Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-04-14
CHAPrER III.

"'"'eiO''n silence whispering curiosity.
CHATTER III.
pass by some details which wonld ~. /.
consistent with this brief narration A DE Is
nave returned at once to the abbey. Int ~
INoo,Se' who now became rather dictsfor;.l
would not suffer this, as it would a,vaLs ,a''
pcion. lie insisted that should mt = h boI
iace on the matter and see It ont. 0o'u
marlborough, besides myself and O,Roorlo
contained none but the servants these S,,.,sS
not surprised at their master not re,urn;re, ~
ne was accustomed to be detained at ! 1o =
Ielauon.s to when he frequently walked over
me NILS. That evening and the newt dsv
therefore, all went on quietly, ALTHOUGH # WIS VIZ
remarked by the butler that his master wonld
nave sent for his dressing-case and clothes
upon the third day the family, with whom be
was supposed to be, drove to the door. and. al
aPP.ehended, there was a speedy alarm
W nue. was endeavouring to collect mvself
hir bake sent to request my presence. met
nun IN the library and though there was IN
ms inquiries and department no more than
friendly sollcitude about my uncle, and symn ma
thy with the fears for his safety, which TO con-
eeai embarrassment, rather violently express.
ed; yet found it difficult to resist the irnpres-
Sloh that was suspected by him. In truth
ne afterwards declared,he was struck by some
thing unusual and not characteristic Of INV
usual habits, and without suspecting the facts
couia not help looking at rae with some snr.
PRISE ! proposed sending to the houses of the
ulierent persons with whom he was in habits
OF intimacy. But Mr. B observed N 5
ne would not have gone any where to stay un.
iess 70 himself who was the only near neiob-
oour' on loot and unattended. He therefore
proposed an immediate INQUIRY and search a.
,m,ong the wild and solitary places where it was
red. ''Oui-
O'koorke, who was present. with others of
inc upper servants, now proposed that he and
should undertake the path along the hills, as
oelng accustomed TO ramble through every
glen and wood in that quarter. While If was
thus arranging, one of the servants came in TO
say that a peasant had met my uncle on the
FIRST day his absence, about a mile off. on a
by-path leading off the bride road TO = y 4 up
to those very woods. That the man, who was
maker of hurdles, had been bargaining for
some underwood with my uncle who babe him
follow HIM up into the hill. The man, HAVING
to leave load of peat at his cabin about half
mile further down the road, went home, and
returned to look for my uncle, whom he was
much surprised at not being able TO find. II
may be supposed that the alarm was much in
creased by this account Another very alarm
ing recollection now, for the first time, shot
across my mind | had not since the event,
seen the pistol with which the fatalde was
done. had no recollection of it. Was it still
thought ], lying on the ground where it could
not fail to betray its guilty owneri
called O'ROorke aside, and having taken
him 10 my own apartment, | mentioned the
circumstance. He told me to- be under no
alarm as to the pistol, which he had concealed
near the spot, so well that no one could find
it, unless he should choose to describe where
it lay.
Had you not better hasten to the spot, To-
ny, and take it away"
"The pistol is safe enough, but you had bet
ter lose no time in going yourself, Master Joe;
if any one Is there before you, you must be
found Out-take your seat upon the stones over
the corpse,and pretend to be tired with search
ing"
Well, but can't you come with me 2"
Oughagh, there is no use in drawing dam
ger on the innocent, Master Joe-you were
bold enough so do the thing"
Well but the pistol"
Don't mind the pistol-it's best where it
is"
was angry tor a moment, in spite of fear.
at is. better TO die at Once,' said /, 4" than to
1--we dependant upon any rascal's silence"
A cold smile crossed the villains face as he
answered, " A little word is easier said than
recalled but Master Joe, sure have nothing
togain by your death would not have it said
that man / kept company with all his life died
by a rope on the front of the county jail"
turned sick with horror; the fellow added
coolly, Every one viii be on the hill before
you, sir--run for the bare life or you'll be too
late" l made no reply but rushing down
stairs, l soon reached the hil,and, looking back
from the nearest thicket, saw MIR Blake stand
ing among crowd people on the steps ofthe
hall-door. ! dashed onward aleng the path,
and soon reached the too familiar spot. My
| first impulse was TO look round for the pistol
it was vain; lnext glanced upon the'spot where
my uncle fell--a heap of withered leaves con-
cealed it. Last | cast my eyes toward the
cavern half a dozen crows were perched upon
il and many more were seated upon the sur
rounding wood, or flying across the narrow
glade with lazy wing. gained the spot
! to nv horror the covering had been torn away
from the hole the chilling sight within was
exposed to view stood for amoment rooted
to the spot. NV uncle Richard met my glance
with the cold and stony features of death,as he
Law stifly among the cold stones, a CHASTITY anc
revolving spectacle-so familiar and yet so full
of horror. Irecollected the emergency ofmy
position, and strove against the paralyzlng I'M
nrcssion. The sight added little to my con-
tempt of death, and set with vigor about the
work of concealment. | first collected severa
armfuls ofwithered leaves and tossed them into
the hole, so as entirely to conceal its inmate
| then, with great exertion, brought together
the heaviest fragments Of broken rock, whicl
Law in heaps around, and wedged them closely
| in, building them up on every side. lastly
restored the trampled fern to its natural appear
ance, and when / saw that all was secure
felt-nv confidence wonderfully restored, Tor
now felt that was sale.
An this was not long completed when near
the approach o. several voices through I'M
trees and recollecting O'Roorke's advice'
sat down upon the stones which had Jus
boaped together, and put on the appearance Q
one resting from fatiguing exertlons. MI
Blake and his party soon emerged from IN
woods he only observed that my impattlenc
had exposed me to needless fatigue, and al
firm that I had searched all round where w
stood. AS / came down TO meet them'ail sus
niclon was turned from the place where ma
been seated on the stones. And we went o
| 49, ~. t~,,;nr, ~, the recesses of tn