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Page 46
"The grand jury can't do anything but indict her," said more than one.
"And, if there is any justice left, she'll surely be electrocuted."
It was a bitter blow to Raymond, to have Margaret thought guilty, but
he did not think of that as he sat by her side, or walked up and down
in the little hallway just outside of her door. Her staring eyes
haunted him and he longed for a look that should tell him her reason
had once more asserted itself.
The doctor had come and gone twice and had promised to come again that
evening. Slowly the hours wore away. The nurse had gone below to
prepare herself something to eat, and Raymond stood by the suffering
one's bedside. He saw the eyelids of the one he loved quiver slightly.
"Margaret!" he said softly, bending over her.
There was no response and he repeated the name several times. Then her
eyes opened full.
"Where am I?" she asked vacantly.
"You are safe, with me," he answered and took her hand.
"With you, Raymond? Where?"
"At the home of a lady who is going to take care of you for the
present."
"How queer! I thought I was at my own home."
"We thought it best to bring you here. Miss Sampson will do all she
can for you. The doctor said you must be kept very quiet." He
smoothed down her hair. "You have had a terrible trial, my dear."
"A trial? I don't remember it. What was it?" She stared vacantly at
him. "Oh, how queer my head feels!" And she put one cold hand to her
temple.
"Never mind trying to think now, Margaret. Just take it easy. The
doctor will come back in a little while and he will give you something
that will make you all right again."
"How long have I been here?"
"Only four hours. Now please, don't worry."
"I can't--I can't think--it's all like a terribly dark cloud, Raymond."
She stared in a wild fashion and then a look of untold horror crossed
her drawn features. "Ah! Yes, yes, I remember now! I remember!" She
shook from head to foot. "I remember! The courtroom! And those many
men and women! And the ring--our engagement ring--think of that,
Raymond! They found blood on it, blood!" And she shivered again.
"Margaret, dearest, you must try to keep quiet," he interrupted
soothingly. "It will all come out right, I feel certain of it."
"Right? I don't know what you mean by that word. Was I on trial, or
what?"
"No, not on trial. It was simply the coroner's inquest. But don't
think of it, dear." He tried to brush back her hair, but she stopped
him. The wild look in her eyes was increasing.
"The inquest? Oh, yes, I know now, and they said--they said--" She
gave a piercing scream. "They said I had killed her and killed my own
father! Yes, that I had killed them! Do you hear, Raymond, I had
killed them!" She sat up and motioned him away. "Do not touch me! Do
not come near me!"
"Margaret!" he interrupted appealingly.
"No! no! It is too late, too late!" Her voice sank to a hoarse
whisper. "I see it all--the blood on the ring, the chloroform, our
quarrels, and what she said to me, and then, and then--" She gave
another scream. "Go away! go away! You must not come near me again!"
"But Margaret, dear--"
"No, I cannot listen! You must go away, and let them take me to
prison, let them hang me if they will!" Her voice sank still lower.
"There is nothing else to do--I see the end. They have cornered me,
have found me out! Yes, they have found me out!" She gave a wild,
uncanny laugh that made his flesh creep. "Ha! ha! I thought they
could not do it, but they did. They have found me out! They have
found me out!" And then, with another scream, she pitched back and lay
again like one dead.
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