River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-08-07

/ e@lOnOt SGCluAuSlJ Sd. lAdI 10 OuS
knew-no one better-that they were
not really alone. that witnesses were
within hearing, IL not within sight.
Doris" he urged again, and this
time she turned in his direction and
gazed, aghast. If the voice were
strange, what of the face which now
confronted her. The ravages of sick
ness had been marked, but they were
nothing TO those made in an in
slant by blasting grief She was
startled. although expecting much
and could only press his hands while
she waited for the question he was
gathering strength to utter. 1t was
simple when 1t came; just two words
How long?"
| She answered them as simply:
Just as long as you have been i'll,
said she; then, with no attempt to
break the inevitable shock, she went
on: Miss Challoner was struck dead
and you were taken down with ty
phoid on the self-same day"
Struck dead! Why do you use
that word. struck? Struck dead! she
young woman. Oh, Doris. an acct
dent! My darling has been killed in
an accident"
They do not call it accident. They
call 1t what it never was What it
never was" she insisted, pressing him
back with frightened hands, as he
strove to rise. Miss Challoner was
How nearly the word shot had left
her lips. How fiercely above all else,
in that narrowing moment had risen
the desire to fling the accusation of
that word into the ears of him who
listened from his secret hiding place
She srefrained out Of compassion for
the man she loved, and declared in
stead, Miss Challoner died from a
wound; how given, why given, no one
knows. l had rather have died my
self than have to tell you this Oh,
Mr.. Brotherson, speak. sob, do any
thing but"
She started back, dropping his
hands as she did SO. With quick intu-
ition she saw that he must be left to
himself if he were to meet this blow
without succumbing. The body must
have freedom If the spirit would not
go mad. Conscious, or perhaps not
conscious, of his release from her re-
straining hand, albeit profiting by it,
he staggered to his feet, murmuring
that word of doom: Wound! wound!
my darling died of wound! What
kind of a wound?" he suddenly thun-
dered out. Il cannot understand what
you mean by wound. Make it clear to
ne. Make it clear to me at once. If
must bear this grief, let me know
its whole depth. Leave nothing to my
imagination or | cannot answer for
myself. Tell it all, Doris"
And Doris told him:
She was on the mezzanine floor
Of the hotel where she lives. She
was seemingly happy and had been
writing letter-a letter to me which
they never forwarded. There was
no one else by but some strangers
good people whom one must believe.
She was crossing the floor when sud-
denly she threw up her hands and
fell. A thin, narrow paper-cutter was
in her grasp; and it flew into the
lobby Some say she struck herself
with that cutter; for when they picked
her up they found a wound in her
breast which that cutter might have
made"
Edith? never!"
The words were chokingly said; he
was swaying, almost falling, but he
steadied himself
who says that?" he asked.
''It was the coroner's verdict"
And she died that way-died?"
Immediately.
After writing to your"
Yes
What was in the letter."
Nothing of threat, they say. Only
just cheer and expressions of hope.
Just like the others, Mr.. Brotherson."
'And they accuse her of taking her
own life? Their verdict is lie. They
did not know her" Then. after some
moments of wild and confused feeling
he declared, with a desperate effort at
self-control: You said that some be-
lieve this. Then there must be 9th
crs who do not. What do they say?"
Nothing. They simply feel as you
do. They see no reason for the act
and no evidence of her having medi-
tated it. Her father and her friends
iacist besides, that she was incapable
OF such a horror. The mystery of it
is killing US all; me above others, for
I've had to show you cheerful face,
With my brain Keeling and my heart
like lead in my bosom"
She held out her hands. She tried
to draw mis- attention to herself; not
from any sentiment of egotism, but
to break, if she could, the strain of
these insupportable horrors where SO
short time before Hope sang and
Life reveled in reawakened joys.
Perhaps some faint realization of
this reached him, for presently he
caught her by the hands and bowed
his head upon her shoulder and finally
let her seat him again, before he said:
DO they know of-of my interest
in this?''
Yes; they know about the two
o. BIS"
THE two" He was On his feet
again, but only for a moment; his
weakness was greater than his will
power.
Orlando and Oswald Brotherson."
she explained, in answer to his brok-
en- appeal. Your brother wrote let
tiers to her as we'll as you, and signed
them just as you did, with his mi
RAILS only These letters were found