The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-02-01

light upon the deepest infamy which
could befall me. But today there had
settled over that once innocent spirit
q cloud OF too impenetrable q nature
for any light TO struggle to and fro be
tween US.
could not contemplate that cloud
I could not dwell upon her misery OF
upon the revulsion- OF feeling which
follows such impetuous acts. And II
had been an impetuous act, the result
OF one OF her RACES. had been told
OF these RACES. had even seen her In
one. When they passed she was her
lovable self once more and very peni-
tent and very downcast. II all fear
ed were true she was suffering acute
~ now.
Turning 10 the officer next to me. l
put the question which had been burn
ing i'm my mind for hours:
''Tell me how you came to know
there was trouble here. What brought
you to this house? There can be moth
Ing wrong in telling me that"
"Well. IL you don't know he began.
IL do not" broke in.
81 guess you'd better wait till the
chief has had a word with you"
Where was Carmel. and how was she
enduring these awful hours? Had re-
pentance come and with 1t desire to
own her guilt? Did she think Of me
and the effect this unlocked for death
would have upon my feelings? That
/ should suffer arrest for her crime
could not have entered her mind.
had seen her. but she had not seen
me in the dark hall. No intimation of
my dubious position or It's inevitable
consequences had reached her yet
When II did what would she do? did
not know her well enough to tell.
The attraction she had felt for me had
not been strong enough TO lead her to
accommodate herself to my wishes and
mary me offhand. but II had been
strong enough to nerve her arm in
whatever alteration she may have
had with her jealous minded sister. 1t
was the temper and not the strength
OF the love which would tell in strait
like this. Would II prove of gener-
Gus kind? Should have 10 combat
her desire to take upon herself the
full blame of her deed. with all its
shames and penalties. or should have
the still deeper misery of finding her
callous to my position and welcoming
any chance which diverted suspicion
from herself? All communication be-
tween us. in spite of our ardent and un-
governable passion. had been so casual
and so slight. Looks. a whispered
word or so. one furtive clasp I'm which
our hands seemed TO grow together.
were all l had to go upon as tests Of
her feeling toward me. Her character
/ had judged from her face. which was
lovely.
What would relieve my doubts? As
Hexford drew near me again on our
way to the head OF the staircase
summoned up courage to ask:
Have you heard anything from the
hill? Has the news OF this tragedy
been communicated to Miss Cumber-
lands family, and, II so, how are they
bearing this affiictionT" ...
His lip curled. and for a minute he
hesitated: then something In my as
pect or the straightforward look /
gave him softened him, and he answer
ed frankly. IL coldly:
"Word has gone there, Of course, but
only tho servants are affected by it SO
far. Miss Cumberland, the younger.
is very i'll. and the boy-I don't know
his name-has not shown up since last
evening. He's very dissipated, they
say. and may be in any one Of the
joints in the lower part of the town."
stopped in dismay. clutching wildly
at the railing of the stairs we were
descending. l had hardly heard the
latter words. All my mind was on
what he had said first
Miss Carmel Cumberland ILL.,"
stammered. too Ill to be told?"
was sufficiently master Of myself
to put 1t this way.
YES" he rejoined kindly as he urg-
ed me down the very stairs l had seen
her descend In such state of mind a
few hours before. "A servant who
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