Carolyn Wells

“ Have I permission?"
"Certainly," said Fessenden, who saw that Marie was agitated, but very much in earnest. "Tell us what you have to say. Do not be afraid."
"I am afraid," said Marie, "but I am afraid of one only. It is the Miss Morton, the stranger lady."
"Miss Morton?" said Kitty, in surprise. "She won't hurt you; she has been very good to you."
"Ah, yes, mademoiselle; but too good. Miss Morton has been too kind, too sweet, to Marie! It is that which troubles me." ”

“ In the meantime Madeleine had made her will, though I didn't know this until to-day, leaving the place and all her own money to Miss Morton. I'm not surprised at this, for Tom Willard has plenty, and as there was no other heir, I know Madeleine felt that part of her uncle's fortune ought to be used to benefit the woman he had loved in his youth."
"That explains Miss Morton, then," said Fessenden. "But what a peculiar woman she is!"
"Yes, she is," agreed Mrs. Markham, in her serene way. "But I'm used to queer people. ”

“ I looked at the paper through glasses that were dim with tears, and it looked to me like Madeleine's writing. Of course Miss Morton also thought it was, as she was only slightly familiar with Maddy's hand. But now that we know some one else wrote that message, of course we also know the dear girl did not bring about her own death."
Mrs. Markham was called away on some household errands then, and Fessenden remained alone in the library, trying to think of some clue that would point to some one other than Carleton.
"I'm sure that man is not a murderer," he declared to himself. ”