a fresh flame of feeling
started up within him, and looking from juryman to juryman he
passionately exclaimed: "You consider that acknowledgment suspicious.
You wonder why a man should give a few minutes to thought after the
conclusion of an interview that terminated all hope. I wonder at it now
myself. I wonder I did not go straight out of the house and rush
headlong into any danger that promised an immediate extinction of my
life."

No language could have more forcibly betrayed the real desperation of
his mind at the critical moment when the widow's life hung in the
balance. He saw this, perhaps, when it was too late, for the sweat
started on his brow, and he drew himself up like a man nerving himself
to meet a blow he no longer hoped to avert. One further remark, however,
left his lips.

"Whatever I did or of whatever I was thinking, one thing I here declare
to be true, and that is, that I did not see the widow again after she
left my side and went back to her kitchen in the rear of the house. The
hand that struck her may have been lifted while I stood in the hall, but
if so, I did not know it, nor can I tell you now who it was that killed
her."

It was the first attempt at direct disavowal which he had made, and it
had its effect. The coroner softened a trifle of his austerity, and the
jurymen glanced at each other relieved. But the weight of suspicion
against this young man was too heavy, and his manner had been too
unfortunate, for this effect to last long. Gladly as many would have
been to credit this denial, if only for the name he bore and a certain
fine aspect of gentlemanhood that surrounded him in spite of his present
humiliation, it was no longer possible to do so without question, and he
seemed to feel this and do his best to accept the situation with
patience.

An inquiry which was put to him at this time by a juryman showed the
existent state of feeling against him.

"May I ask," that individual dryly interrogated, "why you came back to
Sibley, after having left it?"

The response came clear and full. Evidently the gravity of his position
had at last awakened the latent resources of Mr. Hildreth's mind.

"I heard of the death of this woman, and my surprise caused me to
return."

"How did you hear of it?"

"Through the newspapers."

"And you were surprised?"

"I was astounded; I felt as if I had received a blow myself, and could
not rest till I had come back where I could learn the full pa