ition perfectly
horrified her, as she really loved her brother; but Pattmore said that
they never could live together as long as Captain Sumner was alive, and
that he was afraid the Captain would some day get into a passion and
kill them both. In this way he worked on her feelings until she agreed
to give her brother some of the powder which she had sent to Greenville.
Accordingly she made three attempts to poison her brother, but
fortunately she was not successful. Pattmore then returned to
Greenville, and soon afterward his wife died. He had visited her only
once since that time, but they corresponded regularly. He was very
guarded in his letters as to what he said about his wife's death, but
she knew that he had carried out his plan, because he had told her so
distinctly when he last saw her. He said that he had given her small
doses every day until she died; but the doctor believed that she had
died of dysentery, so that he was all safe.

When she had finished, I said:

"Well, Mrs. Thayer, I suppose you are aware that you are not legally
Pattmore's wife?"

"Yes, I am," she said, with a sort of blind persistency; "his first wife
is dead, and as I was legally married to him I am now his wife."

"No, Mrs. Thayer," I replied, "I will show you that your pretended
marriage was no marriage at all; when it took place Pattmore's wife was
alive, and he could not contract a second legal marriage; again, you
have no evidence that your husband is dead, and it is therefore probable
that you could not marry again legally. Hence, as he _certainly_
committed bigamy, and as you _probably_ have done the same, there could
be no legal marriage between you."

"Yes, Mr. Pinkerton," she acknowledged, sadly, "I know you are right,
but still I cling to that belief. If I could be sure that Henry was
alive, I should not regard Pattmore as my husband; but, as his wife is
dead, and Henry is also dead to me, I shall think that I am Pattmore's
wife."

"Well, you can have your doubts set at rest very soon," said I, "for I
have received letters from England saying that Henry is on his return
from a whaling voyage in the South Sea."

"Is that so?" gasped Mrs. Thayer. "Well, I was told that, but I could
hardly believe it. Oh, what shall I do? It was all my fault that Henry
left me; he loved me truly, and I once loved him. Oh, if he would only
forgive me, and love me, I might hope to be happy again; but I fear he
can never pardon the wrongs I