His Other Wife: A Novel — page 320: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

312 ARRAIGNED. eyebrows a ray, intent and burning, shot toward the wit- ness-stand, upon which appeared a woman, whose coun- tenance was utterly unknown to the prisoner. In an- swer to the question put by Mr. Craig, who examined the evidence for the State, the woman made these statements: ‘‘My name is Eliza Lock. Iam the youngest daugh- ter of Hariet Rowe, of Galveston. I do remember the prisoner, who, with his wife, Rachel Croft, boarded, du- ring the summer of 18—, with my mother. Yes, he is much changed as to the color of his hair and beard, which were black when I knew him, otherwise I find little altera- tion. I would know him anywhere.’ His face isn’t easily forgotten. I was seventeen years old when he lived in my mother’s house. He was devoted to his wife, and she worshiped the ground he walked on. She was well when she came. She got into poor health pretty soon after. She took to her bed in about six weeks, and staid there. She liked to have him always with her. At first the old nurse, Amy, slept in her room, and gave the medicine. About three or four days before she died Mr. Croft took to sitting up all night with her. I did not know anything about Amy’s going back to the chamber after she was dis- missed for the night; but my room opened on the back staircase, and about midnight I heard crying outside of my door. I got up and looked out. Amy was seated on the stairs, with her apron over her head, crying. ° I said, ‘What ails you? Is Mrs. Croft worse?’ She said; ‘I don’t know; I am scared about her,’ I said, ‘Go to bed; Eomicbooks: (E(0) as