“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.