Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-18
P Xxx, Continued.

HE wasn't good to me-" said Ruth.
quietly, nor was I u~ngrateful. Ran
dolph Schuyler spoiled my life; he
denied me everything I asked for,
every innocent pleasure and amuse-
ment. So. I found them for myself.
l did nothing wrong. AS Victoria Van
Allen I had friends and pleasures that
suited my g and my love Of life. but
there never was anything wrong or
guilty in my house."
Until you killed your husband!"
interrupted Sarah.
Until the night Of Randolph
Schuyler's appearance at Vicky Vans
house." Ruth went on. Il had been
told Of a Mr.. Somers who wanted to
know me. but I had no idea it was my
husband masquerading under a false
OF course, I recognized him. but he
did not know me at once I sat. play
ing bridge. and wondering how I
could best make my escape. I saw
that he didn't know me and then,
suddenly as I sat, holding my cards,
and he stood beside me. he noticed a
tiny scar on my shoulder. He made
that scar himself one night, when he
hit me with a hot curling iron.
What" / cried, unable to repress
an exclamation OF horror.
Yes, I was curling my hair with
the tongs and he became angry at
me for some trivial reason, rs he often
did, and he snatched up the iron and
hit my shoulder. It made a deep burn
and he was very sorry.
Whenever he saw it afterward he
said, Never again!' meaning he would
never strike me again. Then, when
though I had put on a light scarf to
cover it, he said Never again. in that
peculiar intonation, and I knew then
hat he knew Victoria Van Allen was
his own wife.
II ran out to the dining room and
he followed me-"
And o stabbed him." cried
Rhoda; stabbed your husband!
Murderess!"
II don't deny it," said Ruth slowly.
The jury must decide that. 1 must
be tried, I suppose"
Don't, Ruth" I cried, in agony.
Don't talk like that! You shall not
be tried! You didn't kill Schuyler!
If you did it was in self-defense.
Wasn't it? Didn't he try to kill
your" - ~ r.
Eyes, he did. He snatched the little
carver from the sideboard and at
tackled me-and land u"
Don't say it. Ruth-keep still" I
OTucIcus OcSluo myself WIFI my
whirling thoughts. The little carving
knife!
"And o defended yourself with
the caterers knife" began Stone,
but Fibsy walled. "No! No! It wasn't
Mrs. Schuyler! I've got the prints
from the caterers knife and they
amt Mrs. schuyler's at all! She
didn't kill him!"
mo. she didn't" and Tibbets ap-
peared in the library doorway. Il did
it myself"
cleaned satisfaction; "she aid! its
her fingermarks on the knife that
stabbed old Schuyler. They're plain
as print! Nobody thought Of match
ing up those marks with Tibbetts's
mitt! But I'll bet she did it to saw
Mrs. Schuyler's life!"
II did," and Tibbetts came into the
room and stood facing us.
Tell your story" said Stone
abruptly. as he looked at the white
faced woman.
Here it is" and Tibbetts looked
fondly at Ruth as the latter'si piteous
glance met hers. i've loved and
watched over Mrs. Schuyler all her
life. I've protected her from her hus-
bands brutality and helped her. to
bear his cruelty and u~nkindness
When she conceived the plan Of the
double life I helped her all I could,
and I got my cousin to do the work
on the houses that made it all pos
sible. Then, I was Julie, and I de-
votel my life and energies to keeping
the secret and allowing my mistress
to have some pleasure out OF life.
And she did" Tibbetts looked al
fectionately, even proudly, at Ruth.
1.-The hours she spent In that house Al
Victoria Van Allen were full Of simple
Joys and happy occupation. She had
the books and pictures and furniture
that she craved. She had things to
eat and things to wear that she
wanted. She went to parties and she