When at this point a little gasp
escaped Miss Tuttle and a groan broke from Francis Jeffrey's
hitherto sealed lips, the feelings of the whole assemblage seemed
to find utterance. A young wife's misery culminating in death on
the very spot where she had been so lately married! What could be
more thrilling, or appeal more closely to the general heart of
humanity? But the cause of that misery! This was what every one
present was eager to have explained. This is what we now expected
the coroner to bring out. But instead of continuing on the line he
had opened up, he proceeded to ask:
"Where were you when this officer brought the news you mention?"
"In the hall, sir. I opened the door for him."
"And to whom did he first mention his errand?"
"To Miss Tuttle. She had come in just before him and was standing
at the foot of the stairs"
"What! Was Miss Tuttle out that evening?"
"Yes; she went out very soon after Mrs. Jeffrey left. When she
came in she said that she had been around the block, but she must
have gone around it more than once, for she was absent two hours."
"Did you let her in?"
"Yes, sir."
"And she said she had been around the block?"
"Yes, sir"
"Did she say anything else?"
"She asked if Mr. Jeffrey had come in"
"Anything else?"
"Then if Mrs.
Pages:
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159