The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-24

only want to know what you are do- ing"
 That Is none of your business, but if you really want to know I am copying this table for
 You are?" I said. Well, let me tell you that the officer you men tion did not ask you to do anything of the kind. and I am afraid you will have to explain when he comes back" As I said that I got between her and the door. She turned a ghastly white, and tried to speak, but only succeeded in stammering out a few incoherrent syllables, after which she collapsed in a heap by the desk. She was sitting with her head buried in her hands when the staff officer and Oliver returned. The former looked at me and then at the girl in some surprise. Oliver was dis tressed.
 '!bfarie, Can This Be True?" l pointed to the papers which the girl had left by the side of her mach inc. The officer picked them up, and glanced hurriedly at them. His com panion followed his glance and a groan escaped him. They did not need words from me to tell them what had happened while they were out. The girl did not look up, but sat there shaking with sobs. The officer signed to me to take what steps were necessary, and Oliver moved to the huddled figure of he suspected girl Marie, Marie, can it be true? he called, and in his voice there was note Of anguish that went to my heart.
 The girl looked up for the first time.
 "Yes, it is true" she said, and then her head fell back on the desk gain sobs shaking her frame convulsively.
 The young man gave a groan and turned to his chief.
 '"rhis is a terrible business. sir.
 More terrible than l can tell you now; but the whole story will have to come out sooner or later. I want you to let me go away now. I will tell you all later.''
 The officer touched the lad on the shoulder. My poor boy, think I can guess what you mean. It is a terrible business. You must have time to think it over. l will see you in the morn ing"
 The young man passed out of the room-never to return to it. The morning brought a letter to his chief telling of the incident of the poison gas formula, and conveying the lad s expressions of regret, with the intima- ton that he could not bear the dis grace and would be dead by the time his letter was received. It was too late to do anything.
 The dead body of the young man was found in his room with bullet wound through the brain. The affair was hushed up for the sake of his pre- vious good service. The letter to his chief spoke of the anguish which it occasioned him, who had been gassed when the Germans had first used this diabolical weapon, to think that this breach of trust had occasioned the miscarriage of the British re- ply to the German cruelty. Remorsc.
 That letter was put in as evidence against Marie Pulitzer when she was on her trial before the Court-martial as an accessory of the man who was afterwards shot in the tower. In the middle of the reading, the woman broke down and sobbed bitterly. "Oh, Diver, Oliver" she walled, If
 only I had known, this would never have happened. I loved you when liv- ing; now that you are dead, love you the more!"
 She wept for some time, and the proceedings were stopped temporar- ily. When she had exhausted herself the trial was resumed. and the letter was read to an end. By that time the unhappy girl had ceased to show out ward signs of grief, but her heart was torn with anguish. She was pleased when she was told that she was sen fenced to death
 'Tt will soon be over. and I shall i meet him again." she said; and with that she consoled herself until the 1 day when I brought her the news taht the sentence had been commuted to penal servitude for life. She would l not be consoled, and repeatedly she demanded why the military authori- | ties had not allowed her to die
 Tt is only by death that I can atone for what I have done" she said. why can they not let me die? They must know their punishment | is more cruel. They arc conforming l me to live the rest of my life alone | with the thought that I have learned to love- Surely it would be kinder l far to let me die now, instead of consigning me to a living tomb
 Looking at the poor misguided creature as she stood there, I had to admit that she was right The punishment that is hers is the most terrible that any woman could be asked to bear. but one can hardly De sorry for her unreservedly.
 (Nfonday. Mrs. Paget will reveal the confessions of Elizabeth Werfheimer ! -vr<>