A Terrible Secret

Pool took the stand. "A decent, intelligent young woman," said the Chesholm Courier, "who gave her evidence in a clear, straightforward way that carried conviction to every hearer." "I am Jane

of being seen, and kept as quiet as I could. I heard Miss Inez answer: 'Not all the soap-boilers' daughters in England shall send me from Catheron Royals. You may go to-morrow if you will, but I will never go, never!' With that she went away, and my lady shut the door upon her. I did not want her to see me there, when she turned round, so I slipped out of another door, and downstairs. I took my supper, lingering, I dare say, half an hour; I don't think it was much more than half after seven when I returned to the nursery for baby. I found my lady asleep in the arm-chair besides the open window. She had been crying-there were tears on her cheeks and eyelashes as she slept. I did not disturb her. I lifted baby and carried him up to the nursery. I left him in charge of the under nursemaid, and returned to the room my lady was in. The clock was striking eight as I came downstairs. I was going in to awaken my lady, not liking to have her sleep in the night air. My hand was on the handle, when the door opened and Miss Inez came out. She looked paler than common, I thought but she spoke just as high and haughty as usual. She asked me what I wanted there; I told her I wanted to waken my lady. She looked at me, as though she would like to bite off my head-she was in one of her tempers, I could see. 'You had better let my lady alone,' she says, 'and attend to your nursery. She's asleep still, and it isn't your place to awaken her. Go.' I was in a fury; I don't mind owning that, but I said nothing and I went. When Miss Inez looked and spoke like that, every servant in the house knew it was as much as her place was worth to disobey her. I went back and told Ellen Butters. Ellen was drinking her tea

he policeman, was here produced and

nd a hundred times, and seen it with h

the witness. She broke out into hysterical sobbing, which nothing c

ed her important testimony, in the same ra

I don't know why, but I seemed to expect something. About nine, or a little later, as I stood at one end of the hall in the shadow, I saw the door open and Miss Inez come out. She looked up and down to see if the coast was clear, then put her shawl over her head, and walked very fast to the opposite end, downstairs and out of the side door. I followed her. It was raining and very d

d at this point, "that is to be regrette

cause," Mrs. Pool retorted, sullenly. "If you don'

heard, if it be

y.' I couldn't catch his answer. He took what she gave him, and Miss Inez burst out, as she always does, in one of her tearing passions: 'How dare you say so, you wretch! whom

itness repeated these words, was something indescribable. A low

on oath, remember. How can you recall

ose were the very words Miss Inez Catheron spoke. She called him her brother. She said but for him she would be alive to-night. Then he plunged into the w

ip of paper, on which what

swear to it, so I wrot

good; I wouldn'

oss-examined, but nothing

committed, opened on a lawn and flower-garden-any one coul

d that caused Lady Catheron's death. In his opinion, but one blow had been struck and had penetra

led, and testified as to its discovery among t

ed. At the sound of her name a low, ominous hiss w

nless. Her large dark eyes glanced over the crowded room, and dead silence fell. The

and apologize. I went back to the nursery, and found Lady Catheron fast asleep. I would not disturb her, and immediately left the room. On the threshold, I encountered Nurse Pool. I had always disliked the woman, and spoke sharply to her, ordering her away. Half an hour after, as I sat in my room alone, Hooper, the butler, came up, and told me my lady was murdered. I was naturally shocked and horrified. I went down

*

ing Miss Catheron's evidence-the formal, constrained manner in whic

*

roner ventured to put a

eron, you met after dusk a man in the grounds.

told all I have to tell concerning this murder. About my private affairs

consultation, and it was proposed to adjourn the inquest

*

few other sympathizing and indignant friends. There was but little said-but little to say. All felt

ue of the inquest, a constable entered with a warrant, app

strode forward; the young lady slightly recoi

a warrant here from Squire Smiley, Justice of the