while you untangle the other.”

“‘This gave me an excuse to hold her hand, which I assure you I did.

“‘“How pale your hand looks, Viola!” I said, as I let the hank fall, and
took her hand with both of mine.

“‘“Yes, my hand is pale, I believe.”

“‘“You have a very small hand, too.”

“‘“Yes, I believe it is quite small; but we had better finish the work
that Lottie gave us to do.”

“‘“No, let us talk a while; we’ll have plenty of time to do the work. I
think this is quite a pretty little hand.”

“‘“Do you?”

“‘“Yes, indeed I do; and I think the owner of this hand is very pretty,
too.”

“‘“I declare, we must finish this thread!”

“‘She then made a grab at the ball and missed it, and it went rolling to
the other side of the room. She went after it,--two of the hanks had
fallen to the floor--and in crossing the room her feet became entangled
in the thread, so that when she picked up the ball and started back she
tripped and fell plump into my arms. Of course I could do no less than
catch her, else she would have fallen to the floor.

“‘“Dear Viola,” I exclaimed, “I love you with all my heart! Dare I hope
that you ever will be mine? Speak, darling, I implore you! No man ever
loved as I love you! Give me one little word of encouragement, I beseech
you!”

“‘“Do you believe me innocent of the awful crime of which I am charged?”
she asked.

“‘“Believe you innocent, my loved one? I would as soon suspect an angel
from Heaven as you! Nay, I would risk my soul’s salvation on your
innocence! If I had a hundred thousand lives, I’d risk them all on your
honor! If a legion of witnesses were to swear you are guilty, I would
not believe it! Viola, can you forgive the past? Will you allow me to
hope that you ever will love me? I cannot endure this miserable
torture.”

“‘“Harry, would you be willing to accept my hand while this dark cloud
of disgrace is hovering over me?”

“‘“Yes, yes, darling! ten thousand times yes!”

“‘She nestled her face into my bosom and burst into tears; then, Ed, I
knew she was mine, and my joy was unutterable. I suppose, however, you
know all about such feelings. When she became composed she promised to
marry me when her innocence should be made manifest to the world. Now
you know all, and can readily appreciate my feelings.’

CHAPTER XVI.

“It was on the morning of the fourth day after my return from
Philadelphia that I went to Harry’s office for the purpose of holding a
consultation with him in regard to Miss Bramlett’s case. I was anxious
to know what progress had been made by the detectives in their
investigations. I had been devoting all my time to the business, and was
more mystified at the end of four days than I was at the beginning. I
had spent some time in making a survey of the buildings and premises
where the murder had been committed; this I had been advised to do by
Mr. Rockland, who had manifested considerable interest in the case. I
had great confidence in the cool judgment of Mr. Rockland, as well as
unlimited faith in him as a skillful criminal lawyer; and he told me
that a thorough investigation of the house and its contents was a matter
that ought by no means to be neglected; therefore I had undertaken that
job as my part of the work. I had taken great pains to make a correct
diagram of the house and grounds--including the kitchen, servants’
rooms, stables, garden, with all the entrances by which persons could
get into the inclosure. I was very much gratified when I presented my
diagram to Mr. Rockland, for he examined it carefully, and then
observed, ‘that the work was satisfactory, and had been very skillfully
executed.’

“‘If I am not very much mistaken, Mr. Demar,’ he said, ‘you will find
that this map will be of invaluable service to you before this affair is
finally disposed of. If it should turn out, as you seem to think, that
the crime has been the work of some other person, you may expect to find
secret entrances to the grounds--but I regret to say that I fear you
will find no little difficulty in establishing Miss Bramlett’s
innocence. I have no hesitation, understand me, in asserting that I have
always regarded Miss Bramlett as a pure, honest young lady; but, judging
from the reports that have reached me in regard to her strange conduct,
I am led to believe that her mind has not been altogether right. If it
comes to the worst, I shall advise the plea of insanity to be filed. I
am well aware of the fact that pleas of that sort are becoming quite
common of late, and that the courts are inclined to view them with
suspicion, yet in this case I have no doubt that the evidence will be so
full as to overcome all doubt. You may depend on me, Mr. Demar, so far
as my humble ability may be concerned, because I deeply sympathize with
this unfortunate young lady; and then her father was my true friend, and
I should be an ungrateful wretch if I did not put forth all my energy
and influence in behalf of his daughter.’

“It was indeed with a sorrowful heart beating in my bosom that I
separated from Mr. Rockland at the close of the interview just related.
I had watched Miss Bramlett closely during the frequent visits I had
made to the jail, and my observations convinced me that, notwithstanding
her mind was sad and unsettled, she had complete control of her reason.
Then, in the second place, I knew that if we succeeded in proving her
insane, it would be a fatal blow to Harry’s happiness. The room in which
young Harry Bramlett died was a small square bedroom on the second
floor, in the south-west corner of Mr. Ragland’s house, and adjacent to
the one that had been occupied by Miss Bramlett. There was a partition
door in the wall that separated the two rooms. Miss Bramlett’s room was
a larger one than that occupied by her young brother, and had two
windows and one door besides the door that was in the partition wall.
One of the windows was in the front overlooking the street--the other
in the side overlooking a small flower garden that lay on the south side
of the building. The furniture of Miss Bramlett’s room, which remained
just as it was when her brother died, consisted of a marble-top bureau,
a small mahogany bedstead, with canopy hung with pink silk, a large
rosewood wardrobe, a marble-top wash-stand, a low sofa with green
cushions, an easy-chair with red plush cushions, a cane bottom
rocking-chair, three large trunks and four common cane bottom chairs. A
life-size portrait of Mr. Bramlett swung by a red twisted cord against
the south wall of the room, while Mrs. Bramlett’s picture, in a large
gold frame, hung just above the bed. A photograph of Miss Bramlett and
her little brother, both in the same frame, hung near the partition
door. As I gazed on Miss Bramlett’s picture, with one hand clasped in
that of her little brother, I was then and there convinced that she
never had murdered him. Such an expression of purity beamed forth from
the beautiful face as to prove to my mind that no secret thoughts of
murder ever had lurked in her breast. I was informed that not an article
in the rooms had been moved since the night when the little boy died--no
one had been permitted to enter either one of the rooms after the corpse
had been removed, until Mr. Dabbs had arrived. A guard had been placed
at the entrance, with positive orders not to allow any one to enter the
rooms; this had been done at Harry’s request.

“When I arrived at Harry’s office I found him alone; but while he and I
were engaged in examining my diagram Dabbs and Tadpoddle came into the
inner room from the back entrance, and informed us that they had
important facts to communicate. This was the first time that I ever had
laid my eyes on Mr. Tadpoddle, and if it had not been for the
seriousness of the business in which we were engaged, I should have
laughed outright as soon as I saw him. The comical expression of his
features--the peculiar shape of his nose, the fantastic style of his
dress, and the singular disproportion which the length of his legs bore
to the size of his body, all combined to produce a ridiculous object. To
undertake to describe him would be a failure. He was neither man, beast,
fowl nor fish, but in some respects resembled all. His right ear was
near the back of his beard. The place where his nose should have been
looked like a toad-stool on a sapling. His left eye was large and very
white, the other small and three-cornered; the little one seemed to be
afraid of the big one--they were continually playing hide and seek with
each other, and at no time were both on duty at the same moment. When
the big one was awake, the little one was asleep. I noticed that when
the big one would retire from duty, the little one would come to the
front cautiously and gaze over to see if the other had certainly gone;
and if any movement was made by the big one, the little one would dart
back into his hole. It was clear to my mind that nature did not intend
to make a man when Tadpoddle was commenced; but the whole concern seemed
to convey the idea that nature intended him for a huge joke.

“‘If you will close that door, Mr. Wallingford,’ said Mr. Dabbs, ‘so
that we will be free from interruption, I have an important report to
make.’

“Harry closed the door, and requested him to proceed.

“‘Have you found out who committed the murder?’ Harry inquired, as he
fixed his eyes on Mr. Dabbs’ face with a look of intense anxiety.

“‘Mr. Wallingford, you have learned the lawyer’s habit early, I
perceive--you have commenced a sort of cross-examination before the
examination in chief has been gone through with. You lawyers have a way
of setting your pumps to work on a fellow so as to draw out information
which in some instances ought not to be exposed so soon--but in this
particular case, I trust you will not consider me rude or discourteous
if I decline to be cross-examined. It is our business to examine people,
and not to suffer ourselves to be examined by them; you need not trouble
yourself to put questions to me; I’ll furnish you with such information
as I think you ought to have, and withhold such as ought to be
withheld.’

“Harry bit his lips with vexation.

“‘I suppose, Mr. Dabbs, I ought to submit to such conditions as you may
choose to propose; and I shall do it very cheerfully if it will aid in
unearthing this mystery.’

“‘So far as mystery is concerned, Mr. Wallingford, I must at once
undeceive you; I have as yet encountered no mystery at all--on the
contrary, I think the case unusually plain--don’t you, Mr. Tadpoddle?’

“‘Unquestionably, unquestionably, Mr. Dabbs; I never saw a plainer case
in my life--evidence ample to convict; never saw a better chain of
circumstantial evidence; overwhelming, overwhelming, sir--no use to
hesitate; no mistake here. My sister’s statement settles the question
beyond doubt. I presume, Mr. Wallingford, you know my sister, Miss
Jemima Tadpoddle?’

“‘No,’ said Harry, his face reddening with impatience, ‘I am sorry to
say I have not had the honor to know Miss Tadpoddle.’

“‘Indeed, sir! that’s unfortunate; I must avail myself of the pleasure
to introduce you to my sister; a most remarkable woman, sir--rather
masculine in her views, but sensible and prudent. We are indebted to her
for our success in this case. The fact is, Mr. Wallingford, I am
indebted to my remarkable sister for my success in life generally. She
would be delighted to know you, and I dare say you would be much pleased
with her. She would be able to advise you in this business, no doubt, as
her judgment may be relied on; but let that pass for the present. What
was it you were about to observe, Mr. Wallingford?’

“‘I was about to ask a question; but then I remembered that you and Mr.
Dabbs had intimated a wish not to be questioned.’

“‘Oh, not at all, sir; you misunderstand us entirely. We don’t prohibit
questions--we only decline to be examined like an ordinary witness in
court. Ask as many questions as you please--we’ll only answer such as we
choose.’

“Then Mr. Tadpoddle threw himself back in his chair, put the small eye
on duty, and waited for the question.

“‘If you have any communication to make in regard to the discoveries you
have made, I should like to hear them now!’

“‘Just so, Mr. Wallingford, no doubt you would; and that is what brought
us here to-day. I am well aware of the interest you feel in Miss
Bramlett’s case, and so told my remarkable sister, and she also
appreciated the situation very much. By the by, Dabbs, don’t you think
we had better tell Mr. Wallingford what my remarkable sister knows about
the case?’

“‘I think we had, Mr. Tadpoddle; but let them be told after the other
facts have been related--nothing like beginning at the right end, you
know. There are two ways to tell anything--one right way, and one wrong
way; always commence a story at the right end, you see. What your sister
knows comes last, in order to make the chain of evidence complete.’

“‘Ah, yes, Dabbs, I perceive now that you are right. Well, you tell Mr.
Wallingford about the other things, and when it comes to my sister’s
part, then let me in.’

“I was losing my self-possession, and felt as if I must do something
rash very soon; I think I should have hurled a lump of coal at Mr.
Tadpoddle’s little gourd head, but my attention was diverted to Mr.
Dabbs, who began to take something from his pocket-book.

“‘This little parcel, Mr. Wallingford, is a dose of strychnine similar
to the one that killed Miss Bramlett’s little brother. Well, what of
that? is the question that naturally would come up in your mind. You’ll
observe, Mr. Wallingford, that I am only drawing an inference as to
ideas, etc., which would be likely to present themselves. Well, what if
that is strychnine? you say. Very good! I reply, The deceased was
murdered with strychnine. Some one administered the poison. Who? ah!
that’s the question. I answer without hesitation: Miss Bramlett.’

“‘Tis false!’ exclaimed Harry, as he made at the detective with eyes
flashing with rage. ‘I’ll choke the breath from the villain’s lungs who
dares to accuse Miss Bramlett.’

“I quickly placed myself before Harry, and prevented him from choking
Mr. Dabbs, and endeavored to keep him quiet, though I thought a little
pressure on Dabbs’ wind-pipe would have been justifiable. I succeeded in
getting Harry to resume his seat, then requested Mr. Dabbs to proceed.

“‘If Mr. Wallingford is unwilling to hear facts,’ said Dabbs, ‘we had
better let the interview terminate here. It is our duty, as officers of
the law, to close our eyes to consequences, and bring facts to light. We
can’t consider the feelings and wishes of individuals, in our searches
after truth; if we did, we should accomplish nothing. We do not make
evidence, we only bring to light that which is made by circumstances and
concealed by fraud. If the evidence that we have discovered does not
please Mr. Wallingford, we will not thrust it on his hearing, but will
deliver it to the officers of the law, whose duty it is to use it in
punishing the guilty, and protecting the innocent.’

“‘You are right, Mr. Dabbs, and I was wrong,’ said Harry, as he leaned
his head down on the window-sill and sighed sadly. ‘Tell us the worst at
once.’

“‘Well this dose of strychnine was found in Miss Bramlett’s room,
concealed in the pocket of a blue silk dress which belonged to her.’

“Mr. Dabbs paused, and looked at Tadpoddle. Tadpoddle put the big eye on
duty, while the little one made a precipitate retreat. Harry groaned
like one whose heart was crushed. I wanted to commit some kind of
mischief, but did not exactly know what it was. At length Dabbs spoke
again, after he had sufficiently enjoyed the misery inflicted on us by
the first revelation:

“‘The mere naked fact that Miss Bramlett had a dose of strychnine in one
of her dress pockets does not signify much, but when viewed in
connection with other circumstances, the case is different. To sum up
the ideas, we must be very cautious to sift things so as to separate the
wheat from the chaff; however, we don’t always find it prudent even to
throw away the chaff; because it will sometimes show us which way the
wind blows. Now in this case I think we can see which way the wind is
blowing without the use of the chaff. The fact is, the breeze seems to
be all the time blowing in the same direction. We found three small
scraps of blue paper; two upon chemical examination were found to
contain small quantities of quinine, while the other one contained
unmistakable evidence of having been filled with strychnine. We found a
little package of quinine in the fire-place; now it is very plain that
this was emptied out of one of the papers left by Doctor Dodson, and
that the strychnine was put in the same paper instead of the quinine.
That goes to show beyond doubt that the poison was administered
intentionally; but by whom? you would of course be inclined to ask.
Very good; let us proceed to make the inquiry further.’

“‘Now,’ said Tadpoddle, ‘I think is the time to tell Mr. Wallingford
what valuable evidence has been discovered by my remarkable sister.’

“Mr. Tadpoddle’s little eye then went back to its hole, and the big one
came to the front.

“‘No, not yet, Mr. Tadpoddle,’ said Dabbs, as he bit the corner off of a
plug of tobacco and began to chew it with great energy; ‘there are other
matters to be mentioned before we disclose your sister’s evidence. There
is the secret gate, you must remember; that will furnish a very strong
link in our chain--a link which I consider of great importance. So far,
so good. Now, Mr. Tadpoddle, allow me to call your attention to a
certain letter or note--some people, I believe, would call it a
billet-doux; no matter what they call it--nothing in a name, you know;
at least, Mr. Shakespeare so testified in favor of that idea. Be so kind
as to hand me that billet-doux, Mr. Tadpoddle. I believe I gave it to
you?’

“Tadpoddle’s big eye retired slowly, and the little one came out and
then darted back; then came out again--a game of hide and seek being
commenced between them. The big eye seemed to be hesitating, as if
undecided about the propriety of giving the field to the little one. But
the little one appeared to have scraped up courage, and made a bold
charge to the front, when the large eye gave up the contest at last, and
hid in its den. Tadpoddle seemed to be waiting to know which eye he
would have to depend on, while looking for the note, but as soon as the
matter was settled, he drew from his breast pocket an old pocket-book,
and began to take out a great number of old dirty papers, carefully
scrutinizing each one as he took it out.

“‘Ah, here it is, Mr. Dabbs; by Jove, it’s a clincher, ain’t it?’

“Dabbs did not reply to Tadpoddle’s question, but turning his attention
to Harry, said:

“‘Mr. Wallingford, you will pardon me, sir, but duty, is duty, you know,
and at the risk of incurring your displeasure, I must perform my duty.
You will doubtless be surprised to learn that Miss Bramlett has been
holding clandestine meetings with a low-down gambler for many months.’

“Harry would have knocked him down, but I anticipated the movement, and
held him in his seat.

“‘Edward,’ said he, ‘must I sit here and listen to this? Am I a
contemptible coward? Shall I let them kill that poor girl, and then
blacken her fair name? Is this Harry Wallingford who sits here, quietly
listening to such a foul slander on the name of his affianced bride!
Would you have me to whine and smile and fawn on the base wretch who
utters such language?’

“‘If ever there was a time when it was necessary for you to control your
temper, that time is now. The awful situation in which Miss Bramlett is
placed should convince you that nothing can be done for her unless cool
judgment and common sense shall take the place of passion and rashness.
Mr. Dabbs may be mistaken in his conclusions, and I think he is, yet he
believes he is performing his duty, therefore, I beseech you to hear all
he has to say. Then, after we have heard it all, we will advise with Mr.
Rockland on the subject--I have great confidence in his sound judgment,
and I know his sympathies are with us. Give us a promise, now, Harry,
that you will endeavor to control yourself--you have committed some
great errors, and it behooves you to repair them. You can command your
passion if you will determine to do it.’

“‘Edward,’ said he, ‘you are right. I have been very indiscreet, and to
some extent inexcusable; I promise to do as you wish. Let Mr. Dabbs
proceed. I’ll hear all he has to say.’

“I then requested Mr. Dabbs to proceed.

“‘I am exceedingly sorry,’ said he, ‘that Mr. Wallingford should be
disposed to censure me for stating facts, when he must know that the
discovery of these facts did not afford any pleasure to me; I may say I
was pained to find that circumstances were continually pointing to Miss
Bramlett as the guilty one. I had hoped to find evidence of her
innocence, and such a result would have given me ten-fold more pleasure
than anything we could find against her. It is clear to my mind that the
poor young lady has been the victim of some heartless villain--or that
she has been laboring under temporary insanity. Whether or not I am
correct in that opinion it is not my business just now to inquire. That
is a question for the courts and lawyers to settle when she is put on
trial; my business is to show what has been done, and nothing shall
cause me to shrink from the performance of that duty. There is a young
man keeping a gambling hell in this city; a young man of handsome face
and fascinating manners, though a shrewd, sly scoundrel, who had
something to do with this business; and I flatter myself that I shall be
able to expose him before I get through with this affair. I have been
shadowing him--he often gets drunk, and I never failed to manage his
sort. He talks freely when drinking, and I will pump the secret out of
him before I quit. I played poker with him the other night; he beat me
out of forty dollars--the rascal! but I shall let him win, and give him
rope to hang himself with. I’ll catch up with the villain yet. His
apartments are furnished like the palace of a king. Where did the money
come from to pay for it? I dare say he wheedled Miss Bramlett out of it.
That unfortunate young girl has been so imprudent as to make frequent
visits to these apartments during the dark hours of night.’

“‘Oh, Heavens! Eddie,’ exclaimed Harry, as he seized me by the arm,
‘have I got to hear such as this, and say nothing? It’s more than
humanity can bear; it will kill me; for Heaven’s sake let this interview
terminate--else I shall lose my reason!’

“‘Be quiet, I pray you, Harry,’ I said, though I felt the demon rising
in my own breast, and needed all the prudence I could command in order
to keep me from knocking the man down myself.

“My attempt to soothe and quiet Harry, however, served to aid me in
keeping cool, and after the lapse of a few moments, I directed Mr. Dabbs
to proceed.

“‘I was about to observe, a moment ago, that Miss Bramlett has been
exceedingly imprudent, if not criminal, in her intrigue with Ben
Bowles.’

“‘With whom did you say?’ groaned Harry.

“‘Why, with Ben Bowles, that unprincipled gambler.’

“‘He must be the same fellow you knocked on the head at our camp,’ I
said to Harry.

“‘I should not be surprised,’ he replied. Then turning to Dabbs, I
requested him to give me a description of Bowles.

“‘He is very handsome; has dark-brown hair, very black eyes, is about
five and twenty years old, very tall--I should say not less than six
feet--dresses magnificently, drinks to excess, has a deep bass voice,
and a slight scar on his left temple, close to the eyebrow.’

“‘That is the very man!’ said I, as I again requested Mr. Dabbs to go on
with his history.

“‘Well,’ he began, ‘as I was saying just now, I cannot account for the
strange conduct of Miss Bramlett, except upon the theory that she has
become fascinated with that good-looking scoundrel, and was
contemplating a secret marriage with him; at all events, she has been
frequently seen to enter his apartments through a private door that
opens on an alley in the rear of the house.’

“‘I shall go mad!’ said Harry, as his head fell on my shoulder. I could
hear his heart throb and jump against his breast, as if in great
commotion. ‘Can this horrible story be true? Can the devil take the
shape of an angel, in order to drag the soul down to hell?’

“‘Hush, hush! Harry, there is some strange mistake connected with the
affair, and I’ll risk my life on Viola’s honor.’

“‘Thank you, a thousand times, from the very bottom of my heart! but
where is the cowardly villain who originated this damnable falsehood?
Oh, if I could only get my hand on his accursed throat!’

“‘Let us first find out who is working these secret wires,’ said I, ‘and
then we may be able to contend with the enemy with hopes of success. If
Miss Bramlett ever has visited that place, she has been inveigled into
it by foul and fraudulent means. She was continually searching for
worthy objects of charity, and some false, sneaking scoundrel may have
entrapped her into that house. How easily might she have been induced to
believe that some unfortunate creature was dying in that house for want
of food. I know that she would have gone there, or anywhere else, to
render assistance where suffering humanity needed help. No, if this is
the worst that can be said of Viola, you have reason to rejoice; for you
may rest assured she will be able to explain it satisfactorily.’

“‘I believe you, and shall hear all that can be said.’

“‘No, indeed, Mr. Wallingford,’ said Dabbs, ‘far be it from me to report
anything in this case except the naked truth. I have no bias for or
against any one, I assure you. It is the duty of one in my position to
be careful to keep his mind clear of prejudice, and to look only to the
detection of crime; and if Miss Bramlett shall be able to offer a
satisfactory explanation of her conduct in this instance, it will be a
source of gratification to me. My mind tells me that this man Bowles had
something to do with the death of young Bramlett; and if he had, I shall
not stop until I can prove it. The fact that Miss Bramlett has
frequently met Bowles under suspicious circumstances has been
ascertained to a certainty; but after all it may, as you have suggested,
be easily explained by her. A lady of Miss Bramlett’s tender age, having
but little experience in the wicked ways of the world, would be a lamb
in the power of such a wolf as Bowles. He is frequently out of money;
and when such unprincipled scamps want funds, they would commit murder;
or any other crime to get it. He is extravagant beyond measure, loves
wine and women, keeps four fast trotters at Burton’s, bets high at the
gaming table, and occasionally dines his friends extravagantly. Now all
this costs money; and it is my opinion that Miss Bramlett’s money has
largely contributed to that establishment. You know that she has within
the last twelve months squandered over ten thousand dollars in cash,
besides incurring debts equal to the cash spent. By her father’s will
she had the right to spend the income of her inheritance--but could not
touch the principal. She went through with the income, and, from all
accounts, would have speedily wasted the principal, but the trustees
positively refused to allow it. Her little brother did not draw any of
his income at all; and when he died, his sister, of course, became the
owner of his share, not only of the income, but of the entire estate.
People do not commit murder without a motive. Did Miss Bramlett have a
motive to murder her brother? Of course we answer unhesitatingly, Yes.
What motive? what did she gain by the death of her brother? Answer--Ten
thousand dollars ready cash in hand, and two hundred thousand dollars
added to her inheritance. If that did not constitute a motive, I would
like some one to inform me what would. Bowles was in great stress for
want of money at that time, as I happen to know. The wolf may have used
the lamb as his agent to get the funds he wanted. He wrote a note to
Miss Bramlett in which he implored her to let him have five hundred
dollars. That note was found in her dress pocket. It is the document we
mentioned a moment ago, and here it is:

     “‘DEAR V.--Don’t fail me to-night. Come at eight o’clock. I will be
     alone. I am dying to see you. For Heaven’s sake let me have the
     five hundred dollars, as I am in a tight place just now. I found
     your note under the seat in the summer house. I knew where to look
     for it. Of course I pressed it to my lips before I read it. When I
     see you we will discuss our plans more fully. If you can accomplish
     the business with a brave heart we shall yet be happy. I know that
     you have the courage to do it, if you set your mind on it.
     Detection would be impossible if you adopt my plan--though we will
     talk the matter over when I have you in my arms.

     “‘Yours and yours only,

     “‘B. B.’

“‘Catch Mr. Wallingford there--he has fainted!’ exclaimed Dabbs, as he
sprang forward and attempted to prevent Harry from falling; but he was
too late--for Harry was lying on the floor before Dabbs got to him. I
was unable to render any assistance, being completely overcome with
horror at hearing the contents of the letter. Most of my hopes of
Viola’s innocence vanished when the note was read; Mr. Dabbs lifted
Harry up and laid him on a sofa, while Tadpoddle sprinkled his face with
water and took off his cravat, unbuttoning his collar--then Harry began
to breathe faintly; but such a look of despair as settled on his face I
never beheld there before. I was unable to offer consolation, for I was
in need of it myself--the blood seemed to be freezing in my veins. It
was plain that Bowles’ letter referred to the plan which had for its
object the murder of Viola’s brother. The bare thought that such was the
fact made my heart stand still.

“‘Have we all been deceived by this beautiful girl? Is she, after all, a
cruel, calculating murderess, and the mistress of a villain? Could it be
possible that one so beautiful possessed the heart of a murderess? Could
it be that she who looked like the very embodiment of purity was the
horrible thing that I blush to think of? Questions of that nature came
pouring in on my mind; and if I had been compelled to answer, I should
have been forced to admit that the evidence was overwhelming against
Viola. It was plain to my mind that it would not do to depend on Harry
any longer--he was more like a raving maniac than anything else. I began
to fear that he would seek a quarrel with Bowles--a thing which above
all others I thought should be avoided, as it would prevent the
detectives from getting at the bottom of the case. If Harry should
attack Bowles I knew that one or the other would be killed; and how to
prevent it was the question uppermost in my mind just then. I knew all
about Harry’s ungovernable temper and his lack of fear, and imagined
from his looks that he had resolved on something rash--his face was pale
as death. I at once divined the thoughts that were passing through his
mind, and was endeavoring to invent some plan to prevent a meeting
between him and Bowles, when he addressed me in a tone so low that it
was not much above a whisper:

“‘Eddie, it is all over with me--I am a ruined man; there is but one
course left for me to pursue--Bowles must answer for the ruin he has
wrought. Poor girl! I pity her, and before Heaven I swear to be her
avenger. She is a helpless orphan, and it is my duty to defend her,
notwithstanding she has forfeited all right to my love.’

“I grew impatient. I was becoming tired of Harry’s imprudence, and could
not forget the fact that his selfish pride has caused all this trouble.

“‘I think,’ said I, endeavoring to keep down my rising temper, ‘that I
heard you say if every man, woman and child in Memphis were to swear
Viola was guilty, you would believe they were mistaken; and now, at the
first intimation of her guilt, without any proof whatever, you are the
very one to condemn her. Is this the confidence you have in your
affianced bride? Indeed, I congratulate Miss Bramlett in the possession
of such a true lover!’

“‘Stop, Edward,’ he said, as he rose from his seat and began to walk the
floor, ‘I know I have said many foolish things, and committed numerous
blunders in this business, but it can’t mend matters for you to be
throwing it up to me. I admit that in some instances my conduct was
inexcusable; but I was trying to repair the damage caused by it--it is
too late now. Nothing that any one could say would have any effect on
me, after what I have heard to-day. My heart has turned to stone, and I
don’t think it could feel anything at all. Perhaps it is best that it
should be so. I have a duty to perform now that will require coolness,
and I feel that I could see blood run from the heart of Viola’s betrayer
without compunction. I have a double account to settle with him; and it
shall be settled in a manner that will be final.’

“‘If you would listen to the advice of your friends, you never would let
Bowles know that you have obtained a clew to his villainy until you have
secured enough proof to convict him in open court. It is very clear that
if he is the author of that letter, he has been the prime mover in the
murder of Miss Bramlett’s brother; and it is also very plain that other
letters have been written--for he mentions the place where letters were
deposited and received. Now, if you make a row you put him on his guard,
and thereby give him a chance to escape; but if you keep quiet and let
Dabbs work on him, I think it would enable us to trap him. Above all
things let us give Dabbs an opportunity to work up the case, so far as
Bowles is concerned. A man must learn to control himself before he can
expect to control other people; and when you make up your mind to act
with your friends, and not against them, I am prepared to proceed
further in this business. If, on the other hand, you mean to seek a
quarrel with Bowles, and destroy all hopes of securing proof of his
guilt, I beg to say that I wash my hands of the whole affair.’

“‘I will promise to wait until Mr. Dabbs shall have a chance to do what
he can; but, remember, I only promise to postpone his punishment.’

“‘Very well; I accept the promise, and we can discuss his punishment at
another time. We must see Lottie at once, and prevail on her to tell
what she knows. I am sure she could furnish us some important
information, if she would. While I am ready to admit that my confidence
in Viola’s honor has been somewhat shaken, I must be permitted to say
that I have not lost all hopes; hence my anxiety to know the truth has
been increased very much by what I have just heard.’

“‘Have you anything further to communicate?’ said I, addressing Mr.
Dabbs; ‘if you have, we beg you to proceed.’

“‘Ah, hem! yes, Mr. Demar,’ replied the detective, as he took the last
corner from his plug of tobacco, ‘I have something more to say; and, in
the first place, allow me to mention the fact that I heartily indorse
your idea as to Bowles. We must by all means keep him in the dark as to
what we have resurrected against him. He is a sly, shrewd rascal; but
I’ll capture him if you don’t thwart me. In Mr. Ragland’s flower garden
there is a large summer-house made of lattice-work, and all covered over
with vines. It is constructed in an octagonal shape, with wooden
benches, arranged round inside. This house has been the meeting place of
Miss Bramlett and Bowles. Miss Jemima Tadpoddle saw them there one night
at a very late hour. She had called to see Mrs. Ragland one evening, and
was informed by the house-maid that her mistress had gone out to attend
a meeting of some benevolent society, of which she was an active member;
but the maid told Miss Tadpoddle that Mrs. Ragland would be in soon, and
while waiting in the drawing-room for Mrs. Ragland’s return, she saw
Miss Bramlett go into the summer-house. Soon after Miss Bramlett went
into the place Bowles came in through a secret entrance at the back of
the garden, and went into the summer-house where Miss Bramlett was
watching for him. After waiting a long time to see Mrs. Ragland, Miss
Tadpoddle left without seeing her; and when she went away Bowles and
Miss Bramlett were still in the summer-house. How long they remained
there she of course did not know. When Miss Tadpoddle gave us this
information we made a thorough examination of the premises, in order to
find the place where Bowles got into the garden. We searched for some
time without any result, but at last we found his entering place; and I
must give him credit for great skill, for the manner in which he had
managed it. The garden was inclosed with a common paling fence of pine
timber, painted white, the palings being about four feet high, sharpened
to a point at the top, and nailed to a horizontal railing. Three of
those palings had been so arranged that they could be taken off and
replaced, so as to leave no signs of having been removed. The nails that
had originally been driven in to hold the palings in their places had
been drawn out, small wooden pins put in their stead--so that when
anyone wished to enter the garden he had nothing to do but to draw out
the wooden pins, take off the palings and walk in; then replace them,
and no one could see that the palings had ever been interfered with. I
don’t think we should have made the discovery had it not been for the
signs left on the grass by the feet of the party, who had evidently
entered very often. We found that the ground near the place had been
hardened by continuous tramping on it; and this led us to examine the
palings very closely; the result was we found what I have just
mentioned. We made a very extensive search among the blades of tall
grass that grew in the vicinity of the entrance, and we found an article
which we believe to be a set that has fallen from a finger ring. I
should say that it was of considerable value--as it looks like a genuine
diamond. This little article may enable us to get our grabbers on Mr.
Bowles; because, if it is his, he of course has the ring from which it
has been detached. One thing is certain--Mr. Bowles has not only
received Miss Bramlett at his apartments very often, but he has been
meeting her in the summer-house many a time. I believe this ends what I
had to report to-day. Permit me to take my leave now, and you shall hear
from us again soon.’”

Queen Mary now expressed a wish that the further hearing of the story
should be postponed, in order that the maskers might have a recess.

CHAPTER XVII.

Ivanhoe and Scottie were seated in the rear of the pilot house,
discussing and dissecting Ingomar’s story.

“What do you think of the story now, sir knight?” inquired Scottie. “Do
you like it or not?”

“So, so. Some parts I like, and some I don’t. There’s too much talk of
murder in it.”

“Do you think from what you have heard of the story that Miss Bramlett
committed the murder?”

“There is no room to doubt it, if we are to judge from the evidence that
has come up against her. If Ingomar can get her out of the scrape
without flatly contradicting himself, he will be entitled to the premium
as the champion storyteller.”

“I agree with you there; because if I were on a jury and such evidence
was brought before me, I should say guilty beyond the possibility of a
doubt.”

“Well, Scottie, give me your opinion of Lottie.”

“Ah, sir knight! that’s an overdrawn picture. Angels have long since
quit visiting the earth. I don’t think I have heard of any being down in
this world since Jacob had such a scuffle with them.”

“You are wrong there; they have been here frequently since that affair
with Jacob. But let that pass, and tell me what you think of Lottie.”

“She makes a splendid heroine for a story.”

“That may be true; yet it is so pleasant to hear Ingomar talk about her;
did you know that somehow or other an idea has got into this head of
mine?”

“No, indeed! is that so?”

“Pshaw! You didn’t let me finish the sentence. I was about to remark
that somehow an idea had got into my head that you are just like
Lottie.”

“Oh! you are badly lost now, for I am a plain, simple girl--just like
other girls, only not so pretty; and then I have an awful temper. Oh!
you ought to hear me when I am angry.”

“I am truly glad to hear you say so, for I like a high-tempered woman.
They make things generally stand round so lively--have the servants walk
to a line--keep the floor so clean--set such nice dinners; and then it
is so delightful to have a good, jolly quarrel--get up a great row, shed
a few tears, and then make friends--then kiss. Oh, that’s the girl for
me!”

“You draw one side of the picture very nicely.”

“You can’t frighten me with such an insinuation; but you only increase
my anxiety to know more about you. By the by, were you ever in love?”

“Oh, yes! I was dead in love with a fellow once--he was such a darling!
and to tell you the truth, I love him yet. He had such a black beard,
such black hair, and was so handsome!”

“My hair is black, and so is my beard.”

“I dare say it is. What if it should turn out that it was you, after
all! Were you ever in love?”

“Indeed, yes! I loved a pretty girl with dark-brown hair and large gray
eyes; and would have married her but for a very trivial little
circumstance--she wouldn’t have me.”

“I suppose she didn’t like black hair and a black beard.”

“Well, we didn’t marry, anyway.”

“Suppose, sir knight, you entertain me with a history of your love
scrape?”

“I will, on condition that you will follow suit with your little
episode, when I am through with mine.”

“All right--I’ll do it.”

“Mine is a short story, but very affecting--and, if you have tears,
prepare to shed them now.”

“Well, hold on then till I get out my handkerchief. Here it is now--go
on.”

“I was in the city of Jackson, Mississippi, once, attending the
Legislature, of which I was a member.”

“Wait a moment till I catch this tear--I think I feel one in my left
eye.”

“What have I said that could have started a tear?”

“That you were a member of the Mississippi Legislature--that was the
reason your girl refused to marry you.”

“Well, perhaps it was; though I have repented of that; and have promised
to go and sin no more in that way; but I am digressing. While I was in
Jackson, I was invited by some friends, to join them in a picnic dinner
on the beautiful banks of Pearl river. Many lovely women were with the
party--one in particular; it was a clear case of love at first sight on
my side, and spontaneous indifference on hers. The dinner was
magnificent. My girl unloaded a basket. It made my mouth water to watch
her pretty little white hands lifting out the nice cake, the luscious
jam, the roast turkey, the broiled chicken, the snow-white bread, the
great yellow rolls of butter. I fell in love with her and the contents
of her basket--and felt like devouring the whole concern then and there.
It would have done you good to see the sweet smile she cast on me as she
invited me to take a seat by her side and eat with her. I made up my
mind to make her an offer of marriage at the first opportunity, and I
was very much mortified to learn that three other fellows had determined
to do likewise. All three of them had great advantages over me--they
were not members of the Mississippi Legislature, and I was--I had to
carry too much dead weight. After dinner was over the band began to play
a lively tune, and some one proposed a dance; I made a dash toward my
girl, with the view of asking her to be my partner in the dance. She
smiled sweetly on me, but danced with another fellow. I then took the
pouts and refused to dance at all. While the angry fit was on me I
wandered off down the banks of the river alone--vowing to cripple
somebody before night. When I had fully made up my mind to do it, the
next question was, How could I accomplish it without getting crippled
myself? I could not for the life of me think of any plan that would
enable me to get rid of my rivals without endangering myself; therefore
I was forced to abandon the enterprise altogether. But while I was
rambling along the bank of the river meditating dire destruction, a
young gray squirrel ran across my path, and I caught him and carried him
in triumph to the picnic headquarters. My girl cast on me another one of
her sweet smiles, as she begged me to give her the pretty, darling
little squirrel. I of course forgot my angry fit, and gave it to her; it
was but a moment after I had given it into her hand when she uttered a
loud scream, and let the little squirrel drop on the ground. The entire
party took after the squirrel except me and my girl. I saw the blood
streaming from her hand, where the little animal had bitten her. I took
off her glove and washed the blood from her hand, then tied it up with
my handkerchief. I hid her glove in my bosom, where I have worn it ever
since. Here it is now, with the stain of her dear blood on it! Why,
Scottie, I declare, you are weeping sure enough! What on earth is the
matter?--pray what is it.” (She was weeping--the tears running down her
cheeks in a stream.) “Have I said anything to offend you? I did not
intend it, if I did.” (It was some time before Scottie became
composed--and Ivanhoe was very much astonished at her weeping so.) “I
believe I have about finished my narrative. I really did love that girl
dearly, but her father did not like me. Now, Scottie, tell me your love
affair.”

“You have knocked the foundation from under my story, for you have told
it yourself--and I must ask you to give me back my glove. It is mine,
and here is the scar made by the bite of the squirrel.”

“Good Heavens! Have I the honor to again meet Miss Kate Darlington?”

“If you will leave out the honor part, I will answer, Yes! And I have
the pleasure to meet Captain Ralleigh Burk, I presume.”

“You have guessed my name, at any rate--but was it true, Scottie (pardon
me please, but I mean to call you Scottie all the time, for I like it),
that you did love me?”

“Oh, you must not ask impertinent questions; you know we were joking
when we commenced it.”

“No, I don’t! for I never was more in earnest in all my life. I have
kissed this little glove a thousand times; and the dear image of the
Pearl river girl has been indelibly stamped on my heart. It has been two
years since I last saw you, and it has seemed an age to me. I was sure
that you were going to marry that other fellow with the red hair.”

“Oh, no! I detest red hair--and then I never could marry a man unless I
loved him. The fact is, it wouldn’t do for me to marry at all, for I
have such a temper.”

“Oh, bother the temper! I am willing to risk it. Laying all jokes aside,
I love you devotedly, and won’t you promise to be my wife?”

“If I lose my temper and break your head with the broom handle, you
won’t beat me?”

“No.”

“If I break up the furniture, while in a passion, you’ll go and buy
more?”

“Yes.”

“Very well, I’ll take your case under advisement, and give you an answer
when we get back home, provided you don’t conclude to withdraw the
proposition before it is too late.”

“See here, Scottie, this is a matter of too much importance to me to be
made the subject of a joke; I don’t believe you mean to wound my
feelings, yet I had rather you would not use so much levity about it. I
loved you at first sight, and meant to ask you then to marry me, but
your father seemed to dislike me so that I was afraid.”

“In the first place, Mr. Burk----”

“Pshaw! Scottie, don’t call me Mr. Burk, but call me Ralleigh.”

“If it pleases you, then be it so. Well, Ralleigh Burk, in the first
place, I am not joking; and in the second place, you were very much
mistaken when you concluded that my father disliked you. He had a
supreme contempt for what he called stern-wheel politicians.”

“Oh, yes, I see; and he set me down in his mind as a stern-wheel
politician.”

“I don’t say that, mind you, but he looked upon you as the villagers did
on the old dog Tray, who was found in bad company. You see how it is,
don’t you?”

“I think I do.”

“Well, now, I think my father would forgive you if you could satisfy him
that you had quit politics and gone into some legitimate business.”

“Do you, indeed? how kind that would be of him! but suppose I had not
quit politics, and that I had not gone into any legitimate business--in
fact, suppose it should appear that I have not gone into anything except
debt?”

“I think it would prevent your going into our family.”

“Then I suppose he would not object to my going head foremost into the
Mississippi river?”

“Oh, by no means; I think he would rather see you do that than to see
you in the Mississippi Legislature.”

“And may I ask which catastrophe would be most to your liking?”

“The cold water treatment, by long odds.”

“Thank you. I must say that I admire your candor, but not your
sentiment.”

“Spoken like a man; I glory in your grit. You’re on my platform, for I
have sworn never to marry a man unless I loved him.”

“Scottie, you are a little darling, and that’s a fact, and I want you to
try to love me if you can; and if you can’t, just tell me so, and I’ll
either go to the bottom of the river or to the Mississippi Legislature,
and never bother you any more.”

“Hold your head down, so I can whisper something in your ear: I don’t
think you will have to drown yourself, or go to the Legislature.”

“No? oh, won’t that be jolly! You have removed a mountain from my mind.
Let us go dance a while, else I’ll do something foolish.”

“You talk as if you hadn’t been doing that all the evening; but you will
excuse me, for I don’t wish to dance. I like to gaze out on the bright
water and see the moonbeams dancing on it. I like to feel the soft,
balmy air as it kisses my cheeks. I like to feel the gentle motion of
the boat, and watch the white waves of steam as they go rolling up from
the pipes. It is so sweet to sit here and listen to the soft notes of
the music as it comes stealing up from the saloon and mingling with the
dull sound of the puffing pipes. I love to listen to the regular clatter
of the wheels--they make such pleasant music as they strike the water.
The fact is, I am very happy, and could sit here and dream all night,
without going to sleep. Oh, these wide-awake day dreams; how delightful
they are! I am in one of those dreamy moods now, and wouldn’t exchange
that feeling for anything on earth!”

“All right, Scottie; I think I’ll join you in a dream or two; but I am
so happy I cannot be still.”

“But you must be still if you remain here. I have made up my mind to
have a dream, and don’t mean to be disturbed. There, now, take a seat
and let us watch the moon till she passes that cloud yonder.”

“Scottie, let the moon alone; it is a fickle planet, anyway, and I am
afraid you will learn its bad habits. If you will do me the honor to
take my arm, we will have a stroll. We can quarrel as well while walking
as we can while sitting here.”

“I suppose I will have to do it, as there is no getting rid of you. But
I want you to tell me if you have made any new discoveries in regard to
the black domino?”

“Nothing of any consequence; only it is certain that she is watching
Ingomar in such a way as to convince me that she is shadowing him for
some purpose. My spy has been very vigilant, but has encountered many
difficulties. The black domino seems to be suspicious of every one who
approaches her, and positively refuses to be interviewed. When she
retires to her state-room she always locks the door, and don’t even let
the chamber-maid enter while she is there. This fact alone is enough to
convince me that she has a secret. The chamber-maid tells me that she
heard the black domino whispering to the old gentleman with the long
beard this morning. She was not close enough to hear all that was said,
but she heard the woman say that she was determined to end this
intolerable suspense very soon. There appeared to be a difference of
opinion between the old man and the black domino, and the chamber-maid
said she thought that they were quarreling--however, as to that she was
not very positive. What do you think it all means, Scottie?”

“Why do you ask me such a question, when you know I am dying of that
terrible disease so prevalent among our sex, known as curiosity. What
wouldn’t I give to know who and what she is? It seems to me that if the
chamber-maid were to try she might find out something.”

“It does look so, but nevertheless she has not done it--that is to say,
she has done comparatively nothing; but we have not abandoned the field
yet, by a great deal.”

“Anything further from the Mississippi detectives yet?”

“No--only a confirmation of what we have heard heretofore. It is certain
that Ingomar is to be arrested as soon as the boat arrives at Vicksburg.
I regret to tell you that we shall have to part with him then.”

“I hope he will have time to finish his story before he is arrested. The
truth of the matter is, I think it is our duty to tell him all we have
heard anyway.”

“No, no; that would not only be aiding a criminal to escape, but it
would be to some extent criminal on our part. No; let us have nothing
whatever to do with it. But, Scottie, haven’t you told the queen already
what you know about Ingomar?”

“No, not a word. I’ll have you to know I am no talebearer. Didn’t I
promise you I would keep the secret? Of course I did; and then how dare
you ask me such a question?”

“I beg pardon; I ought to be pitched overboard; don’t you think I
ought?”

“Certainly I do, and should go about having it done, but it would make
all the fish quite ill.”

“Perhaps it would; but I have no idea of being pitched into the river. I
know I shall have pleasant dreams to-night, while the dear image of some
one will float before my mind.”

Ivanhoe then bade Scottie good-night and retired to his state-room,
while his heart swelled with joy. He had at last found a haven of rest
for his heart, which for two years had been worrying itself about the
beautiful girl from Pearl river.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Immediately after breakfast next morning, Queen Mary and her party
re-assembled at the usual place, where Ingomar was ordered to resume his
narrative. All of the maskers were in their places, eager to hear the
balance of the story; and Ingomar, without loss of time, began as
follows:

“As soon as Dabbs and Tadpoddle left the office Harry began to pace the
floor rapidly, with his head hanging on his breast, while I could see
from the working of the muscles of his face that he was making a
desperate effort to get his feelings under control. After walking the
floor for some time in silence he abruptly confronted me, and fixed his
eyes on me as if to read my thoughts, then said:

“‘She is guilty, and my career is nearly ended. I cannot survive it, and
to tell you the truth, I do not wish to, for I never shall have
confidence in any woman again. I shall even lose confidence in Lottie.’

“‘Stop, Harry, I pray you; don’t talk so; you will be sorry for this one
of these days. Let us not abandon all hopes yet. It is possible that
this is a mistake, after all.’

“‘No, no; I understand your motive, and appreciate it, but it is useless
to dodge the question; Viola is lost--lost forever! Oh, God! have mercy
on this poor girl. But for the sin of the thing, I would kill myself
now, and be rid of this intolerable suffering. There is a burning fire
in my bosom, and I can feel its consuming flames devouring my vitals.
Oh, how I did love that girl! how I worshiped her! So beautiful. So
enchanting! How could one so lovely be so wicked? My doom is sealed--the
blow to me is fatal. I feel it here. Let it come--the sooner the better.
Bowles must die, though. It is a mystery to me why such men should be
tolerated in a city like this, where they can rob and murder men, and
ruin innocent girls with impunity. If a poor wretch whose wife and
children are starving steals a side of bacon to keep the dear ones
alive, he is hurried off to the penitentiary in double-quick time; but
the well-dressed thief who steals his thousands, corrupts youth, ruins
young girls, and dines his friends, is permitted to walk the streets as
the lion of the day. It is not only so in Memphis, but I am told it is
so in many other cities. How such unscrupulous wretches should be
permitted to ply their avocations of robbery among people who make
pretensions to civilization is a puzzle to me. But I mean to have a
settlement with Mr. Bowles. He is the same fellow who, many years ago,
insulted Lottie at our camp, then committed perjury when I was on trial.
I have that little affair scored against him; but that is nothing
compared with the late business.’

“‘Harry, I would advise you not to let Viola know that you think she is
guilty, because if you do she certainly will discard you forever. I am
sure she never would forgive you the second time. You have not
forgotten what trouble you had to get her to pardon your first error;
and you had better be very cautious how you act now. She is as proud and
sensitive as you are, and if you offend her again she never will forgive
you.’

“‘I will, under no circumstances, attempt to conceal my opinions; if she
asks me for the truth, you may be assured she will hear it. I adhere to
the doctrine that honesty is the best policy. I never have told a
deliberate falsehood, and never will.’

“‘Would it not be best, then, for you not to see her until we know more
about the case? for she will be certain to find out what you think, and
then, my word for it, she will discard you.’

“‘Do you think I would care if she did? You don’t imagine that I expect
to marry her, do you?’

“‘But suppose you go and tell her you think she is guilty, and then
afterward, when it is too late, you find out that she is innocent--don’t
you see what an awkward predicament you then would be in?’

“‘Eddie, please don’t try to deceive me. You know she is guilty. Is not
the proof overwhelming? Didn’t I cling to the idea of her innocence
until the last prop was knocked away? But I am determined to see her and
demand an explanation. It is but fair to give her a chance. She shall
know what we have heard, and she then must tell what she knows about
it.’

“‘Harry, you will live to regret this step, and I want you to understand
that you take it contrary to my advice and wishes. If you would let the
whole matter rest in the hands of the detectives until the evidence
shall be brought out I think it would be better.’

“‘Let the responsibility rest on me. I must and will see Viola once
more, and then leave her in the hands of Him who knows the secrets of
all hearts. I will go and see her now; meantime you go and talk to Mr.
Rockland, and don’t think about me at all. I must now steer my own
canoe. My mind is made up, and no power on earth can change it.’

“He then abruptly left the office and went toward the jail. I trembled
to see the strange wild look in his eyes as he passed out. Mischief was
brewing, and I could see it as plain as daylight--but how to prevent it
I knew not. I remained in my seat for some time, undecided as to the
best course to be pursued. I knew that I must act promptly, but what or
how to do I could not decide. After Harry had been gone about thirty
minutes, it occurred to me that I ought to go and talk to Lottie and let
her know the bad news we had heard, and persuade her to keep Harry and
Viola apart until something more definite could be ascertained. I knew
that if Harry should see Viola while his mind was in its present
condition, something serious would be sure to transpire. I hastened to
the jail, but was too late to prevent the meeting. Lottie met me at the
entrance, and I saw from her looks that she had suspected something.

“‘Oh, Eddie,’ she said, as she held out both hands for me to shake,
‘what on earth is the matter with Harry? He came here just now, looking
for all the world just like a ghost. He was as pale as death, and I
thought he was going to fall down and die at my feet. He staggered from
one side of the hall to the other like a drunken man, told me he wished
to be alone with Viola, and requested me to stay out of the room until
he called me. His eyes showed a wild, unsettled expression, such as I
have seen mad men have. What does it mean?’

“‘Lottie, something awful has happened; but I can’t stop to tell you
now. We must look after Harry--get him away from here as soon as
possible. Go in; you must persuade him to go home with you.’

“‘Good Heavens! did you hear that groan? That was Viola--come, quick!’

“I followed her into the room, and at a glance perceived that we had
come too late--the mischief had been done. That Harry was absolutely
crazy for the time being was as plain as could be. Viola was leaning
against the bed-post, pale and trembling, while Harry was passing across
the room like an angry tiger in its cage. Lottie was by Viola’s side in
an instant.

“‘What is it?’ she inquired, as she took hold of her arm. ‘Tell me what
has happened, I beseech you!’

“‘Your gallant brother there I think could tell you better than I
could,’ replied Viola, as she drew herself up to her full height. She
looked like a queen who had received an insult from one of her subjects.
Such a look of scorn as she cast upon Harry as she spoke I never had
seen flash from a woman’s eyes before. Her cheeks were red with anger,
and her frame seemed to grow taller. ‘Yes, Lottie, your gallant brother
can enlighten you as to what has happened.’ Then addressing herself to
Harry, she said: ‘Why, Mr. Wallingford, didn’t you tell your sister how
you sat quietly in your chair and heard those two penitentiary birds say
that I was the mistress of a blackleg gambler, and didn’t kill them? You
saved my life when I was a child, and I thought you were a brave hero.
Every story I read where a hero was described I coupled your name with,
and my childish mind pictured you as greater and braver than all of
them. I loved you for your courage; I thought of you by day--I dreamed
about you at night. My love grew as I grew, until my poor heart was full
to overflowing. The followers in Mohammed never had stronger faith in
him than I had in you. Your image floated before my young mind as my
beau ideal of all that was brave, noble, generous and kind. I studied by
day and by night, in order to make myself worthy of such a hero. My love
grew into worship, and if every man, woman and child on earth had told
me you were not a brave, generous hero, I would not have believed it. I
wore your image next to my heart, and no heathen ever worshiped his idol
with half the devotion that I worshiped you. My love was my life--it was
my happiness--it was my religion--it was my all! You told me you loved
me--you took me to your heart and whispered sweet words of love into my
ear--you almost killed me with joy. Then you cast me off and declared
that you were joking, and that you never could think of marrying me. I
was crazed with grief; and as soon as I got so I could bear the awful
affliction, you came and renewed the protestations of love. You offered
excuses for your former conduct. I believed you. You swore in the most
solemn language that you always had loved me. I credited it, and you
asked me to be your wife. I yielded because I loved--nay, the word love
is too weak a term to be used--I worshiped you--I adored you. I thought
my love was returned--I thought you were perfection itself. In view of
all these things, how could you sit and hear my name blackened by a pair
of penitentiary convicts, and not kill them? You heard them say I was
the mistress of a common blackleg gambler, and did not resent it. Is
this the brave hero whose picture I have worn on my heart for ten long
years? How could I have been so blinded as to worship such an object?
And then, to cap the climax, you come here and ask me to explain why I
was in the habit of visiting the apartments of Mr. Bowles continually.
Leave me and my affairs in the hands of God--to Him I will render an
account of my conduct in this business, but to you never! I have no
fears as to my fate. Death to me now would be welcome--why should I wish
to live where no one will befriend me? Let them hang me high as
Haman--let my name be bandied about the streets as the vilest of the
vile. Why should I care, since the only one I loved or cared for thinks
me guilty? Let them hang me first and then throw my body in a felon’s
grave. God, who knows the secrets of all hearts, will take care of my
soul. You may go now, Mr. Wallingford; I have no more to say, only to
demand that you desist from any further interference in my affairs. Make
out an account of all expenses you have incurred and present them to my
guardian, and I will see that they are paid. You may go, now, as I wish
to be left alone.’

“If Harry heard what she had been saying, he paid but little attention
to it; but when she ceased, instead of leaving the room as she had
ordered him to do, he stood like a statue, gazing vacantly before him.

“‘Mr. Wallingford, again I tell you I wish to be left alone.’ As she
spoke she pointed toward the door, and her manner was such as to
convince me that it would be better for Harry to leave. Acting upon that
conclusion, I led him from the room, and went with him to his office. He
spoke not, nor did he make any objections to being taken away--in fact,
I didn’t think he exactly comprehended what had been said, though he
afterward spoke of it as if it were a painful dream. I had often seen
him under the influence of excitement, but I had never beheld him in
such a state as he was then, and I was afraid to leave him alone, for I
imagined that he would seek Bowles immediately. Mr. Rockland came into
the office soon after we arrived, and I sought a private interview with
him, and in as few words as possible informed him what had happened, and
requested him to try to get Harry home as soon as he could. Mr. Rockland
was deeply moved when he began to realize the situation. He loved Harry
devotedly, and was as much alarmed at his condition as I was; he at once
requested him to accompany him home. Harry followed Mr. Rockland without
objection, and I went back to the jail at once to see Lottie. I wanted
to have a talk with her about the new turn matters were taking, for I
had more confidence in her cool judgment than all the rest. She was the
only one of us who could look at both sides of a case with an impartial
eye. The fact is, she had more sound, practical judgment than Harry and
I put together. Nothing could throw her temper off its guard, and I knew
that I must look to her for help, because Harry was no longer to be
depended on. As soon as I entered the gate in front of the jail, Lottie
came out of Viola’s room and beckoned me to her side.

“‘Don’t go in there--I wish to have a private chat with you. Viola is
asleep now; I had to send for Doctor Dodson soon after you and Harry
left. The doctor was obliged to give her an opiate before he could get
her to sleep. He fears there is danger of brain fever, but thinks it may
be avoided by proper treatment. Why did you let Harry come here to-day
when you knew what a condition his mind was in?’

“‘I did my very best to keep him away, but he wouldn’t listen to me. I
think he is mad. I told him above all things not to tell Viola what he
had heard.’

“‘But what is it you have heard? You must remember that I am totally
ignorant as to the cause of all this trouble.’

“I then gave her a full statement of the facts as detailed to us by
Dabbs and Tadpoddle. I saw a strange light flash from her beautiful
eyes, and her cheeks flushed instantly with a rush of red blood to them.
Her pretty little mouth was at once drawn down at both corners.

“‘And you and brother Harry swallowed this magnificent story as a child
of five years would the hobgoblin story told by its nurse--that is, you
believed it, of course.’

“‘Lottie, how could we help believing it, when the proof was so plain?
What was Viola doing with Bowles’ letter in her dress pocket? What was
she visiting his apartments at the dark hours of night for? Were they
not planning schemes of murder? Does not the letter prove this beyond
all question? What is the use of clinging to an idea that has no
foundation to rest on? If I owned all the money in the world I would
give it to know Viola was not guilty.’

“‘Eddie, I love you too much--I wish I didn’t, for I had made up my mind
to give you a real good scolding; but how can I have the heart to abuse
my old booby when I love him so? But let me tell you one thing now, and
be very sure you don’t forget it--if ever you hint or insinuate in my
presence again that you think Viola Bramlett is anything but a pure,
honest, virtuous, persecuted orphan girl, I’ll make such a rattling
storm in your ears as you never have heard in all the days of your
life.’

“‘If I were to see her murder a brigade, I’d never say so before you.’

“‘Very good; you had better try to remember that, for I tell you, Mr.
Booby, I know her to be innocent; and that is not all, by a long jump--I
know exactly who is guilty. You and Harry imagine yourselves to be
exceedingly clever. You bring penitentiary birds from Philadelphia, and
pay them large rewards to blacken the name of a pure, honest girl. I
declare, you ought to congratulate yourselves on the success of your
enterprise!’

“‘Lottie, for Heaven’s sake, if you know who committed that cruel
murder, why do you let Viola remain in jail? Why don’t you expose the
guilty one, and let the innocent one go free?’

“‘I shall do that at the proper time. I have got a net set, and the
guilty one is partially entangled in it now; but the time has not yet
come to make the final drag. You and Harry have been on the wrong trail
all the time, and so have your clever detectives.’

“‘Why don’t you tell Harry and me all about the case, so we can help
you?’

“‘I mean to make you help me without telling you anything, because I
think it is best to keep my secrets from you; and as to brother Harry,
he never had the starch taken out of him until to-day. His ungovernable
pride has caused all this trouble, but I think he will not ride such a
tall horse any more. He is a dear, noble-hearted brother, but he never
has put the curb on his temper--in fact, he never has tried to control
his passions; and you know as well as I do that no one can be happy who
can’t manage his passions.’

“‘Lottie, where did you manage to pick up such a store of good sense; it
sounds like inspiration. I know it can’t be my love for you that makes
me think like that--it is simply because it is so.’

“‘Not at all; I am nothing but a simple girl, but I have always tried to
command my mind, and through it control my bad passions, and, to some
extent, have succeeded; that’s all there is of it.’

“‘Will you tell me whether Bowles committed the murder or not?’

“‘He did not, though he is as guilty as the one who did, and I will have
the proof on him when the trial comes off. I want the grand jury to find
a bill against Viola, because her name has been stained with the charge,
and these slanderous reports have been whispered about the streets
against her; and she shall be vindicated in open court, and I assure you
her fair name will shine so brightly that no spot will be left on it.
The more I know of her the better I love her, and I know her to be as
pure as the falling snow. She concurs in my views as regards a public
trial, and will not shrink when the time comes. She is a greater heroine
than any one would suppose who is not acquainted with her private
character.’

“‘Who is assisting you to look up the evidence in the case?’

“‘That’s one of my secrets which I don’t mean to tell you just now; but
it is one who can beat your Philadelphia detective very badly.’

“‘Why not tell Harry that you know Viola to be innocent? Don’t you know
the idea that she is guilty is killing him? I am afraid that he will
seek a quarrel with Bowles, and either kill him or get killed himself.’

“‘I did tell him that I knew she was not guilty; and I told you the same
thing, yet both of you were ready to credit the first thing you heard
against her. I would have revealed everything to him, but I could not
depend on his judgment when he is so flustered. I was afraid he would
act too hastily, and thereby overthrow the plans we had set on foot to
entrap the guilty parties. I yet fear that he will commit some rash act
which will frighten the real murderers, and prevent us from securing the
proof necessary to convict. Our uncle has written him to come to
California, and I think we had better get him to go at once. Uncle
Stanley’s health has failed, and he wants Harry to go there to help him
wind up his business, so he can come here to live. He urges Harry to
come without delay, and the best thing we can do is to persuade him to
go at once. He could get back in six months, and by that time Viola’s
innocence will be established, and then we will all be happy once more.
You had better see Mr. Rockland on the subject, and ask him to aid you
in persuading Harry to go at once. In the first place, it is his duty to
go and help our uncle while he is unable to look after his own business;
and in the next place, it will furnish brother something to employ his
mind and keep it from the subject that is destroying his happiness. If
he stays here he will be sure to do something rash; therefore you must
not lose a moment until you get him started.’

“‘Do you think Viola ever will forgive Harry?’

“‘What a dear old Booby you are! Did you ever hear of a woman’s
forsaking a man, when she once loved him truly? It shows how little you
know about a woman’s heart. I suppose men judge women by their own
hearts; but let me tell you that the heart of a woman is no more like
that of a man than day is like night. Man’s heart is as fickle and
unreliable as the moon, and will change as often; but once let a woman
give her heart away to a man, and he has it always. He may drag her down
to the lowest precincts of misery and degradation, and she will cling to
and love him still. He may beat her--he may starve her--he may disgrace
her; but she will never cease to love him. She will go with him to a
loathsome dungeon--she will follow him to the gallows; and when his neck
is broken by the law, for crimes committed, she will weep over his dead
body, and bury her broken heart in a felon’s grave with the unworthy
man she loves. How is it with a man? Let the slightest breath of
suspicion blow upon the woman he loves, and he forsakes her at once.’

“‘Lottie, do you think that anything ever could happen that would make
me forsake you?’

“‘Yes; a hundred things could happen that would make you hate me, though
I think you are the best sample of the lot; and if you should beat and
starve me, I should be fool enough to go on loving you just the same.’

“‘Lottie, darling, if ever I do anything intentionally to cause you
pain, I shall expect Satan to get my unworthy soul and roast it in his
hottest blazes. But candidly tell me, Lottie dear, do you really think
Viola ever will become reconciled with Harry? You know she is as proud
as he is, and I never saw her in such a rage as she was to-day.’

“‘That’s all you know about it. Why, sir, in five minutes after Harry
left her she broke completely down--fell on the bed and wept like a
child; if he had come back then, he might have taken her in his arms
with impunity. She would have nestled her head on his bosom and begged
him to forgive her, instead of expecting him to beg her pardon. The
truth of it is she is crazy about him, and would die if he were to
abandon her. She is too good for this wicked world, anyway.’

“‘I must say that they are both very different from other people; they
puzzle and perplex me. Sometimes they are as gentle and submissive as
young lambs; then again they remind me of a tornado, sweeping everything
to destruction as it goes. Sometimes they resemble the smooth, calm
bosom of a lake; then they appear again like the boisterous billows of
the ocean when lashed into fury by the storm.’

“‘True enough, Eddie, but it is because they love each other so much. If
they did not love so strongly they would be less boisterous.’

“‘Why is it that you and I are getting along so smoothly and nicely?’

“‘That is owing to the fact that no trouble has come across our path.
But suppose I were in jail, charged with murder, and you were to tell
me to my face that you thought me guilty--don’t you think you would
start a pretty extensive whirlwind?’

“‘If I were to do such a cowardly thing it ought to be a first-class
tornado--one that would blow my worthless carcass out of the world.’

“‘Don’t make so many rash remarks; you know it is generally understood
that the course of true love never runs smooth. We may have stormy
weather yet before the voyage is ended; happiness like ours is too great
to last, I’m afraid. But enough of this now--you must go to Harry and
remain with him until you get him off to California; then come back to
me--I wish to send you on a short journey on business of vast moment.’

“‘Tell me where it is you wish me to go, and what you want me to go for,
so that I can have something to think about. It is so pleasant to be
thinking of some way to serve you.’

“‘As soon as we can get Harry started, I shall send you to Vicksburg,
Mississippi, on business connected with Viola’s case. You see, as I have
already informed you, I am playing lawyer and detective both. There is
certain evidence at Vicksburg that is essential in this affair, and you
must go there to secure it. I think I may safely trust you thus far.’

“‘You may trust me implicitly in everything, Lottie, darling, and I’ll
prove worthy of the trust. But have you any objections to telling me now
the nature of the evidence you expect me to secure?’

“‘There is a certain woman in this city who formerly resided at or near
Vicksburg, whose antecedents I wish to know something about.’

“‘Then you think it was a woman who poisoned young Bramlett?’

“‘What are you talking about? I said nothing of the sort. You must obey
orders and not be so inquisitive--a good soldier, you know, always obeys
orders without inquiring the reason of their issuance.’

“‘Very good! You issue orders and leave the rest to me, and I’ll bring
up my part of the job all right. But what is the name of the person
whose history you want?’

“‘She has so many names that you will find the greatest difficulty
arises from that fact, though you must find out her real name, at all
hazards. In order to do this, you must discover who are her parents; and
it may be necessary to go to other places besides Vicksburg before you
accomplish that. She came from Vicksburg to Memphis--how long she had
been residing there I do not know, but suppose you are detective enough
to find out who she is and where she was born and raised. But you must
mind and not let any one know your business, because everything must be
worked secretly. This woman claims to be a native of Mississippi, and
was known by the name of Helen Herndon when she came to this city--that
is, she was traveling under that name while coming here, but she dropped
it and took another when she arrived here. Now, you will probably find
that Helen Herndon is not her real name, but it is very likely that she
has resided in Vicksburg under that name. This will aid you to determine
who she really is. The main point to be gained is to find her parents
and get the full history of her childhood. I suppose her age now is not
over thirty, and she has been here five years. She must have covered up
her tracks well, else you will be able to trace her back to her parents.
You must not let any one know where you are going, nor what your
business is. You must find out where she was educated (and, by the by,
she has been well educated), and learn everything you can about her
school-girl history. I must have some of her manuscript, and this, of
course, you can get, if you can find her parents. You must put on your
studying-cap, and try to be wise.’

“‘I’ll try, of course, but do you think I can succeed?’

“‘Doubtful.’

“‘Ha, ha, dearest, you have the right to make sport of me as much as you
please, and I rather think I like it.’

“I built several magnificent castles as I passed along the street from
the jail to Mr. Rockland’s house. I can’t say that I absolutely
completed any one of those splendid buildings, because my mind would
become confused when I was about to put on the cornice, or the dome, or
hoist the columns, and I would find that something was lacking to make
the exact finish. A crack in the wall would appear, or a defect in the
foundation, a column would tipple down, the dome would lean over to one
side, turrets were too flat, the windows too short--something was sure
to happen to prevent me from making an absolute finish of my great work.
When I went to Mr. Rockland, I found him in his library, busy, as usual,
with great heaps of papers before him, which he was examining, one by
one. I made known to him the object of my visit, told him Lottie’s
views, and requested his advice and assistance to get Harry off to
California as soon as possible.

“‘That is another proof of Lottie’s good sense, Mr. Demar. The fact is,
sir, that girl is a mystery, anyway. I can’t understand where she
managed to gather up so much good, sound, practical common sense. It is
true she reads a great deal, and has always been very industrious; but,
sir, I believe she is the most talented woman I ever knew. Why, sir,
would you believe it, she has made out many a brief for me, hunted up
the law applicable to the case, and arranged everything as well as I
could do it myself! For instance, look at that brief there, will you?
She did that, and she did it as quickly as any lawyer could have done
it. She copies all my papers, keeps my books and clerks for me
generally. Demar, I don’t like to let you have her, at all, and if I
thought you would take her away from me, I should be tempted to break
off the match.’

“‘It pleases me beyond measure to hear you praise Lottie so, for she
deserves it; but I shall never part her from you, if you prefer that we
should stay here. I know that she could not be happy if she thought you
were miserable.’

“‘I am very much obliged to you, Demar, for making that promise, because
I don’t see how we could bear to part with our darling. I know I shall
miss her valuable services as my amanuensis.’

“‘It is not my intention, Mr. Rockland, to deprive you of her services,
so long as it may be agreeable to her to aid you. My aim will be to make
her happy, and I dare say she would prefer to continue to help you. I
think that this is the place where she managed to gather so much useful
knowledge of the law, as well as a great store of general information.
She has been with you so much, and heard you expound the law to others
so often, that she has got her mind well stored with its mysteries.’

“‘Probably that is true to some extent, but she possesses an
extraordinary mind. Mr. Demar, you have been quite lucky to win the
heart of such a woman, indeed you have, sir. You have achieved a great
victory. She is a valuable prize, I assure you.’

“‘I am sensible of the fact, sir, and shall endeavor to make her life a
happy one. I feel thankful to Providence for bestowing such a blessing
on me, humble and unworthy as I am; but if a life of devotion to her can
make her happy, she shall certainly be so.’

“‘Enough of this, Mr. Demar; I could talk about Lottie all day, but we
must not neglect other business. You were about to mention some newly
discovered evidence that had been brought to light in Miss Bramlett’s
case. I shall be glad to hear anything in her favor.’

“‘I am very sorry to be compelled to say that this newly found evidence
is anything but favorable to her--to the contrary, if it is true, it
establishes her guilt beyond doubt.’

“‘Poor girl, I am distressed to hear it! but let me know all at once.’

“I then proceeded to tell him everything that had been related to Harry
and me by Dabbs and Tadpoddle.

“‘That proof will convict her beyond question, unless it can be
overthrown by other proof, and it would have to be unquestionable
evidence to do that. We shall be driven to the plea of insanity--this is
the _dernier ressort_, and is rather a shaky foundation to build hopes
upon. It is most unfortunate that Harry should have fallen in love with
Miss Bramlett; poor fellow, it is a heavy blow to him, and I agree with
you as to the propriety of getting him off to California as soon as
possible. It is truly his duty to go to his uncle without delay, and I
shall mention the subject to him as soon as his mind gets composed. He
is in an unsettled condition just now.’

“‘Do you think he will go, Mr. Rockland?’

“‘Oh, yes, he will do anything I request him to. He has been a kind,
obedient son to me, and my wishes have always been law with him. Ah, me!
I love the dear boy, and it is causing me great pain to see him
suffering so. He seems to be perfectly reckless since Miss Bramlett’s
troubles began--neglects his duties, stares wildly at space for hours at
a time in silence, eats scarcely anything and is as pale as a ghost. His
mother is in despair about it, and a general gloom pervades the
premises. Something must be done, and that without delay. He shall start
to California next Monday. That will rouse him and take his mind off of
this painful subject.’

“Having finished my business with Mr. Rockland, I went back to the jail
to report progress to Lottie.

CHAPTER XIX.

“Monday had come and gone, and Harry was on his way to California. Viola
was quite ill, Lottie in distress, and my mind by no means free of
trouble.

“‘Here we come, Eddie, my boy,’ said Doctor Dodson, as he came bustling
into the drug-store one morning soon after breakfast. ‘Ah, ha! my boy,
things are all wrong, all wrong, sir. That’s always the case; one thing
goes wrong, everything must follow suit, you know--ah, ha! don’t you see
how it is, my boy? Miss Bramlett, poor thing, very ill--threatened with
brain fever--killing herself with grief about Wallingford--Lottie
wearing herself out with continual watching--breaking her heart about
other people’s troubles--don’t sleep enough--eats not enough to support
life in a snow-bird. Ah, ha! my boy, don’t you see how it is? Then, to
cap the climax of errors, here’s Dabbs and Tadpoddle nosing round and
stirring up slander, and those two hateful old maids are retailing it
out where they think it will do the most harm. Ah, ha! my boy, do you
know those two detestable old hags? No, of course you don’t; I allude to
Miss Jemima Tadpoddle and Jerusha Clattermouth. Ah, ha! Eddie, my boy,
old Nick ought to have them both. Clatter, clatter go their tongues all
day, slandering everybody and everything. They both have been to the
jail, pretending to feel an interest in Miss Bramlett, and they have
well-nigh killed the poor girl with their infernal tongues. Ah, ha!
Eddie, my boy, don’t you see how it is? I wish their tongues were cut
out and nailed on the jail door, as a warning to meddlesome
gossips--that’s what I wish. Ah, ha! Eddie, my boy, Miss Tadpoddle is
ill. Thank Heaven! I hope the town will have a little breathing spell
while she is sick. The hateful hag has sent for me to visit her
professionally. Ah, ha! my boy, I mean to send you in my place. She is
the very sort for a young quack to practice on. No harm done if he kills
her, don’t you see? Get yourself ready to go, my boy--give her something
to silence her tongue, if you can. You’ll find a charming patient, my
boy. Clattermouth is sure to be there--they are always together--birds
of a feather--you know how it is yourself. Ah, ha! Eddie, my boy, be off
now--stuff her full of medicine--pour in the calomel till you salivate
her--that’s as nigh salvation as she will ever get. Go, my boy; cram her
with emetics, then shovel in your purgatives. Don’t kill her, but
prostrate her--stop her devilish tongue. Ah, ha! my boy, don’t you see?
Go, go!’

“Of course I went, and when I entered Mr. Tadpoddle’s house I was
immediately ushered into Miss Jemima’s room. I stood in the door a
moment, while my eyes were busy taking a survey of the room and its
contents. Miss Jemima Tadpoddle was propped up in bed with a dozen
pillows, while Miss Jerusha Clattermouth was bathing her temples with
eau-de-Cologne, and the sick woman’s mother was holding a smelling
bottle to her nose. It is my deliberate opinion that if Shakespeare had
seen those three women before he wrote ‘Macbeth,’ he would have made a
better job of it, especially in the witch department.

“A feeling of disgust crept through me as I approached the bed where she
was, and it cost me an effort to conceal my feelings. Her neck was not
quite so long as that of a sandhill crane, but I can honestly say it was
the longest neck I ever saw under a woman’s head, and it appeared to be
entirely constructed of little round cords. Her skin was as white as
snow, and if she had any veins in her body, they were not visible to the
naked eye.

“Miss Clattermouth was by no means like Miss Tadpoddle--in fact, I never
saw two people less alike than they were. Miss Clattermouth was a
little, dark-skinned woman, with a pug nose, a very small mouth, no
teeth, either natural or artificial, and the thin lips appeared to be at
a loss to know what to do with themselves. The mouth was entirely too
small for the lips, hence they were forced to double themselves up, or
rather to roll into little folds, so as to have more room.

“As soon as I was able to get in a word, I inquired of Miss Tadpoddle
the nature of her complaint.

“‘Oh, doctor! I am so glad you came to see me. I declare, I thought I
should die before you got here. You don’t know how delighted I am to see
you. I never exaggerate. I despise exaggeration--it is my character to
despise it. I never flatter--it is my character to hate flattery. You
may rely on anything I say, doctor, for I never use extravagant
language--it is my character not to use it. I feel so much better since
you came--your cheerful smile has almost cured me. I’m sure I soon shall
get well. The pleasure it gives me to look at your happy face is much
better than medicine. Sit down near me, where I can see you plainly.
Feel my pulse. It is much more regular than when you came. I have heard
so much about you, Doctor Demar. They told me you were handsome, though
they didn’t do you justice; but I never flatter--it is my character not
to flatter--yet I never saw such expressive eyes as yours. My brother
told me about them. But never mind me; you know a woman must talk. Oh!
you look so strong and healthy; how I envy you! You are so tall and
handsome! Pardon my enthusiasm, I beg you, but I mean what I say. You
wish to know what is the matter with me? Yes, of course you do. Well, I
mean to tell you. Oh! I have suffered ten thousand deaths since
yesterday. Such torture no poor mortal ever suffered before. How I
survived it is a mystery--but I must try to describe my sufferings. I
never expected to see another day. I had a horrible pain in the back of
my head; both temples ached and throbbed all day and all night. My back
felt as if it was broken in the middle--my teeth were all aching at
once; a kind of smothering about my heart, with darting pains
continually going like a knife through my breast. My stomach seemed to
be on fire, while my extremities were freezing. My throat was perfectly
raw, and the skin has all peeled off my tongue. Every bone in my body
seemed mashed into powder. My eyeballs felt as if they were going to
jump out of my head. I had the ear-ache in both ears; a most horrid
retching about the stomach. I had neuralgia in my left jaw, and a
burning sensation in my nostrils, and to tell you the truth, I was quite
unlike myself. Do, pray, give me something to relieve me. I’ll die, I
know I will, if you don’t hurry.’

“That interesting female then fell back on the mountain of pillows,
closed her eyes and heaved a deep sigh, like one who was about to bid
the world a final farewell. I want it to be distinctly understood that I
did not intend to commit murder, but I had the necessary malice in me.
Miss Tadpoddle had maligned Miss Bramlett, and she had slandered
everybody else in Memphis. She had offended Lottie by her malicious
reports concerning Viola. I was angry because Lottie was displeased, and
here is the soliloquy that I had with myself on that occasion, as nigh
as I can remember it:

“‘Very well, my charming Miss Tadpoddle; I have got you in my power now,
and I guess I’ll get even with you before I quit you. You want medicine,
do you? Very good--you shall have it with a vengeance; I’ll keep your
tongue silent for a week or two, if there is any virtue in blisters.
I’ll physic you until you are satisfied!’

“This was the first patient I ever had, and I meant to test the
qualities of my drugs. I had brought my case of medicines with me, and
was prepared, not only to prescribe, but to administer the drugs. I
covered her up with blisters; I gave her an emetic; I put red-hot bricks
to her feet; I cupped her temples--the fact is, I made a prescription
for each separate pain of which she complained; and with the aid of Miss
Clattermouth, I managed to have it all administered. Then I sat down and
waited for the result.

“‘Old lady,’ I observed to myself mentally, ‘I guess you’ll remain quiet
for a few days, now. You won’t trouble Miss Bramlett soon, at all
events. Your tongue won’t wag quite so glibly as it has been in the
habit of doing. You’ll wake up directly, if I am not mistaken.’

“Well, sure enough, she did wake up, and it was no halfway business,
either--it was what you call a wide-awake sensation. The mustard began
to heat her up, the emetic commenced business, the hot bricks got up
steam--in fact, the skirmish commenced all along the line; but when the
pill brigade made the charge, the engagement became general--the contest
was hot and loud, and the drugs won the victory, and Miss Tadpoddle was
saved--so completely cured that she never has been very ill since. My
reputation as a first-class physician was then permanently established,
because Miss Tadpoddle’s tongue was a better advertising medium than the
New York Herald. She was president of the Tramp Reform Association; then
she was a working member of many other benevolent associations. She made
it her daily business to speak of my vigorous style of practice. I was
certainly well prepared to treat any disease, because the experiments I
had made on Miss Tadpoddle had enabled me to test the qualities of all
the drugs known to the profession.

“It was somewhere about ten days after my treatment of Miss Tadpoddle’s
case when she again sent for me. I found her in bed--and when I say in
bed, I mean it. She was not propped up with pillows, as she was when I
first visited her, but she was flat on the bed. The truth is, I had so
completely taken the starch out of her that she couldn’t sit up.

“‘How do you feel this morning, Miss Tadpoddle?’ I inquired, pretending
to be interested about her case.

“‘Oh, I am so weak, doctor; but for that, I would be very well. I did
not send for you with a view of taking more medicine--no, no, indeed! I
don’t think I ever shall need any more as long as I live. I merely
wished to speak with you about Miss Bramlett’s case. I presume that my
brother has told you of the valuable assistance I have rendered him?
Very well; I have something more to say to you on that subject. I fear
you will find that Miss Bramlett is a very bad woman. I confess I never
had much faith in her at first. She was too proud, too cold-hearted--made
too much display with her money. She was parading the streets
continually, pretending to be assisting the poor, but evidently trying
to create a sensation. One day I met her at the Widow Spratt’s house,
and would you believe it, sir, she was dressed within an inch of her
life! She had on a blue silk dress, with real lace trimmings--and, by
the by, that was the identical dress she wore that night when I saw her
go into Ben Bowles’ apartments, through the private entrance that opens
from the alley. But I am going too fast.--I was telling you about
meeting Miss Bramlett at Widow Spratt’s. Well, sir, she was sitting on a
low truckle-bed, feeding the baby with condensed milk. It was the
dirtiest, sickliest-looking thing I ever laid eyes on; and the other
five children were cramming themselves with cold bread and turkey that
Miss Bramlett had given them; and they were covered with dirty rags,
just like the baby. Mrs. Spratt is the poorest manager I ever saw. Her
children are half naked and starved. I was really vexed at Miss Bramlett
for throwing away her money on such worthless people. Old Spratt was
always drunk, and wouldn’t work. He fell overboard from a steam-boat and
was drowned; it was a great pity he didn’t die ten years ago. His
children are lazy, good-for-nothing brats, and ought to starve. Miss
Bramlett has been supporting the whole family since old Spratt died.
Mrs. Spratt, she lies in bed the live-long day, pretending to be sick,
but it is pure laziness; and if Miss Bramlett would let her alone, she
would have to get up and work, or starve. Well, there are many other
families in this city depending on Miss Bramlett’s money for support.
It’s a scandal and a shame that such laziness should be encouraged. Let
‘em work, or starve, is my motto. I asked Mrs. Spratt to subscribe
something to our Tramp Reform Association, and she wouldn’t give a cent.
I begged Miss Bramlett to help us, and she turned up her nose and
absolutely sneered in my face--a hateful hussy! but I ought not to talk
so, because I never bear malice against my neighbors; it is my character
not to nurse ill-will--“Forgive those who trespass against us,” is my
motto--this is what our Saviour taught us. There is Lottie Wallingford,
who thinks the world and all of Miss Bramlett. I wonder how she will
feel when she sees her friend hung for murder? Her brother was engaged
to be married to Miss Bramlett when the murder was committed; but they
say he has run away to California and left his affianced bride here to
be hung, while he goes to get his uncle’s great fortune. Of course that
will make honors easy--he loses his sweetheart, but wins a fortune. That
ought to console him, at any rate. They say you are taking on about
Lottie Wallingford. Doctor, she would no doubt make you a good wife, if
she wasn’t so much like old Rockland--always talking about books and
book-learning. She knows too much; I don’t like so much genius. I like
business. It is my character to despise poetry. I hate these dreamy,
sentimental women who can memorize a whole book and then repeat it in
public. I hate these silly women who sing nothing but sentimental songs.
They are always talking about sweet flowers, sweet poetry, sweet birds,
sweet scenery, sweet music--everything is sweet with them. I hate sweet
things; it is my character to hate sweet things. She and Miss Bramlett
have converted the jail into a picture gallery, concert hall and book
library. For my part, I don’t see how the jailer puts up with such
doings. The idea that a murderess in jail, awaiting her trial, should be
painting pictures, reading poetry and playing the guitar surpasses my
comprehension. She had better be reading her Bible or prayer-book, and
making preparations to meet her God, for she is certain to be hung. I
know enough myself to hang her, and I mean to tell it. I saw her with my
own eyes when she went into the apartments of that gambler, at the dark
hour of night. You see I had my suspicions about her, anyway, and when I
saw her meet Bowles in the garden that night I concluded that some
deviltry was going on, and determined to watch her. I have the advantage
you see, doctor, over other women--it is no trouble for me to disguise
myself. I am very tall, you perceive, and my brother’s clothes fit me to
a T. I made it my business to waylay Mr. Ragland’s premises every night
until I succeeded in accomplishing my object. One night about eight
o’clock I saw Miss Bramlett go out of the house by the back way and walk
cautiously toward the rear side of the garden. I was concealed among the
shrubbery, and saw her coming directly toward the spot where I was. She,
however, turned to the left, passing within ten paces of me. She
appeared to be looking for some one, for she stopped near me and waited
for several minutes; then she turned square off to the right and entered
the summer-house by the back door. I think she stayed in the
summer-house about ten minutes; at any rate, she remained in it until I
began to grow restless, and was thinking of trying to slip around to
the front door, so as to enable me to see whether or not she was alone.
I noticed that she had her face covered with a veil, but I knew her by
the dress and shawl she wore--the same she had on the time I met her at
the Widow Spratt’s. When she came out of the summer-house, she went in
the direction of the carriage-house, which you know is east of the
former, and about forty yards from it. She passed on without halting,
until she reached the extreme back part of the garden. She paused and
looked around in every direction, as if trying to ascertain whether or
not any one was watching her. But she did not see me; I was too sharp to
be caught that way. I am not one of those sap-heads that you have heard
so much about. In fact, I hate sap-headed women--it is my character to
hate ’em; and as to sap-headed men, they ought not to be permitted to
live. But here I am again straggling off from the subject. I beg you to
excuse me, doctor; you know I am quite weak yet--indeed I am. It is
astonishing to me that I am able to utter a word. Your medicine cured my
complaints, it is true, but left me completely prostrated. I don’t think
I ever shall need any more drugs. But I declare, I must quit wandering
off that way. I wouldn’t do it, I know, but I am afraid the strong
medicine has, to some extent, weakened my mind. Everything seems like a
dream. Do you ever dream, doctor? No? Ah, then, you don’t appreciate
them. Where one’s dreams are pleasant, one enjoys the sensation very
much; but when the stomach’s out of order, one is sure to have
unpleasant dreams. Oh! I had such a nice dream last night! I thought
that I was--but what do you care about my dreams? I suppose you want me
to finish my narrative about Miss Bramlett’s movements.’

“‘Miss Tadpoddle,’ said I, ‘you must, by all means, take another dose of
medicine; the color of your skin is not as good as it should be, and I
don’t like the looks of your tongue.’

“If I could have induced her to take another dose of my drugs then, she
would have remembered it to her dying day.

“‘No, no, doctor, please hush talking about your hateful drugs and let
me go on with my story. It makes one feel so nervous to have to wait
and wait for anything which ought to be told without stopping. There is
Miss Clattermouth--oh, it would do you good to hear her relate a story.
She can talk all day and never make a hobble. You ought to hear her
deliver one of her lectures on the rights of women. She is our champion
on that question, and you must not fail to hear her lecture next time.
She is the business manager of our Tramp Reform Association, and is one
of our best financial agents. You ought to join our Tramp Reform
Association, doctor. We have achieved wonders in that society. We have
reformed as many as a dozen tramps during the last year.’

“‘In what way did you reform them, Miss Tadpoddle?’ I inquired.

“‘Oh, we furnish them board and lodgings for a month, by way of trial,
and give them a good suit of clothes. Miss Clattermouth lectures them
twice a week, and I give them Bible lessons three times a week. If, at
the end of a month, one shows evidences of repentance and reformation,
we then furnish him with another suit of clothes, a Testament, five
dollars in cash and a certificate of good behavior, and discharge him
with our blessing.’

“‘If he doesn’t furnish the necessary evidence at the end of the first
month, what course do you pursue then?’

“‘We keep him another month, and if he proves incorrigible, we dismiss
him without our certificate or blessing.’

“‘The punishment, I must say, Miss Tadpoddle, is indeed very severe.
What is to be the fate of the poor tramp who is thus turned loose on the
cold charities of the world with no certificate and without your
blessing? May I inquire what percentage prove incorrigible and are
driven out without the certificate and blessing?’

“‘I should say about ninety per cent. It is a source of regret to know
that so many prove unworthy, yet it is a consolation to us to save as
much as ten per cent. of the unfortunate class.’

“‘If I understand you correctly, any one can secure two months’ board
and lodging by representing himself as a tramp.’

“‘Oh, no, by no means; we always appoint a committee to investigate
each applicant and ascertain whether or not he is really a tramp. We
have to be very strict in that respect, because we have detected several
of our own citizens in the attempt to palm themselves off on us as
tramps. You see the rules of our association don’t allow us to receive
any citizen of the State, but we only take in those unfortunate men who
are known as tramps. But enough about that subject. I must finish
telling you about Miss Bramlett. I fear I shall fatigue myself too much,
anyway, being so very feeble, as you are aware. By the by, doctor, do
you remember where I was when we got off of the subject?’

“‘I believe you were telling me about seeing Miss Bramlett go to the
extreme back part of the garden, one starlight night, and that she had
on a heavy veil.’

“‘Yes, yes, I remember now. I saw Miss Bramlett. Her movements were so
mysterious that I became very much excited and curious to know what she
was up to. When she got to the back part of the garden I, of course,
expected to see her turn and go back to the house, but not so, as you
shall hear as we proceed. It never had occurred to me that she was going
to pay a clandestine visit at such an hour as that; but you may imagine
how great was my astonishment when I saw her removing the palings from
the fence. My brother is a most remarkable man. He is like me in one
respect--he never exaggerates--that is his character. He is just like
me--I hate exaggeration. Well, as I was about to observe--what was it I
was going to say? Oh, yes, I remember now. I was on the eve of telling
you how Miss Bramlett’s mysterious conduct excited my curiosity.
Curiosity is characteristic of our sex, you know, and I confess to a
weakness on that score. You see I will tell the truth though the Heavens
fall. I hate falsehood--it is my character to despise it. Honesty is the
best policy--you remember the saying; by the by, it is an excellent
motto. But I must be brief, for I begin to feel quite fatigued now--one
in my feeble condition ought not to talk much, though when I am strong
and well I don’t mind talking; it does not tire me at all--but it is
different with me now. Just listen to me now; here I am again talking
nonsense, instead of letting you know what I saw with my own eyes. Miss
Bramlett disappeared through the palings exactly as a ghost would have
done. Don’t understand me to say or hint that I am a believer in
ghosts--no, I never thought of such a thing. Anyway, she went through,
and for a moment I lost sight of her, but I was not to be outdone in
that way. I hastened to the spot where I had seen her last, but could
see nothing of her. I lost no time in leaping over the palings. I
suppose you are astonished to hear me say so, but it is no exaggeration,
I assure you. Very well, then; I did leap over the palings. Then I was
in the street, all right. You see I am very tall, not much short of six
feet, and if I do say it myself, I am very active, for a young girl. But
let that pass, for I know it does not interest you. Miss Bramlett was
walking rapidly down the street when I got over the palings, some fifty
or sixty yards from me. I soon shortened the distance between us, being
careful to avoid the faint light from the lamp on the opposite side of
the street. The lamp-posts were very far apart, and the streets were
deserted. The lamps appeared quite feeble, and the light did not
interfere with my movements. When Miss Bramlett reached the next block
she disappeared round the corner, and I was afraid she had escaped me
entirely; but I hastened to the corner, and was delighted to see her
within twenty paces of me. The first alley she reached she turned into
and again disappeared, but I soon caught sight of her again, and kept
close behind her until she came to the private entrance of Ben Bowles’
gambling hell. She stood before it a moment, then went in, and the door
closed behind her. Now, Doctor Demar, what do you think of such doings
as that? Can’t you see that she is a very wicked woman? It is no use to
say that she is innocent--for I tell you she is guilty, and ought to be
hung. All the lawyers in the world can’t save her neck. Oh, it makes the
cold chills run up my back to think of that girl’s wickedness!’

“‘Miss Clattermouth made me promise not to talk much, and I must keep my
promise--it is my character to keep my word. I despise people who
disregard the advice of friends. Miss Clattermouth has been a true
friend to me--indeed, she has! I admire such friends. Did you ever see
the darling poodle she gave me? Oh, he is such a sweet little fellow! I
must show him to you by all means. I think he is asleep under the sofa
there. I hate to disturb him, though--because he always frets so when
his naps are broken; but I guess he has got his nap nearly out by this
time. Here, Tottie! here, Tottie! Come along and let the doctor see
you.’ The individual alluded to came crawling out from under the sofa. I
suppose he would have weighed at least eight ounces avoirdupois. He was
covered with wool as white as snow. ‘Come along, darling; don’t be
bashful; let the doctor see you.’

“He started toward the bed where his mistress was, but came to a broom
handle that unfortunately had been left on the floor,--he couldn’t jump
over it, and didn’t have sense enough to go round it; but he began to
scream with great vigor, and I had to help him over it. I sat him on the
bed by his mistress, and I am not ashamed to say that I gave him such a
squeeze that he was unable to yell any more for some time.

“‘Oh, doctor, ain’t he a sweet little darling? How could I help loving
Miss Clattermouth, when she gave me such a nice present? But I suppose
you don’t love dogs, and would prefer to hear what further I have to say
about Miss Bramlett. Very well, you shall hear it. I got quite impatient
while I was waiting to see her come out of Bowles’ den; but I made up my
mind to see the end of it, and when I make up my mind to do anything, it
is as good as done. I never give up an undertaking, once I resolve to go
into it--it is my character never to back down. I hate people who
undertake anything and don’t do it. I am one of those hanging-on sort
that don’t do things by halves. I cling on like a badger--I believe that
is the name of the little animal that has such a reputation for hanging
on with so much tenacity; anyway, I am that kind of a woman. The weather
was quite cold that night, and I suffered very much from it, but I
didn’t mind that at all. I think I should have stood my ground if it had
rained lumps of ice as big as my head.

“‘Well, as I was about to observe, I suffered from the cold weather, but
I was rewarded at last, for I saw Miss Bramlett come out of the house by
the same door through which she had entered; though she was not alone
this time--Bowles was with her. I cannot state exactly how long she had
remained inside of the house, but if I was on my oath in a court-house,
I should say it was not a minute less than three hours. When she came
out of the house, she was leaning on Bowles’ arm, and they were
conversing in an under-tone. I could not hear all that was said, because
I was compelled to remain some distance from them, so as to keep them
from seeing me; but I heard enough (Heaven knows!) to hang Miss Bramlett
as high as Haman. I don’t exactly remember how high it was that Haman
was hung, though it was about fifty cubits. Now that must have been a
pretty lofty gallows! A cubit is either eighteen inches or eighteen
feet--I don’t remember which. I like that way of executing
criminals--hang ’em high, so everybody can see ’em. I hope Viola
Bramlett will be hung where we can all see the fun. But I was about to
tell you what she said to Bowles. She was leaning on his arm, with her
mouth close to his ear. You know Bowles, of course. Yes, I am glad you
do--he is such a nice gentleman, so handsome, dresses so exquisite--then
he is so liberal with his money! He aids us in all our benevolent
enterprises. Oh, he is such a darling, clever gentleman! What a pity it
is that such a handsome gentleman should be led astray by that scheming
hypocrite, Viola Bramlett! It is very clear that she had him completely
under her thumb; and I am afraid he has been duped by her beauty and her
hypocritical smiles. I heard her calling him “my dear, darling Ben” at
least half a dozen times. Just think of that, will you? I declare, it
makes me sick to think of it. She was evidently talking to him about the
murder of her brother, for I heard her ask Bowles if he thought there
was any danger of detection. I also heard her ask him if a doctor could
tell when any one had died from poison, and how much strychnine it would
take to produce death. Oh, doctor, it made the blood freeze in my veins
to hear her discussing the murder of her brother. But, mind you, I had
no idea then that she intended to murder her own brother. I followed her
and Bowles back to Mr. Ragland’s residence. They halted at the end of
the garden, and talked, for a long time, in an under-tone; at last
Bowles took her in his arms and kissed her. Then she went into the
house, while he retraced his steps to his head-quarters. I immediately
returned home and jotted down in my diary the things I had seen, just
as I have related them to you. Now, how can the lawyers keep that wicked
woman from hanging? I should like you to tell me if you can.’

“You may imagine what my feelings were when Miss Tadpoddle had finished
her remarkable story; but I shall not try to describe them. That Viola
Bramlett was lost, beyond all question, seemed to be a fixed fact, and
that it would nearly kill Lottie I knew full well. I tried to argue Miss
Bramlett’s case to myself so as to bring her out unstained; but the
proof rose, like huge Olympus, before me. Everything seemed to point
unmistakably to her as the guilty party; and if she was guilty at all,
it was clear that she had sunk so far down in the pit of infamy as to
render it necessary for me to separate her and Lottie.

CHAPTER XX.

“Time was gliding on unusually slow--it always does when we want it to
go fast, and never fails to gallop when we want it to walk. A fortnight
had stolen by since my last interview with the interesting Miss
Tadpoddle. Dabbs and Tadpoddle were still working like beavers, but
accomplishing nothing that anybody wanted them to do. Everything they
did seemed to add new links to the strong chain of evidence against Miss
Bramlett. Public sentiment, which at first had been strong in favor of
her innocence, had undergone a radical change, and was now as strong
against her as it had been in her favor. I hate public sentiment--I
detest it, for it is a heartless tyrant, anyway, as often wrong as
right, and always on extremes. Miss Tadpoddle and Miss Clattermouth
were, to a great extent, responsible for the sudden change in public
sentiment. Their busy tongues had never been idle for a moment.

“‘I declare,’ said Miss Clattermouth, ‘the meanest thing Miss Bramlett
did was to attempt to involve Mr. Bowles in her scheme of murder. He is
a thoughtless, jolly, good-hearted young man, unsuspicious by nature,
and the very kind of a man to be deceived by such a honey-tongued hussy
as Viola Bramlett.’

“‘Indeed,’ observed Miss Tadpoddle, ‘I agree with you there. He is one
of those confiding, unsuspicious sort of men, easily played on by such
an adventuress. My brother was inclined to censure him but you know the
simplicity of the good soul--he does not draw the proper distinctions in
such cases. He is one of the best officers in the secret service, but he
owes most of his success to my judgment. I often make the rounds with
him, and as to Miss Bramlett’s case, I think I may say without
exaggeration (for I never exaggerate) that but for my valuable aid, he
never would have secured the proof necessary to convict her. And then,
he was inclined to think that Mr. Bowles was as much to blame as Miss
Bramlett; but I defended Bowles--I thought it was my duty to do it. I
convinced him that it was his duty to let Bowles alone. The truth is, he
was about to have him arrested, but I made him consent to use Mr. Bowles
as a witness against Miss Bramlett, as I thought his evidence would be
indispensable on the trial.’

“‘Oh! I am so delighted to hear it,’ replied Miss Clattermouth; ‘do you
know, Jemima, that I think you are the dearest creature on earth? How
could we manage our affairs without you? Bowles is a dear, good
fellow--a little wild, I admit, but all young men, you know, must sow
their crop of wild oats. I mean to tell him how you have been serving
him. He comes to see me quite often, and he should know what a good
friend he has in you. I am sure he will make a liberal donation to our
Tramp Reform Association as soon as he is advised of your friendly
intercession in his behalf. He handles lots of money, and we must get
him to take an interest in our affairs.’

“‘Yes, I dare say he will make us a liberal donation if you will explain
the case to him. If Viola Bramlett was fool enough to give her money to
him, that’s no reason why we should not have a share of it. We will get
the inns on Bowles, and if we are wise we will make good use of our
advantage, but I shall depend on your cleverness to manage the money
matter. By the way, what do you think of Charlotte Wallingford?’

“‘She is very pretty, and possesses good talent, but is ruining her
character by her friendship for Viola Bramlett. She has no right to
thrust herself among respectable people after staying in jail with that
unnatural and cruel murderess. She pretends to think that Miss Bramlett
is innocent, and for my part, she is welcome to her opinion, if it will
do her any good, though she will get a lofty fall when the trial comes
off. I am told that they have made a concert room of the jail, and are
continually thumping away on an old guitar, and singing sentimental
songs. I hate such romantic, pretty doll-babies, anyway, and I know it
would make me sick to witness their doings.’

“‘But, speaking of Lottie Wallingford, I don’t think she ever will marry
Ed Demar. He thinks she loves him, but it is my opinion that she is
merely playing with him. I can’t believe she loves anybody but herself.
She likes to be different from other women. That is the reason she
sticks to Viola Bramlett--it is because everybody else has forsaken her.
She imagines it will create quite a sensation. She likes to make herself
conspicuous, talks with lawyers and politicians, makes a display of
learning, holds herself above our Tramp Reform Association, quotes
poetry, plays the guitar, and sings lovesick songs. Oh, I despise such
women! It is my character to hate ’em. No, no! she ain’t going to marry
Ed Demar--he is too sober and practical to fill her bill. She will set
her cap for a poet or a politician, or some such worthless trash. Demar
knows Viola Bramlett is guilty, and would leave her to her fate but for
Charlotte Wallingford; he has been tied to her apron string. As for her,
I expect if the whole truth were known, she is no better than Viola
Bramlett.’

“For me to tell all the tales of slimy slander that were put in
circulation by Miss Tadpoddle and her friends, would occupy too much
time and would bore my audience. Suffice it to say that Lottie’s
spotless name came out unscathed. It was impossible to keep her in
ignorance of the reports that were being circulated by those malicious
old hags, though I had done my best to do it. They always managed
somehow to let the parties slandered know of the fact. At any rate, such
was the case in this instance; but to my utter astonishment, Lottie
seemed to be unmoved by it. No evidence of anger or annoyance was
exhibited by her, and she smiled derisively, remarking that if it
afforded Miss Tadpoddle pleasure to wag her tongue she had no objections
to urge against it.

“One bright, sunny evening, when the atmosphere was soft and
invigorating,--I think it was about three weeks after Harry had started
for California--I was strolling alone in Doctor Dodson’s flower garden,
busily occupied in castle building. I did not like the state of affairs,
and I wanted to steal away and be alone, so as to sum up things and see
if I could make a sure guess as to the future. The painful situation in
which Lottie was placed was a source of great uneasiness to me, and I
began to think it was my duty to extricate her if possible. I had
mentioned the subject to Mr. Rockland, and he promised to endeavor to
persuade Lottie to cease her sojourn at the jail, for he agreed with me
that the proof fixed Viola’s guilt beyond question. But when he
mentioned the subject to Lottie she peremptorily refused to abandon Miss
Bramlett, vowing that she was innocent, and that she never would forsake
her. I had another interview with Dabbs and Tadpoddle, who had
discovered a new batch of evidence that appeared to settle the question
as to Viola’s guilt so completely that it was useless to make any
further fight in her behalf. The truth is, I had lost all hopes at last,
and the main question to be considered now was how to get Lottie away
from the jail. I was well aware of the fact that I was treading on
dangerous ground when I ventured to talk to her about Viola’s guilt. I
took a seat on a low wooden bench in the arbor, and gave the rein to my
thoughts. They strayed back to my boyhood days, when I was tramping
along the road with Lottie by my side; then they dashed off to
California and endeavored to interview Harry. My fancy next snatched up
Lottie’s lovely image and placed it before me--then my heart grew light.
I tried to fasten my thoughts on that dear image, but couldn’t do it;
for in spite of me, they would wander off to unpleasant subjects. A
dozen little birds gave me a serenade with their delightful melody, as
they perched among the vines over the top of the arbor, and I tried to
induce my mind to interview the sweet little songsters, but it refused.
The fact was, my thoughts seemed bent on mischief, that is to say they
appeared to be determined to make me miserable, because instead of
dwelling on Lottie and the birds, they went off after Miss Tadpoddle and
Miss Clattermouth and came lugging them back to my arbor.

“I began to watch the sun as it was going down among the trees on the
Arkansas side of the river, looking like a huge ball of fire, and my
thoughts must have gone down with the sun, for I stretched myself out on
the bench and soon was sound asleep. I dreamed that I was in Heaven, and
that a beautiful angel, who had been there long before my arrival, met
me at the outer gate, and announced herself as the guide, who had been
sent out to escort me in, and to show me the charming beauties of the
place. She conducted me along the main street for some distance, where
solid blocks of gold constituted the pavement; then she led me through a
beautiful landscape thickly studded with green trees, whose foliage gave
forth the most delicious perfume. After wandering through those
delightful groves for some time, she brought me to the banks of a
beautiful river, whose bosom was covered with little boats, gliding over
the smooth surface of the water. Each boat contained a band of angels
who were singing hymns of praise to the great King of Heaven. My guide
conducted me to a lovely spot near the banks of the beautiful river, and
instructed me to take a seat on a bench of gold, that was furnished with
cushions of exquisite pattern. The spot was covered with strange-looking
flowers, whose perfume filled all the air with a sweet scent. My guide
then informed me that there was an angel in Heaven who had been watching
and waiting for me a long while; that she had been besieging the great
Throne with her prayers in my behalf; and she told me to keep my seat
and wait a short time, and she would inform the angel of my arrival. She
then spread out her golden wings and flew to the northern part of
Heaven; then as soon as she disappeared, I was seized with a drowsy
feeling, and I lay down on the soft cushions, and soon was asleep. After
a while I thought that the flowers overhead began to fall gently down on
me. I felt them softly touching my cheek. My guide returned, accompanied
by another angel. Oh, she was the most charming creature that I had ever
seen! Her beautiful form was robed in spotless white, with long waves of
golden hair flowing unconfined about her shoulders. Her large blue eyes
gazed down on me, while tears of joy trembled in them. I thought she
touched my cheek with the beautiful feathers at the tip of her wing. I
shouted for joy and woke myself, and Lottie was standing over me
tickling my nose with her handkerchief. There stood the angel exactly as
I had seen her in Heaven, only she was dressed in blue silk instead of
white, and minus the wings.

“‘Get up, old sluggard,’ she said, ‘you have slept long enough; I have
been waiting over an hour for you to wake, but I think you would have
slept here all night if I had not tickled your nose with my
handkerchief.’

“‘Oh, Lottie, I have had such a delicious dream; I have been in Heaven;
I cannot realize the fact that I am on earth; you were there, too; you
were an angel with wings so white and beautiful!’

“‘I hope your dream will come true, when old Time shall settle accounts
with us.’

“‘So do I; and I think my dream is a good omen. Sit down, and let me
take a good look at you. You appear so fresh and beautiful this
evening.’

“‘I notice that you have not forsaken your old inclinations to flatter
me.’

“‘No, it is no flattery, I assure you. Pardon me, but I must be
permitted to give expression to my happiness in some way, else I could
not endure it.’

“She took a seat by my side, while her beautiful eyes looked up into my
face; a joyful tear trembled on the long lashes.

“‘How is it, darling,’ I at last inquired, as I pressed her hand to my
lips, ‘that you are looking so fresh and bright, when you have been
constantly in attendance at the jail? I was afraid it would make you
ill.’

“‘The performance of a duty always gives me health and happiness, no
matter how much the labor is.’

“‘How is Miss Bramlett to-day?’

“‘She is quite well physically; but in great mental distress.’

“‘I suppose that is caused by the discovery of the new batch of evidence
that was lately made against her.’

“‘What are you talking about? Don’t you know that she is grieving
herself to death about Harry?’

“‘Indeed, no; and I cannot understand why she should think of him, after
having driven him from her presence.’

“‘That only goes to show how little you know about a woman’s heart;
Viola Bramlett is not thinking of her own situation, but her mind is all
the time on Harry.’

“‘Don’t you think it is high time she was worried a little about her own
condition? The date is near at hand when the grand jury will assemble;