The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-24
CHRISTMAS IN JAIL IS
 WISH OF LOVE SLAVE
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 voluntary prison. The reason he gave. usually large accumulation of legal correspondence and he wanted the woman to attend to it ,as was her wont.
 A violent quarrel followed. Couch had been complaining of feeling un- we'll for some time and he became so excited that Miss Branch feared for him and yielded, She promised to remain at the office over Christ mas.
 There was a. econcrliation, but the strain of the quarrel had been too much for Couch. and he toppled into Miss Branch's arms with what she described as "a sort of gurgEing cry.''
 ''I had seen people die before said the woman today, ''and knew that Mel was dying ran for Dr. Cur lette, who knew was a brother-in- law of 'MePs.'
 'cWhen we got back he was dead. The doctor said right away that the death was due to the bursting of the aorta as the result or excitement.
 ''I knew that it was caused by our quarrel and my selfish desire to go away from him when he really needed me to care for him.
 When Couch's wife hurried to the office last Sunday morning, upon re- ceiving word that her husband was critically ill Miss Branch's first words, after being discovered in her hiding place. were that she was to blame for the death.
 'T killed him; it was my fault, she sobbed. T loved him so. but I killed him, and can never forgive myself" "
 -Loved him. echoed Mrs. Couch
 ''Yes, loved him. He was dear to me. You may have been his wife by marriage, but I was his wife in love- To fn and he old and needed some one to look after him. I bandaged his ankle; I cooked for him; I wrote his letters and cop jed his documents. made him com fortab1e and happy.
 Yes continued the sobbing wom- an, "I know you are bitter. would feel likewise if were in your place, but I could not help it. I gave up everything for him, my friends and my associations with others, just be- cause I loved him.
 At the time Miss Branch was >discov- cred she had some documents in her hand. Upon examination these were found to be mortgages, and she was arrested at Mrs. Couch's request on a charge of larceny.
 Mrs. Couch's attitude since her hus- bands death and the subsequent rev. elation of his dual personality has been one of dignifed silence. She is a devout church woman and one of the most devoted religious workers in the community Today, for the first time, she spoke of the strange discovery.
 t"The whole thing is a closed in cident in my 1ife,'' she said, as she smoothed her gray hair with one hand and pressed her lips firmly together.
 e'I was in ignorance concerning this thing just as much as you were. thought nothing of my husband spend ing his nights at the office, because knew he was lame and found it diff dcult to climb the hill to our home. He always came home Sundays. how eyer.
 ''Now, please. please. don't trouble me any more.''
 Miss Branch in an interview said: T can say nothing except that. am sorry for Mrs. Couch and hope she will forgive me. What she has suffer ed have suffered. too, at times.
 1T loved MT. Couch so that all I wanted was to be with him all the time. I grudged the hours spent with his wife and daughter. I had never seen his wife. although I had heard her voice.
 She came to the office often, and I have sat behind the partition and kept there. My heart would be in my mouth for fear of discovery; but he always put her off by saying that it was only a storeropm.
 'sOnce she expressed a desire to see what was in the room; but he told her that he had mislaid the key, and she did not refer to the matter again.
 One night, not so long ago. I was alone and decided to see the woman I had never set eyes on. walked to MT. Coucfl's home and looking through a window I saw the family sitting around a table, laughing and chatting. I remained a few minutes and then went back to the tiny room that I called home.
 Don't for a moment imagine I was unhappy. revelled in the great love of my life. I would have worn chains for Mel I suppose to the outside world. I must call it that, my exist ence must appear to have been that of a slave. But to me it was sheer hap piness.
 My, delight was to handle MT. Couch's business, do his typeWriting and fix tip the details of his profes- sional business in general. Of course, known as I was to citizens of Monti- cello from my poor selling abilities, dared not venture out for fear of be- # ing recognized.'
 Much of Miss Branch's time during the years spent in the secret room was passed in reading and in trans lating French writers. Her favorite for this purpose was de Maupassant. an author whose pen was nearly al- ways employed in creating strange episodes of love, but none stranger than the history of the woman whose lonely hours he beguiled.
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