaf of bread, offering 4
cents instead of the full price, which
was 5. 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 1t would give
me pleasure to supply her immediate
wants ana handed her bill quite suf-
ficient for that purpose. Not only
were my sympathies enlisted for her,
but / was myself at the moment the
happiest man in the world
AS she thanked me the moon shone
down full on her face, showing it to
me distinctly. 1t was face not soon
to be forgotten--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 wom-
an accused Of having murdered her
husband / read some accounts of the
trial, and certain features Of 1t seemed
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 II should like to kill''- Then
It came to me that 1t 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 at |
The thought that she had been infu
enced by her wrongs to do what she
had said she would like to do. re-
solved not to speak to any one Of my
having met such woman lest be
called to testify against her. For
awhile I kept away from the court
rooms, but something uncanny-a
strange curiosity-drew me there, and
IN the day Of the summing up yield
I'd and went to the courtroom.
/ had not been mistaken. The pris-
pner's face was the same that I had
last seen on the street In the moonlight.
though the sadness of it had given
place to sort of stupor.
The prosecutor was summing up as
| entered the courtroom. heard him
say that he had proved that the wo-
nan had threatened to kill her hus-
oand; that at the hour of 0 at night he
lad left friend to go to his home, say
ng that he had received some money
Ind was going to return with it to his
wife. At ten minutes past 10 one In
he adjoining house had heard n cry,
lad gone in and found the man muir
Tered, the money gone. Later his wife
lad been found at confectioner's with
ten dollar bill buying delicacies.
What could be palmer than that she
lad in a mad desire for revenge killed
Tim, taken the money and gone out on
n ordinary errand to avert suspicion?
I sprang from my seat among the
pectators and cried out: ".That woman
J innocent. I know it. I can prove
/. Put me on the stand"
There was a hubbub in the court
DOM, but when I took the witness
tand and had been sworn all was ST.
ence to hear what would say. told /,
ow I had followed her to the bake
hop and had given her ten dollar
i'll. When asked how | remembered
he date and the hour, even almost [
he minute, gave the reasons | have
iven in the beginning of this story.
The woman was acquitted. What l
i'd for her after that is for me and :
~ IA milv and for no ono else