The Evening Spider by Emily Arsenault Page B

drawing skills matched her musical ones.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  October 14, 1879
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Professor Johnson is to testify soon. On our walk yesterday, Harry answered all of my questions about his colleague’s experiments and their place in the trial. It was a pleasure to have my brother all to myself. Matthew is, of late, so intent on cushioning my mind from anything so interesting.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  This is my understanding of the significance of the experimental stomachs. It is to show that the poor girl’s stomach was not tampered with unlawfully after her death! There was no denying that her stomach had poison in it, but what is likely to be argued by the defense is that itwas deposited there by someone on the prosecutor’s side—someone intent on convicting Rev. Mr. Hayden.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  The Stannard girl’s stomach had, as a result of the arsenic, enlarged blood vessels in the postmortem examination. Under the direction of Professor Johnson, Harry and his colleagues obtained two stomachs for experimentation, and applied a similar amount of arsenic to them. After some time sitting in jars in the lab, with the arsenic inside of them, it was found that the stomachs did not have the same enlarged condition of blood vessels as the girl’s stomach. These results will make it more difficult for the defense to make their accusation regarding the arsenic’s introduction after the death, rather than before.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  I gather that the physical evidence will be much more complex than what I’ve described here, but this explains Harry’s part. I inquired whether he would be taking the stand, but he said no. Dr. Johnson will be speaking for his own work, including this part in which Harry assisted. It would be exciting if Harry testified! Mother would be beside herself, however, so perhaps it is best he has a quieter role.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  October 18, 1879
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Harry has fulfilled his promise of late. He finally came to visit me at home—spent an hour with Martha on his knee and gave me more than a week’s worth of New Haven newspapers. I’d have liked to have read them right away and asked him questions about what he’s seen and heard, as he was present in the courtroom for one day ofDr. Johnson’s testimony! I stashed them in my chest in the bedroom, however, while he and Matthew were chatting.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  It was altogether a clandestine affair. Harry brought the newspapers in a basket of sweet breads made and sent, he said, by Mother. Harry had given me a tiny wink as he’d said this, and when I brought them to the kitchen, I saw the newspapers stuffed beneath them.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  I have only managed to read two so far. They involve the selection of the jury and Herbert Hayden’s plea of not guilty.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  I gather, from peeking, that the further articles involve the details of Dr. Johnson’s testimony. I am saving those for tomorrow—when Matthew won’t be present, and I won’t be so tired.

 
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    Chapter 23
    Haverton, Connecticut
    December 10, 2014
    I bolted up as soon as I heard it. The little journal tumbled to the floor.
    Shhhhh.
    I must have dozed off while reading—and Chad must have switched off my lamp when he came upstairs. My eyes took a moment to focus on the little green light of the baby monitor.
    Shhhhh.
    There were no water sounds to muddle it now. I’d taken the iPod player out of Lucy’s room altogether.
    â€œChad!” I snapped. “Wake up! Do you hear