The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-11
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Proceed" he said crisply.

less with interest. It was a tale of weak ness, wrong and desire for atonement that
 went to his heart. The woman made no
 attempt to spare herself in the recital al- though her nearer could see that every
 word cut into her tortured soul. She talked 5 for half an hour, at the end of which time Dr. Craig was compelled to administer a powerful heart stimuant.
 T hated the girl" she went on as soon as she could speak. "It was not so much for myself as because of what she had de- prlved me and another of. She was kind ness itself, but the knowledge that she was an insurmountable barrier between me and the man l loved, ranked in my heart with ever-increasing bitterness.
 Although my dislike for Nerissa Selden became almost monomania I concealed if so cleverly that I am sure it was never sus pected. But at last 1 could hold out no longer l opened my heart to Dr. Selden as never before. He listened to my out burst at first with maddening silence, then with open derision.
 Such step s you purpose would be sacrilegee he cried, and from that moment l hated the grave of his wife in far-awav Italy.
 Becoming morose and half-insane on the subject, l determined to avenge my wrongs. Fate opened the way The trou- ble between the doctor and Nerissa over her mothers people came up, although at that time did not know the cause of their strained relations As I lay in bed that night and heard her packing her things to laaU Jfcl, ]
 After she had gone I would steal to the study and drive dagger into his heart. I knew that my evidence would convict her before any jury. Fully resolved upon my course, 1 went to her room to assure my self that she had gone. On the dresser, saw the brooch she had left behind and the poniard she had used as paper knife was missing. Arming myself with another weapon, l made my way to the study. Dr. Selden was seated at his table, ap- parently asleep. l crept upon him with the knife upraised.
 Again she paused overcome with weak ness. Bristow summoned Dr. Craig from the adjoining room where he had gone at her request during the progress of the sor- did story. More of the stimulant was ad- ministered and the woman revived
 T was prepared to strike the blow that would have made me murderess," she went on. "No feeling of pity stirred with in me for remembered the love of good man that had cast aside for him.
 Bristow looked toward Dr. Craig. She caught his glance and nodded. With his face working with emotion, the old phy- sician left the room.
 Just as was about to strike," she con- tinued, "something peculiar in his atti- tude and the expression on his face stayed my arm. Instinctively touched his fore- head. It was clammy. He was dead. Some mysterious fate had forestalled me-saved me from the crime I had contemplated.
 For moment l was stunned with dis appointment. Then, unshaken in my de- termination to avenge myself upon the liv- ng, l placed the brooch in his beard, knowing well that it would be found In he event that Dr. Selden was found to nave met with foul play, which I consid- ,red more than likely, my testimony and identification of the bauble would lead to lerissa Selden's arrest How knew the loctor had been murdered it is impos- ible for me to explain, but from the mo- nent found him lifeless felt positive that le had died by some human hand.
 "No sleep came to my eyes that night. With the arrival of the dawn went me- about my household affairs, all he while seeing before me that drawn, life ess face and wondering how death had hap enced to cheat me out of my cherished re- , enge.
 "You know what followed-how merci- {