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I' 9 il The House a* 4 WW- of the Whispering -. Pines Wr KATHARINE GREEN Onwiltlifc UK br AaaaKatbariM BohU. I [ooirrnroxDb] nsne'was misses tne next morning, and an account of ber erratic flight Mached the papers and was published far and wide. But the name of Miss. Caroline Campbell conveyed nothing to tbe public. Jk. At the house of Dr. Carpenter she Mr. Moffat What sbe told blm heartened blm greatly for tbe struggle he saw before him. Indeed, It altered tbe whole tone of tbe defense Per ceiving from her story and from what the doctor could tell him of their meet ing at the station that ber return to town was as yet a secret to every one but themselves, be begged that tbe secret should continue to be kept Cannel wished ber brother Informed cf her return, but the wily lawyer per suaded her to excuse blm from taking Arthur into his confidence until the last moment He knew that he would receive only opposition from his ybung and stubborn client One of the stipu lations which he bad made in securing Mr. Moffat for his counsel was that Camel's name was to be kept as much as possible out of the proceedings, and to this Mr. Moffat had subscribed, not withstanding his conviction that the crime laid to the defendant's charge was a result of Ranelagh's passion for Cannel and consequently distinctly tbe work of Ranelagh's own band. He had thought that be could win his case by the powers of oratory and j% somewhat free use of innuendo, but his view changed under the fresh en lightenment which he received in his conversation with Carmel He saw unfolding before him a defense of un paralleled interest. True, it involved this interesting witness in a way that would be unpleasant to the brother, but he was not the man to sacrifice a client to any sentimental scruple certainly not this client, whose worth be was just beginning to realize. Carmel was not strong enough for much talk. Dr. Carpenter would not allow it, and the continued clearness of her mind was too invaluable to bis case for this farseeing advocate to take any risk. Sbe had told blm enough to assure blm that circum stances and not guilt bad put Arthur where he was and bad added to the assurance details of an unexpected nature —so unexpected, indeed, that the lawyer was led away by the prospect they offered of confounding the prosecution by a line of defense to which no clew had been given by anything that had appeared. He planned then and there a drama tic climax which should take the breath away from his opponent and change the whole feeling of the court toward the prisoner. Strangely enough, the subject of Adelaide's death was discussed in her hearing without any mention being made of strangulation as Its Immediate cause. Would her ac tion have been different had she known that this was a conceded fact? CHAPTEB XXIII. REMEMBERED THE BOOM." Ai"I S Camel's gaze passed from her brother's face it traveled slowly and with glowing hesl tation over the countenances of those near her, on and on past the Judge, past the Jury until they reached the spot where I sat There they seemed to falter, and the beating of my heart became so loud that I in stinctively shrank away from my neighbor. By so doing I drew her eye, which fell full upon mine for one over whelming minute then she shrank and looked away, but not before the color had risen in a flood to ber cheek. Tbe hope which had sprung to life slider her first beautiful aspect van ished at sight of this flush, for it was not one of joy or surprise or even of unconscious sympathy. It was the banner of a deep, unendurable shame. But in a few minutes her features settled into a strange placidity, undis turbed by the leveled gaze of a hun dred eyes. Her whole attention was concentrated on fier brother and wavered only when the duties of the occasion demanded a recognition of the various gentlemen concerned in the trial- Mr. Moffat prefaced his examination by the* following words: "May it please your honor, I wish to ask the indulgence of the court in my examination of this witness. She Is just recovering from a long and dangerous illness, and. while I shall endeavor to keep within tbe rules of examination, I shall be grateful for any consideration which may be shown her by your honor and by the counsel on tbe other side Mr. Fox at once rose. He had by this time recovered from his astonish ment at seeing before him and in a fair state of health the young girl whom he had every reason to believe to be still In a condition of partial forgetfulness at Lakewood and under the care of a woman entirely in his confidence and under his express orders. He had also mastered his chagrin at the triumph which her presence here and under these dramatic circumstances bad giv- •n his adversary. He expressed In warm tones bis deep desire to extend every possible Indulgence. Mr. Moffat bowed bis acknowledg ments and waited for bis witness to take the oatb, wblcb sbe did with a simple grace which touched all hearts, even that of ber constrained and un reconciled brother. Compelled by the silence and my own bounding pulses to look at her In my own despite, 1 caught tbe sweet and elevated look with which sbe laid ber band on tbe book and asked myself If her pres ence here was not a self accusation wblcb would bring satisfaction to no body, which would sink her and V*$.*KO«. I DREW HEB EYB. Into an ignominy worse than tbe con viction of the brother whom she was supposedly there to save. Tortured by this fear, I awaited events in indescribable agitation. The cool voice of Mr Moffat broke in upon my gloom. Carmel had reseat ed herself after taking the oath, and the customary question could be beard "Your name, if you please." "Carmel Cumberland" "Do you recognize tbe prisoner, Miss Cumberland?" "Yes he is my brother." A thrill ran through the room. The lingering tone, the tender accent, told. Some of the feeling she thus expressed seemed to pass into every heart which contemplated the two From this mo ment on he was looked upon with less harshness People showed a disposi tion to discern innocence where per haps they had secretly desired until now to discover guilt. "Miss Cumberland, will you be good enough to tell us where you were at or near the hour of 10 on the evening of your sister's death?" "I was in the clubhouse—in the bouse you call the Whispering Pines." At this astounding reply, unexpected by every one present save myself and the unhappy prisoner, incredulity, sea soned with amazement marked every countenance Carmel Cumberland in the clubhouse that night—she who had been found at a late hour in her own home. Injured and unconscious' It was not to be believed, or it would not have been if Arthur, with less seif control than be had hitherto main tained, had not shown by his morose air and the silent drooping of his head that he accepted this statement, wild and improbable as it seemed. Mr. Fox started to rise at her words but, noting the prisoner's attitude, be hastily re seated himself, realizing, perhaps, that evidence of which he had never dreamed lay at the bottom of tbe client's manner and the counsel's com placency. Mr. Moffat, who saw everything, smiled slightly as he spoke encourag ingly to his witness and propounded his next question: "Miss Cumberland, was your sister with you when you went to the club house?" "No: we went separately." "How? Will you explainr "I drove there. I don't know how Adelaide went" "You drove there?" "Yes. I had Arthur harness up bis horse for me, and I drove there." A moment of silence, then a slow awakening on tbe part of judge. Jury and prosecution to the fact that the rase was taking a turn for which they were 111 prepared. To Mr. Moffat it was a moment of intense self con gratulation, and something of the gratification he felt crept into bis voice as he said: "Miss Cumberland, will you describe this horse?" "It was a gray horse. It has a large black spot on its left shoulder." "To what vehicle was it attached?" "To a cutter—my brother's cutter." "Was that brother with you? Did he accompany you La your ride to tbe Whispering Pines?" "No. 1 went quite alone." 19 Enhancement had now seized upon every mind. Even if her testimony were not true, but merely the wander ings of a mind not fully restored, the interest of it was Intense. "And how did you return? With whom and by what means did you re gain your own house?" The answer came with simple direct ness* "In the same way I went I drove back in my brother's cutter, and, being all alone, Just as before, I put the horse away myself and went into my empty home and up to Adelaide's room, where I lost consciousness." "Miss Cumberland, do you often ride out alone on nights like that?" •T never did before. I would not have dared to do it then if I had not taken a certain precaution.'* "And what was this precaution?" "I wore an old coat of my brother's over my dress and one of his bats on my head." It was out—the fact for the suppres slon of which I had suffered arrest without a word, because of which Ar thur had gone even further and sub mitted to trial with the same con stancy. Instinctively bis eyes and mine met, and at that moment there was established between us an under standing that was in strong contrast to the surrounding turmoil, which now exceeded all limits, as the highly wrought up spectators realized that these statements, if corroborated, de stroyed one o' tbe strongest points which had been made by tbe prosecu tion. This caused a stay in the pro ceedings until order was partially re stored, and tbe judge's voice could be beard in a warning that tbe courtroom would be cleared of all spectators if this break of decorum was repeated. "Miss Cumberland, will you now give the jury the full particulars of that evening's occurrences as witnessed by yourself? Begin your relation, if you please, with an account of tbe last meal you had together," said Mr. Mof fat when the trial was resumed. Carmel hesitated. Her youth—her conscience, perhaps—shrank in mani fest distress from this inquisition. "Ask me a question," she prayed. "I do not known how to begin." "Very well. Who were seated at the dinner table that night?" "My sister, my brother, Mr. Rane lagh and myself." "Did anything uncommon happen during tbe meal?" "Yes my sister ordered wine and had our glasses all filled. Sbe never drank wine herself, but she had her glass filled also. Then she dismissed Helen, the waitress, and when tbe girl was gone she rose and held up ber glass and invited us to do the same 'We will drink to my coming mar riage,' said she, but when we had done this sbe turned upon Arthur, with bitter words about his habits, and, de claring that another bottle of wine should never be opened again in the house, unclosed her fingers and let her glass diop on the table, where it broke. Arthur then let his fall and I mine We all three let our glasses fall and break." "And Mr Ranelagh?" "He did not let his fall He set it down on tbe cloth. He had not drunk from it." Clear, perfectly clear, tallying with what we had heard from other sources "Miss Cumberland, where were you looking when you let your glass fall?" My heart gave a bound I remem bered that moment well. So did she, as could be seen from the tremulous flush and the determination with which sbe forced herself to speak. "At Mr Ranelagh," she answered finally. "Not at your brother?" "No "And at whom was Mr. Ranelagh looking?" "At—at me "Not at your sister?" "No." "Was anything said?" "Not then With the dropping of tbe glasses we all drew back from the table and walked toward a little room where we sometimes sat before go ing into the library. Arthur went first, and Mr Ranelagh and 1 followed, Ade laide coming last We—we went this way into the little room and—what other question do you wish to ask?' sbe finished, with a burning blush. Mr Moffat was equal to tbe appeal. "Did anything happen? Did Mr Ranelagh speak to you or you to him. or did your sister Adelaide speak?" "No one spoke, but Mr. Ranelagh put a little slip of paper into my hand—a— a note. As he did this my brother looked round. I don't know whether he saw the note or not, but his eye caught mine, and I may have blushed. Next moment he was looking past me, and presently he flung himself out of the room and I beard him going up stairs. Adelaide had joined me by this time, and Mr. Ranelagh turned to speak to her, and—and I went over to the bookshelves to read my note." "And did you read it then?" "No I was afraid. I waited till Mr. Ranelagh was gone, then I went up to my room and read It. It was not a—a note to be glad of—I mean, proud of. I'm afraid I was a little glad of it at first I was a wicked girt" "Miss Cumber land, before you tell us a is note will you be enough to inform us whether any words passed be tween you and your sister before you went upstairs?" "Ob, yes we talked. We all three talked, but it was about indifferent matters. The servants were going to a ball, and we spoke of that Mr. Ranelagh did not* stay long. Very soon he remarked that he had a busy evening before him and took his leave. WICKED I was not in the room with them when he did this I was in the adjoining one, but I heard his remark and saw him go. I did not wait to talk to Ade laide." "Now, about tbe note?" "I read it as soon as I reached my room Then I sat still for along time." "Miss Cumberland, pardon my re quest, but will you tell us what was in that note?" She lifted her patient eyes and look ed straight at her brother He did not meet her gaze, but the dull flush which lit up tbe dead white of bis cheek •bowed how he suffered under this I cHolM ordeal. At me sbe never glanced. "I do not remember tbe words," she said finally as her eyes fell again to her lap. "But I remember its mean ing. It was an invitation for me to leave town with him that very even ing and be married at some place be mentioned. He said it would be tbe best way to—to end—matters." CHAPTER XXTV. "l LOVED ADELAIDE BETTER THAN MY SELF." THIand S brought Mr. Fox to bis feet Turning to tbe judge, be cried: "This testimony Is Irrelevant incompetent, and I ask to have it stricken out." Mr. Moffat's voice as be arose to an swer this was like honey poured upon "It Is neither irrelevant nor incom petent and if it were tbe objection comes too late. My friend should have objected to the question.'' "Tbe whole course of counsel has been very unusual," began Mr. Fox. "Yes, but so is the case. I beg your honor to believe that in some of its features this case is not only unusual, but almost witbout a precedent. I beg that my witness may be allowed to proceed and tell ber story in all its de tails." "Tbe motion is denied," declared the judge. Mr. Fox sat down, to the universal relief of all but the two persons most interested—Arthur and myself. Mr. Moffat, generous enough or dis creet enough to take no note of his opponent's discomfiture, lifted a paper from the table and held it toward tbe witness. "Do you recognize these lines?" he asked, placing the remnants of my half burned communication in her hands. She started at sight of them. Evi dently she had never expected to see them again "Yes," she answered after a mo ment. "This is a portion of the note I have mentioned "You recognize it as such?" "I do Her eyes lingered on the scrap and followed it as it was passed back and marked as an exhibit. Mr Moffat recalled her to tbe matter in hand "What did you do next, Miss Cum berland?" "I answered the note." "May I ask to what effect?" "I refused Mr Ranelagh's request I said that I could not do what he asked and told him to wait till the next day and he would see how I felt toward him and toward Adelaide. That was all I could not write much. I was suffering greatly." "Suffering in mind or suffering in bodv?" "Suffering in my mind. I was terri fied, but that feeling did not last very long. Soon I grew happy, happier than I had been in weeks, happier than I had ever been in all my life before. I found that I loved Adelaide better than I did myself This made everything easy, even the sending of the answer I have told you about to Mr. Ranelagh "Miss Cumberland, how did you get this answer to Mr Ranelagh?" "By means of a gentleman who was going away, on tbe very train I had been asked to leave on He was a guest next door, and I carried the note in to him "Did you do this openly?" "No I'm afraid not I slipped out by tbe side door in as careful a way as I could "Did this attempt at secrecy suc ceed' Were you able to go and come without meeting any one?" "No. Adelaide was at the head of the stairs when I came back, standing there, very stiff and quiet." "Did she speak to you?" "No. She just looked at me. But it wasn't a common look. I shall never forget it" "And what did you do then?" "I went to my room." "Miss Cumberland, did you see any body else when you came in at this time?" "Yes, our maid, Helen. She was just laying down a bunch of keys on the table in the lower hall. I stopped and looked at the keys. I had recognized them as tbe ones I had seen in Mr. Ranelagh's hands many times. He had gone, yet there were his keys. One of them unlocked the clubhouse I noticed it among the others, but I didn't touch it then. Helen was still in the hall, and I ran straight up stairs, where I met my sister, as I have just told you "Miss Cumberland, continue the sto ry. What did you do after re-entering your room?" "I don't know what I did first I was very excited—elated one minute, deeply wretched and very frightened the next. I must have sat down, for I was shaking very much and felt a little sick The sight of that key had brought up pictures of the clubhouse, and I thought and thought how quiet it was and how far away and how cold it was, too, and how secret I would go there for what I had to there' And then I saw in my fancy one of Its rooms, with the moon in it, and—but I soon shut my eyes to that I heard Arthur moving about bis room, and this made me start up and go out into the hall again. "Arthur's room is near and Ade laide's far off, but I went to Ade laide's first Her door was shut, and when I went to open it I found it locked Calling her name, I said that I was tired and would be glad to say good night. She did not answer at once When she did her voice was strange, though what she said was very simple—I was to please myself she was going to retire too. And then she tried to say good night but sbe only half said it, like one who is this made me feel but you don't care for that You want to know what I did-wbat Adelaide did. 1 will tell you, but I cannot hurry "Take your time, Miss Cumberland, we have no wish to hurry you." "I can go on now Tbe next thing I did was to knock at Arthur's door. I heard him getting ready to go out. and wanted to speak to him before be went. When be beard me be opened tbe door and let me in. He began at once on his grievances, but I could not listen to them. I wanted bun to har ness tbe gray mare for me and leave it standing in tbe stable. I explained tbe request by saying that it was necessary for me to see a certain friend of mine Immediately and that no one would notice me in tbe cutter under tbe bearskins. He didn't approve, but I persuaded blm. I even persuaded blm to wait till Zadok was gone, so that Adelaide would know nothing about it He looked glum, but be promised. "He was going away when I beard Adelaide's steps in tbe adjoining room. This frightened me. The partition is very thin between these two rooms, and I was afraid sbe bad beard me ask Arthur for the gray mare and cut ter. I could bear ber rattling tbe bot tles in tbe medicine cabinet banging on this very wall. 1 hurried back to my own room, where I collected such little articles as I needed for tbe expedition before me. "I bad hardly done this when 1 beard tbe servants on tbe walk outside, then Arthur going down. Tbe impulse to see and speak to blm again was irre sistible. I flew after him and caught bun In tbe lower ball. 'Arthur,' I cried, 'look at me—look at me well— and then—kiss me!' And he did kiss me. I'm glad when I think of it, though he did say next minute. 'What is tbe matter with you? What are you going to do—to meet that villain?' "1 looked straight into his face. I waited till 1 saw I bad his whole at tention. Then I said as slowly and emphatically as I could 'If you mean Elwood—no! I shall never meet him again, except in Adelaide's presence He will not want to meet me Sou may be at ease about that Tomor row all will be well and Adelaide very happy.' "He shrugged his shoulders and reached for his coat and hat As he was putting them on I said, 'Don't forget to harness up Jenny.' Jenny is the gray mare 'And leave off the bells.' I urged. 'I don't want Adelaide to bear me go out "He swung about at this. 'You and Adelaide are not very good friends, it seems.' 'As good as you and she are,' I answered. Then I flung my arms about him. 'Don't go down street to night,' I prayed 'Stay home for this one night Stay in the house with Ade laide. Stay till I come home.' He stared, and 1 saw bis color change. Then he flung me off, but not rudely. •Why don't you stay he asked Then he laughed and added, 'I'll go harness the mare.' I I he key's in the kitchen,' I said. •I'll go get it for you 1 heard Zadok bring it in.' He did not answer, and I went for the key I found two on the nail, and I brought them both, but 1 only handed him one, the key to the cfofgwWtlrsor'M^^^ ful emotion. 1 cannot tell you bow bouse where I have often been with ^. -—., ..... _... ....... it has a fireplace in It.. and Btable door 'Which way are you go ing?' I asked as he looked at the key, then back toward the kitchen 'The short way, of course' 'Then here's the key to tbe Fulton grounds "As he took tbe key I prayed again: 'Don't do what's in your mind, Arthur. Don't drink tonight' He only laughed, and I said my last word. 'If you do it will be for the last time. You'll nev er drink again after tomorrow.' "He made no answer to this, and I went slowly upstairs. Everything was quiet—quiet as death—in tbe whole bouse. If Adelaide bad beard us she made no sign. Going to my own room, I waited until I heard Arthur come out of tbe stable and go away by tbe door in the rear wall Then I stole out again. I carried a small bag with me. but no coat or hat "Pausing and listening again and again. I crept downstairs and baited at tbe table under the rack. The keys were still there. Putting tbem in my bag. I searched the rack for one of my brother's warm coats. But I took none I saw. I remembered an old one which Adelaide bad put away to tbe closet under tbe stairs Getting this. I put it on. and. finding a hat there, too. I took that also, and when I had pulled it over my forehead and drawn up the collar of the coat I was quite unrecognizable. I was going out when I remembered there would be no light in the clubhouse. I had put a box of matcbes In my bag while I was up stairs, but I needed a candle Slip ping back. I took a candlestick and candle from tbe dining room mantel and drove swiftly away." "How did you leave the stable door?" "Open." "Can you tell us what tune it was when you started?" "No. I did not look. Tune meant nothing to me. I drove as fast as I could straight down the hill and out toward the Whispering Pines I bad seen Adelaide to ber window as I went flying by the bouse, but not a soul on the road nor a sign of life near or far. The whistle of a train blew as 1 stopped to the thicket near the club bouse door. If it was the express train you can tell"— "Never mind the if." said Mr. Mof fat. "It is enough that you heard the whistle. Go on with what you did." "I tied up my horse, then I went into the house. I had used Mr Ranelagh's key to open the door, and for some rea son I took it out of the lock when I got in and put the whole bunch back into my satchel. But I did not lock the door. Then I lit my candle and then— I went upstairs. Adelaide. ..... I bad seen a box there half filled with wood tbe day before This is the room I went to, and here I built a Are. When it was quite bright I took out something I bad brought in my satchel and thrust It Into tbe flame. Then I got up and walked away I—I did not feel very strong and sank on my knees when I got to tbe couch and burled my face in my arms. But I felt better wben 1 came back to tbe fire again and very brave til) I caught a glimpse of my face in tbe mirror over the mantel piece. That—that unnerved me. and I think I screamed. Some one screamed, and I think it was I. I know my hands went out—I saw tbem hi the glass tben tbey fell straight down at my side, and I looked and looked at myself till I saw all tbe terror-go out of my face, and wben was quite calm again I stooped down and pulled out the little tongs I had been heating "I LAIV THEM RIOHT ACROSS MX CflSWC" in tbe fire and laid tbem quick—quick, before I could be sorry again, right across my cheek, and then"— Uproar in tbe court If sbe had screamed wben sbe said sbe did, so some one cried out loudly now. I think that pitiful person was myself. Tbey say I bad been standing straight up in my place for tbe last two minutes. CHAPTER XXV. "CH008E." I HAVE not finished," were' the first words we heard from Car mel wben order was restored and we were all to a condition to listen again "I had to relate what you have just beard that you might understand what happened next 1 was not used to pain, and I could never have kept on pressing those irons to my cheek if had not had the'strength given me by my own reflection in the glass When I thought the burn was quite deep enough I tore the tongs away and was lifting tbem to tbe other cheek when I saw tbe door behind me open inch by inch, as though pushed by hesitating touches. "Instantly I forgot my pain, almost my purpose, watching that door. I saw it slowly swing to its full width and disclose my sister standing In tbe gap with a look and to an attitude which terrified me more than the lire had done. Dropping the tongs, turn ed and faced her, covering my cheek instinctively with my hand "I saw her eyes run over my elab orate dinner dress—my little band bag and tbe candle burning in a room made warm with a fire on tbe beartb— this before sbe spoke a single word Then, with a deep laboring breath, she looked me in the ej again with tbe simple question* 'And where is be?'" Carmel's bead bad drooped at this, but she raised it almost Instantly. Mine did not rise so readily. 'Do you mean Elwood? I asked. •You know'* said she. 'The veil is down between us, Carmel. We will speak plainly now 1 saw him give you tbe letter 1 beard you ask Arthur to harness up the horse. I have de meaned myself to follow you, and we will have no subterfuges now. You expect him here?* 'No.' I cried 'I am not so bad as that Adelaide—nor is be. Hera is tbe note. Vou will see by It what be ex pects and at what place I should have joined him if 1 bad been the selfish creature you think,' 1 bad tbe note bidden to my breast I took it out and held it toward her. I did not feel the burn at all. but 1 kept it covered. Sbe glanced down at the words, and 1 felt tike falling at ber feet she look ed so miserable. TO as von'tiMWkl Electric Bitters Succeed waen everything else fall*. In nervous prostration and female weaknesses tbey are the supreme remedy as thousands have testified. FOR KIDNEYJ.IVER AND STOMACH TROUBLE it la the best medicine ever sold over a druggist's counter. PARKER'S HAIR BAL8AM an* *M beratifiej tha halt. FromoM a tanriut growth. Serer to 1 Onv Bate to it* Yontfcfal Color. Cm— »ealp Jimm hOUaa. 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