Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-12-27

DO you remember the words of this
note. Mr. Brotherson?"
Hardly. | recollect It's tenor. but
not the exact words"
Read them"
Excuse me, I had rather not. |
am aware that they were bitter and
should be the cause OF great regret.
was angry when | wrote them"
THAT is evident. But the cause OF
your anger is not so clear. Mr.. Broth
erson. Miss Challoner was a woman
Of lofty character. or such was the
universal opinion OF her friends.
What could she have done to gen
tleman like yourself 70 draw forth
such a TRADE? ?"
You ask that?"
81 am obliged to. There is mystery
surrounding her death-the kind OF
mystery which demands perfect frank
ness on the part of all who were near
her on that evening. or whose rela-
lions to her were in any way peculiar.
You acknowledge that your friendship
was OF such a guarded nature that it
surprised you greatly to hear 1t recog-
nized Yet you could write her let
ter of this nature. Why"
because" the word came glibly;
but the next one was long in follow
ing. Because" he repeated. letting
the fire OF some strong feeling disturb
for a moment his dignifed reserve,
81 offered myself to Miss Challoner.
and she dismissed me with great dis
dain."
"Ah! and so you thought threat
was due herr"
"A threat?"
These words contain a threat. do
they not?"
They may. | was hardly master OF
! myself at the time. | may have ex
pressed myself in an unfortunate man
ner."
Read the words, Mr.. Brotherson.
really must insist that you do So"
There was no hesitancy now. Ris
| ing, he leaned over the table and read
| the few words the other had spread
out for his perusal. Then he slowly
rose to his full height, as he an
swered, with some slight display o.
conjunction:
Il remember 1t perfectly now. L
is not a letter to be proud Of
hope"
Pray finish, Mr.. Brotherson."
THAT you are not seeking to es
tablish a connection between this let
ter and her violent death?"
Letters of this sort are often yer,
mischievous, Mr.. Brotherson. TIL,
harshness with which this is writer
might easily rouse emotions of mos
unhappy nature in the breast of
woman as sensitive as Miss Cha
loner"
Pardon me, DR.. Heath; | canno
fatter myself so far. You overrat
my influence with the lady you name.
you believe, then, that she was sir
cere in her rejection Of your az
dresses?"
Il have never allowed myself
think otherwise. | have seen no re;
son why | should. The suggestio
you would convey by such a questio
is hardly welcome, now. | pray 20
to be careful In your judgment OF sue
a woman's impulses. They ofte
spring from sources not to be soun'
ed even by her dearest friends"
Meantime, the coroner had coilecte
his thoughts. With an apology for th
extremely personal nature of his il
quiry, he asked Mr.. Brotherson IL b
would object to giving him some fu
> Their details of his acquaintanceshi
with Miss Challoner; where he fir,
met her and under what circumstance
their friendship had developed.
: Not at ALL" was the ready repl
Il have nothing to conceal in the ma
ter. / only wish that her father wei
present that he might listen to Il
recital Of my acquaintanceship wit
: his daughter. He might possibly u
! derstand her better and regard wit
!. more leniency the presumption in