Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-05-29
The Northern Circuit.

town, a large, substantially-built, but
somewhat struggling building, known as
Craig Farm (popularly Crook FARM
House. The farm consisted of about
one hundred acres of tolerable arabic
and meadow land; and at the time |
have indicated belonged to farmer of the
name of Armstrong. He had purchased
it about three years previously, at sale
held in pursuance of decree of the
High Court of Chancery, for the pur-
pose of liquidating certain costs incur
red in the suit of Craig versuS Craig,
which the said high court had nursed so
long aud successfully, as to enable the
solicitor to the victorious claimant to in
carcerate his triumphant client for sew
eral years in the Fleet, in " satisfaction
of the charges of victory remaining due
after the proceeds Of the sale of Craig
Farm bad been deducted from the gross
total Farmer Armstrong was married,
but childless; his dame, like himself, was
native Of Devonshire. They bore the
character of plodding, taciturn, NOR
ose-mannered couple: seldom leaving
the farm except TO attend market, and
rarely seen at church or chapel, they
naturally enough became objects Of sus-
picion and dislike to the prying, gossip
ping villagers, to- whom mystery or re-
serve of any kind was of course exceed
ingly annoying and unpleasant.
Soon after Armstrong was settled in
his new purchase, another stranger ar
rived, and took up bis abode in the best
apartments of the house. The new
conner, man of about fifty years of age,
ard evidently, from his dress and gait,
a seafaring person, was as reserved and
unsocial as his landlord. His name, or
at least that which he chose to be known
by, was Wilson. He had one child, a
daughter, about thirteen years Of age,
whom he placed at boarding-sahool in
the adjacent town. He seldom saw her /;
the intercourse between the father and
daughter being principally carried on
through Mary Sirugnell, widow of
about thirty years of age, and native
of the place. She was engaged as SER
want to Mr. Wilson, and seldom left
Craig Farm except on Sunday after
moons, when, if the weather was at all
favorable, she paid a visit to an aunt
living in town there saw Miss Wilson ;
and returned home usually at halEpast
ten oclock-later rather than earlier.
Armstrong was occasionally absent from
his home for several days together, on
business, it was rumored, for Wilson ;
and on the Sunday in the first week Of
January, 1902, both he and bis wife had
been away for upwards of week, and
we're not yet returned.
About quarter-past ten o'clock on
that evening the early-retiring inhabi-
tants of the hamlet were reused from
their slumbers by loud, continuous
knocking at the front door of Arm
strong's house louder and louder, more
vehement and impatient, resounded the
blows upon the stiffness of the night,
till the soundest sleepers were awaken
ed. Windows were hastily thrown open,
and presently numerous footstepts ap-
preached the scene of growing hubub
The unwonted noise was caused, it was
found, by Farmer Armstrong, who ac-
companied by his wife, was laundering
vehemently upon the door with heavy
black thorn stick. Still no answer was
obtained. Mrs. Strugnell, it was sup.
posed, had not returned from town but
where was Mr.. Wilson, who was almost
always at home both day and night
Presently lad called out that a white
sheet or cloth Of some sort was hanging
out of one of the back windows. This
announcement, confirming the vague ap.
prehensions which had begun to germi.
nate in the wise heads of the villagers
disposed them to adopt a more effectua
mode of obtaining admission than knock
ing seemed likely to prove. Johnson
the constable of the parish, man o.
great shrewdness, at once proposed tC
break in the door. Armstrong, who, a;
well as his wife, was deadly pale, anG
trembling violently, either with cold OF
agitation, hesitatingly consented, and
crow bars being speedingly procured, ar
, entrance was forced, and in rushed 9
score of excited men. Armstrong;
wife, j; was afterwards remembered
caught hold of her husbands arm in 9
hurried, frightened manner, whispered
hastily in bis ear, and both followed into
the house.