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 infrm from age and rheumatism. l
watched Mrs Staunton and saw that she kept
her eyes on the door, 0 how anxiously, hoping
no doubt that Ida might come in-but she did
not come When all were assembled, Mrs.
Staunton spoke, 1 find that Miss Lathrop is
missing, and propose that the grounds should
be searched she may be i'll in some part Of the
yard, or garden. must request that you will
proceed very quietly, as do not wish to alarm
the neighborhood unnecessarily. Mathew you
will oblige me by taking the lantern and 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, lie being foremost-one oi
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
large old apple tree-in one corner of the yard
near the garden fence; it always went by the
name of the swing tree, as 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 a few steps ahead; her name
was Betty Byars she reached the tree first,
gave an unearthly 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 sDing rope, lung Ida Lalhrop, stUeneo
corpes!!
How shall attempt to discribe the scene
that followed? The screaming and confusion
J Poor Mrs. Staunton was there, scarcely less pale
than her who had rushed unbidden to the pres
ence of her Maker. shall never forget hel
look AZ 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! ,ohat shall / do"
We all gathered closely about Mrs. Stauntor
and could only echo her own words, "Wha
shall dow
By this time the neighbours had become
alarmed and many had gathered to the spo
where so much had taken place in so short
llIllc sllltl Ill lCSS OIL hOlh luC
we left the house, it was known throughout tht
Village that one of Mrs. Staunton's scholars hat
hung herself
One old gentleman, who appeared to have
more presence of mind than the rest, said
6" That every thing must remain as it was unit
Jury could be summonsed and the coroner
called"
feel that I have not given correct descrip
ton of what occurred, as words are inadequate
to describe the incidents Of that night, and
am certain that shall never feel again as fell
on the night Of the Goth of June 1892
Well, there wc stood. cannot tell how
long-it might have been ten minutes; it NIGH
have been five hours rs We took no note o
time. Our bewildercd cries had ceased, anc
Mrs. Staunton had gathered us closely abou
her, when dark object glided noiselessly pas
US. The next moment there came swellin.
upon the midnight air groan so dismal, ant
unearthly, that with shudder we turned II
see whence it proceeded and there beside
the dead stood Charles Conover! Then followed
a scene that battles all description. There steot
Charles Conoyer, and they who wrap him in hi
winding sheet, will not see him look NOR
deathly, than he did that night. For momen
he stood as if petrifed with horror; then b.
! burst forth, 80, Ida! My dear Ida! has i
come to this2 Have they driven you to this