Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-04-21

nation" The schoo. -.--.-------
sual hour alarmed the whole house; Scholars
and servants came rushing en- masse from all
parts of the building. Every one looked fright
ened, and many were in dishabille. Mathew,
the Gardener who lived at the Lodge about
two hundred yards from the main builing, was
the last to arrive; he, poor old man, being
quite infirm from age and rheumatism.
watched Mrs. Staunton and saw that she kept
her eyes on the door, how anxiously, hoping
no doubt that Ida might come in-but she did
not come. When all were assembled, Mrs.
Staunton spoke, G. find that Miss Lathrop is
missing, and propose that the grounds should
be searched; she may be i'll in some part of the
ward, or garden. must request that you will
proceed very quietly, as do not wish to alarm
the neishborhood unnecessarily. Mathew you
will oblige me by taking the lantern anu lead
ing the way"
So Mathew got the lantern, and we searched,
first every part of the house, then the flower
yard, and lastly the garden, without the least
success. Just as we were about to return to
the house-Mathew had already commenced
ascending the steps, he being foremost-one OF
the girls said, {" let us 60 to the swing," which
was some little distance from the house, in the
most retired part of the yard. There was a
large old apple tree-in one corner of the yard
near the garden fence; it always went by the
name Of the swing tree, it was to this tree
the swing was affixed. We did not wait for
Mathew, but ran, pell nell, down the foot path
that led to the swing tree. A little girl about
ten years old was few steps ahead; her name
was Betty Byars; she reached the tree first,
gave an uneartlly shrek, and fell to the ground.
We all rushed to the spot, and there what a
sight met our bewildered gaze For there, from
the swing rope, hung Ida Latarop, stitened
corpes!
How shall attempt to discribe the scene
that followed? The screaming and confusion.
Poor Mrs. Saunton was there, scarcely less pale
than her who had rushed unbidden to the pres
ence of her Maker. / shall never forget her
look a. with clasped hands, and trembling voice
she said, "Oh, girls, this is ten thousand times
worse than my most dread foreboding what
shall do? o! uhat shall / do"
We all gathered closely about Mrs. Staunton
and could only echo her own words, "What
shall do"
By this time the neighbours had become
alarmed and many had gathered to the spot
where so much had taken place in so short q
time; and in less than an hour from the time
we left the house, it was known throughout the
Village that one of Mrs. Staunton's scholars had
hung herself!
One old gentleman, who appeared to have
more presence of mind than the rest, said
{" That every thing must remain as it was until
jury could be summonsed and the coroner
called"
feel that have not given correct descrip.
ton of what occurred, as words are inadequate
to describe the incidents of that night, and
am certain that l shall never feel again as felt
on the night Of the 10th Of June 1899.
Well, there wc stood. T cannot tell how
long-it might have been ten minutes; it might
have been five hours as We took no note o.
time Our bewildered cries had ceased and
Mrs. Staunton had gathered us closely about
her, when dark object gded noiseles,ly past
us. The next moment there came swelling
upon the midnight air groan so dismal, an(
unearthly, that with a shudder we turned tc
see whence it proceeded; and there beside
the dead stood Charles Conover! Then followed
a scene that battles all description. There steoc
; Charles Conover, and they who wrap him in hi
winding sheet, will not see him look more
deathly, than he did that night. For moment
! be stood as if petrifed with horror; then he
burst forth, 40, Ida! My dear Ida! has il
come to this2 Have they driven you to this