Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-08-07

from their comfortable fireside-for
what? They were asking the question
of themselves and they were waiting
stonily for Nhe answer.
ut is very stuffy In here" Vivian
had said with a glance at the closed
doors after Sara had successfully
placed her jury in the box.
Keep still, WV" whispered Leslie,
with fine assumption of awe. tits a
spiritualistic meeting. You'll scare
the spooks away"
1t was at this Iuncture that Sara
rose from her chair and faced them,
as calmly, as complacenty as If she
were about to ask them to proceed to
the dining-rcom instead of to throw a
bomb into their midst that would shat
ter their SNUG serenity for all time to
come. With a glance at Mr.. Carroll
she began, clearly, firmly and without
PREDATORY apology for what was to
follow.
Il have asked you to come here to-
night to be my judges. l am on trial.
You are about to hear the story of my
unspeakable perfidy. l only require of
you that you hear me to the end be-
fore passing judgment"
At her words, Hetty and Booth start
ed perceptibly; quick glance passed
between them, as if each was inquir-
ing whether the other had caught the
extraordinary words of self-indictment
A puzzled frown appeared on Hetty's
brow.
"Perfdy?" interposed Mr.. Wrandall.
His wife's expression changed from
one Of bored indifference to sharp in
Quiry. Leslie paused In the act Of
lighting a cigarette.
1T Is the mildest term l can COM
mand," said Sara. 81 shall be as brief
as possible in stating the case, Mr..
Wrandall. You will be surprised to
hear that have taken 1t upon myself,
as the wife of Challis Wrandall and,
as l regard it, the one most vitality
concerned If not interested in the dis
covery and punishment of the person
it upon myself to shield, protect and
defend the unhappy young woman who
accompanied him to Burton's inn on
that night in March. She has had my
constant, my personal protection for
more than twenty months"
The Wrandalls leaned forward in
their chairs The match burned Les
lies fingers, and he dropped 1t without
appearing to notice the pain.
What is this you are saying7" de-
manded Redmond Wrandall.
When left the inn that night, after
seeing my husbands body in the little
upstairs room, l said to myself that
the one who took his life had unwit-
tingly done me a service. He was my
husband; I loved him, adored him.
TO the end of my days | could have
gone on loving him in spite of the
cruel return he gave for my love and
loyalty. l shall not attempt to tell
you Of the countless lapses of fidelity
on his part. You would not believe me.
But he always came back to me with
the pitiful love he had for me, and
forgave him his transgressions. These
things you know. He confessed many
things to you, Mr.. Wrandall. He
humbled himself to me. Perhaps you
will recall that l never complained to
you of him. What rancor l had was
always directed toward you, his fam.
lily, who would see no wrong in your
king but looked upon me as dirt be-
meath his feet. There were moments
when could have slain him with my
own hands, but my heart rebelled
There were times when he said to me
he had done. You may now understand
what l mean when say that the girl
who went to Burton's inn with him
did me service. / will not say that
I considered her guiltless at the time
On the contrary looked upon her in
quite different way. | had no means
Of knowing then that she was as pure
as snow and that he would have de
spoiled her of everything that was
sweet and sacred to her. She took his
life in order to save that which was
dearer to her than her own life, and
ohO Wdo Ou HeI way W pay lOI Hel
deed with her life If necessary wheI
l came upon her and interviewed"
"You-you know who she is?" sale
Mr.. Wrandall, in low, incredulous
voice.
81 have known almost from the be
ginning. Presently you will hear hel
story, from her own lips"
Involuntarily four pairs of eyes shift
ed. They locked blankly at Hetty Cas-
Teton
Speaking swiftly, Sara depicted the
scenes and sensations experienced dur
ing that memorable motor journey t
New York city.
: Il could not believe that she was +;
f vicious creature, even then. Some
5 thing told me that she was a tender
!, gentle thing who had fallen into evi
/, hands and had struck because sht
t was unevil. I did not doubt that sh,
: had been my husbands mistress, bu
, | could not destroy the conviction tina
: somehow she had been justified il
a doing the thing she had done. M,
-