Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-05-07


smile cleaned from his black, fiery eyes,
for no other feature of his face was visible,
$50 you are punctual to the time, my
friend" said be, approaching, aud laying
his hand upon Flintwood'sshoulder "Well,
l admire punctuality. And now, as we
are about to go forth from hence, / require
you to swear eternal silence on the events
of this night--silence as unbroken as the
darkness of the tombp'
"The eyes flashed savagely down into
Horaces face, and though his voice did
not tremble, his cheek became paler as he
replied, III swear" = ir.s ei
Enough r said the unknown. "A man
like you will keep an oath Your work
is done we'll.
81 am happy to have pleased you" said
Horace. "It was thoughtful in you to
select such place for your gold-the most
cunning burglar would never discover it.
"You will lose nothing by your exceed
ing cleverness, said the unknown, as he
was fixing the bandage over Horace's eyes
"here, my friend, is little present for
you,' and he placed parcel in the me-
chanic's hand. eetF
The same road was driven over, and
same unearthly silence preserved in the
phcton, and near day break Horace was
left blindfolded at the door of his lodging.
He tore off the handkerchief and wildly
around him, but he saw only great crazy
houses and smoky manufactures The
carriage and its mysterious occupants had
vanished. He bethought himself, however,
of the parcel giveu him by the unknown,
and breaking it open he found simply
one hundred pound note enveleped in
paper @.ts i. d.
Early on the morning subsequent to the
events chroncled above, boat, contain
ing two persons, might have been seen pro-
ceeding at good speed up the river. Arrived
within half a mile of the first village
the way through or between high banks,
which were covered with thick growth of
scrubby naples and tangled witch hazel.
From the overhanging bough of low tree
pocket handkerchief futtered in the
wind, and the signal did not long escape
the eye of the taller of the two boatmen.
"Tis the very place 1 knew it p he
he exclaimed triumphantly-and in few
minutes the boat was resting in little
cove directly beneath the signal.
Flintwood, for the reader has probably
recognized our old friend, sprang upon the
shore, followed closely by his companion,
and after brief search, the box contain
ing the mysterious corpse was discovered.
Immediately it was placed in the boat, the
handkerchief was removed from the bough,
and the light craft shot off like an arrow
down the stream.
After good two hours sail they drew
up the boat at an obscure village and a
carriage, which was evidently waiting their
arrival, they took them and their freight
to a large old house situated little out
of the village.
Flintwood had the box conveyed to an
upper chamber of this building, and when
left alone with it, he unscrewed the cover
and looked upon the face sleeping within
its shadow. AS he gazed, he saw that
there was warm perspiration upon the
forehead of the corpse, and tinge of life
like redness on the slightly parted lips
The young man sprang from the room,
but shortly afterwards returned, accompa-
MED by physician The man of science
after brief examination of the body. re-
ported. Temporary suspension of anima-
ton, influenced by some drug administer
ed while in great bodily prostration.'
Furthermore the physician asserted that
the body was that Of Gertrude Winchester,
belle and an heiress, whose disappear
ance had caused so great sensation of
grief and wonder in the fashionable cir
cles some three months previous!
Mr.. Wellman suggested the most rigid
secrecy concerning the mysterious discov-
cry of the body, and in the meantime, exer-
ted himself to the utmost to store the
lady to life and consciousness. His eff
4 fyrts were successful, and in the evening
Gertrude was able to converse. So soon as
deemed practicable by the medical atten-
dant, the story of her Abdueation from the
dismal vault Of the old country home was
told to her, and at her request Horace
Flintwood was called in, and she gave the
following account;-- j,
"Fifteen months ago, my father, Nor
ton Winchester, died, and /, by his will,