The Springfield herald., 1913-08-01

DO you remember the words of this
note, Mr.. Brotherson?"
Hardly. recollect its tenor. but
not the exact words"
Read them"
Excuse me, had rather not.
am aware that they were bitter and
should be the cause of great regret.
l 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 to draw forth
such a tirade?"
You ask that?"
II 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-
tions to her were in any way peculiar
You acknowledge that your friendship
was of such guarded nature that it
surprised you greatly to hear it recog-
nized Yet you could write her a 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 moment his dignified reserve.
Il offered myself to Miss Challoner,
and she dismissed me with great dis
dain."
"Ah! and so you thought threat
was due her?"
"A threat?"
These words contain a threat, do
they not?"
They may. l 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 of
compunction:
Il remember it perfectly now. 1t
is not a letter to be proud Of I
hope"
Pray finish. Mr.. Brotherson."
THAT you are not seeking to es-
tablish connection between this let
ter and her violent death?"
Letters of this sort are often very
mischievous. Mr.. Brotherson. The
harshness with which this is written
might easily rouse emotions of a most
unhappy nature in the breast of
woman as sensitive as Miss Chal
loner"
Pardon me. DR.. Heath; cannot
f1atter myself SO far. You overrate
my influence with the lady you name"
You believe. then. that she was sin
cere in her rejection of your ad-
dresses?"
Il have never allowed myself to
think otherwise. l have seen no rea-
son why should. The suggestion
you would convey by such a question
Is hardly welcome, now. pray you
to be careful in your judgment of such
woman's impulses. They often
spring from sources not to be sound
ed even by her dearest friends"
Meantime, the coroner had collected
his thoughts. With an apology for the
extremely personal nature of his in
quiry, he asked Mr. Brotherson if he
would object to giving him some fur
ther details of his acquaintanceship
with Miss Challoner; where he first
met her and under what circumstances
their friendship had developed
Not at ALL" was the ready reply.
Il have nothing to conceal in the mat
ter. l only wish that her father were
present that he might listen to the
recital of my acquaintanceship with
his daughter. He might possibly un-
derstand her better and regard with
more leniency the presumption into