Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-02-19


one account robbery must have been the mo-
tive Of the assassin, as the deceased'r pockets
had been rified, and his gold watch carried of,
| whilst, according to another and later para
graph, Charles Harpur, person of good prop
erty, recently arrived from abroad, had been
| fully committed for the murder-the suggested
cause whereof was jealousy with respect to a
Jemima Morton, a young woman, the paper
| stated, OF great personal attractions "The
mistake in the Christian name, Jemima for
Judith" mused Penson, ''is obvious enough;
but how comes it that both jealousy and plum
der are spoken of as motives for the crime?
Charles Harpur is not a robber; and yet both
money and watch were missing l must even,
poor as am, pay visit to Bedstone Hs!
| Well, this IS strange"
A slight noise at the window had caused him
to look suddenly in that direction, and to his
great surprise, almost CONSERVATION, he saw
the handsome and excited countenance of Ju-
dith Morton just above the dwarf Venitian
blinds-the dark, flashing eyes peering eagerly
into the office, wherein she yet, he observed,
discerned nothing. His sudden starting nm
| revealed him to her; a kind Of wild smile of
recognition glanced over her features, and in
another minute Judith Morton was face to face
with Richard Penson-she, this time, the sup.
plant for favor
Miss Morton was habited in deep mourning.
and her appearance and manner evinced much
Hurry and disquietude. Hastily seating her.
self, she drew forth sealed packet from
large reticule, saying. as she did So in reply to
Penson's questioning glance at her mourning
dress, ''for my father; he died about three
months since" Holding the packet or parcel
In her hand, she gazed fxedly for a moment or
two at her astonished auditor as if to ascertain
II the influence she once possessed over him
had been weakened by time and absence.
Apparently the scrutiny was satisfactory. A
bright gleam of female pride danced in her,
and thar
hdence In the tone with which she said: "I am
here, Richard Pensen, to retain you profes-
sionally In matter deeply affecting myself.
with the full persuasion that spite of0perhaps
In some degree because of by-gones, you will
not fail me in this hour of need"
Pensons heart was in his throat and few
broken words could only gurgle through to the
effect that he was soul and body at her service
The prideful smile shot more brightly than
before across the path of the temptress, and
the voice was gentle and caressing which re-
plied-"I knew that would be your answer,
Richard After hesitating for a moment, she
took note from her purse and placed it before
England note for fifty pounds; and in the ex.
cltement OF his chivalrous enthusiasm he re-
jected it, almost Indignantly.
NAY, nay, said Judith Morton, "you must
accept it. My father, as told you, is no more,
and am tolerably we'll off," adding, with in
elhunlInS anu, Detter perhdpS than
that, L am now my own mistress" Penson
took the note thus pressed upon him. and an
embarrassing but brief silence ensued, broken
by Judith Morton, who, having unssaled the
packet of papers, said-''These ara Office comics
of the depositions made in the case of Charles
Harpur, of which you have doubtless heard. -
The attorneys countenance fell as Judith pro-
nounced that name, and she hastened to say
cit is not, you will find, for his sake that am
chiefly interested but first you must read
those papers. will go and take tea while YOU
do so, at the inn below, where the coach
stopped. 1 shall not be gone more than half
an hour
The peremptory manner of the young woman
forbade reply, and as soon as the street door
closed behind her, Penson addressed himself
to the perusal of the depositions. 1t was some
time before the palpitating bewildermeut of
his brain SO far subsidized as to enable him to
distinctly seize and comprehend what he read:
but professional habit at length resumed i;s
influence, and by the time Miss Morton re-
turned he had thoroughly mastered the case
as far as it was disclosed by the dispositions
"Well," said she, with becoming calmness,
''your opinion upon this sad affsir?''
There can be but one opinion upon it,
replied Penson. 1.-The fact lies in nutshell
Harpur met the deceased at farmers dinner,
after which, both being elevated by wine,
Harpur took offense at something-it is not
stated what-that Masters said respecting YOU
and violent quarrel and fight ensued Three
nights afterwards Masters is found dead, with
a bullet through his brain. James BlundelI
respectable man, whom l know WE'LL swears
positively that he heard the report, and about
ten minutes afterwards saw Hsrpur running
from the spot, not far from which the body was
next morning found-his face, clearly visible
in the brilliant moonlight, as white as chalk,
and holding pistol in his hand. There can
be no doubt, therefore, that Harpur killed the
deceased, though perhaps under circumstances
that, if provable, might reduce the offence to
-manslaughter.
"You noticed that the mans watch and
money were not to be found?n said Judith Nor
ton.
Yes; and that is certainly an odd circum
stance; but probably, as see is suspected, they
were stolen by some person who discovered the
body earlier in the morning than Blundell and
the constable did" "
f" Is there nothing which in your opinion af-
fects the credibility Of Blundel's testimony
" Not essentially; to be sure there appears
to have been ll-blood between him and Mas
ters, but the fact cannot have any weight
!" Not if strepgthened-nsade weighty?" in
terrupted the young woman with suggestive
emphasis.
I'll do not comprehend you," stammered
Pepson-greatly startled, as he told me, more
by her manner than words.
"You must then, and thoroughly" said
Judith Morton, who was now deathly pale, cor
nothing effectual will, I see, be done. There
is no one within hearing?"
mot soul"
Draw your chair closer to mine, however,
that may speak the secret, tclieh tcrH place
me '1 yonr power, in a whisper: it was I slew
Robert Matters
"God of fheaven-you,-impossib
II is true, and therefore possible, as you
shall hear-but first let me ask you this ques-
tion: With all my faults of temper, caprices,
vexations, follies, was not always a truthful
girl?''
Certainly; you were ever sincere and plain
spoken"
fro BE CONTINUED
III The frozen pipes Of a cooking range ex
ploded at Warehouse Point CT on Friday Mrs