The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-03-17
with ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

she broke off, and now Langdon wa
on his feet, II red spot of color in eacI
cheek and his hands nervously clutch
ing scrap of paper as he asked
sharply:
What day do you refer to, Mrs
| Pagey"
ITO the 10th of June ten years ago,
she answered.
"Wiil you tell us why that day is sc
clearly rememberedg' asked Langdon
"Becanse, she answered deliberate
~, "thad was the night of Mary's first
wild attack"
II object" shouted the district attor
ney' but the judge frowned.
This seems to me TO be particularly
| relevant TO Mr.. LaDgdon's somewhat
curious defense lie said. Il will LEI
the question and answer stand"
"Will you tell US" said Langdon.
what brought on that attack and
what you know of it? Don't tell it to
me, but to the jury, who were not
there"
Il understand" she said softly. and
Langdon sat down, overwhelmed by
his own recollections of that terrible
night and wondering where the frai'
lit'Ie woman was getting the strength
for the ordeal.
ut was early evening said Mrs
rage, turning to the jurors. "Philip-
Mr.. Langdon-had come TO as,. Mar,
10 go TO bail game with him, for they
were friends even then" she explain
ed tenderly. and while they were
standing Oh the porch my-my--hus
band came honle--tlrunk He saw tho
TWO of them and aceosted them. using
improper and insulting language. He
didn't mean 1.-THE didn't know what
he was saying-but it was terrible for
Mary, and she urged PhiIin TO leave at
once. | heard them-aE .r1.i pms
words-and ran out to help, feaying
the poker thrust into the hot Goals of
the range, for ! had been fixing the.
fire.
we've got Dan into the house and
on to sofa in the kitchen at last,
where he lay babbling about James
Pollock, with whom he had been drink
ing and who was also--or who had
tried to be--a friend Of my daughters"
Again the whispering murInur of ex-
citcment swept through the room, but
died OF its own accord.
"Dan slept for Il long time, and when
he woke up he wanted more to drink.
| had sent Mary to bed, and i was
alone with him tried to reason with
him, but lie forgot l was his wife. He
was insane with that awful thirst. He
ordered me to bring him the bottle OF
whisky out of his cabinet, and when
wouldn't he-he beat me. He threw
me down and kicked me and struck me-
with a chair. And, though tried To
keep back n cry that would rouse Mary.
she--she heard and came running down
poor child, in her little nightdress.
She screamed and ran forward and
dragged at her father. Trying pitiful-
IL TO protect me-and Mt last-he turn
ed--upon her. gt
She shuddercd aud buried her face
II her hands-her eyes tear blinded
and her mouth distorted with the an
gllsh of memory.
And then-he saw--the poker-I
had forgotten-still thrust into the fire
and he dragged it out"
quivering moan like vocal echo
10 her mental agony slipped from
Mary's lips, and dropping her head.
she sobbed aloud.
please 60 on, Mrs. Page said Lang
don warninely, and though the moth
n ycarned toward her daughter, she
ooll up her story again in a voice that
e9se word by word into poignant cry
atrajght from mothers anguishcd
soul.
lie dragged Mary to the center OF
he room--that flaming poker in his
hand. lie forced her to her knees. |
struggled to get to them. but / was
weak-dazed, half conscious because
Of blow on the head. 1t was all Just
u nightmare to me! But | heard Mary
scream and scream and scream, and
lhen--I saw-the poker burn into my
ehild's forehead! l smelled the scorch-
FtA $NNh 1h'l litnf SOiI4SN hCiS L cot AhS
strength to leap upon him-and then
he door was burst open and--Mr.
Langdon came in.
"ile--he had been worried about u.s."
She painted, her voice breaking now.
and, coming back to the house, heard
ne cries. My husband rushed at him
ana they fought. Then suddenly Mary,
6ho had been lying In Il moaning little
heap on the loor. writhed--got to her
snees-to her feet-and before l could
sop her, began to dance wildly about
he two men, laughing and shouting
and singing. And then, while we stood
here appalled,, even Dan--sobered by
she ran on--out of the house-and
nto the street.
philip was after her in moment
But it seemed hours before I could
crawl to the door, and l saw-Mary
disappearing down the street - and
heard james Pollock make an insulting
iaunt. Then | was knocked down by
NV husband, who rushed by me with
an oath.
when got up again Mr.. Langdon
was out of sight, and Dan and James
Pollock were lying huddled in the path
STRUGGLING TO get 70 their feet "