Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-10-26

facc-tn meet them all who had once been
my friends to greet them rs strangers.
for such they wcrc---thcy must be-. to me
to appc; r in their midst under such
strange circ,lnlstaiices--to hear. | knew
not wlat---to learn that mystcry-my
heart grew rs if walled in with ice; it
could not half beat, and felt cold in my
breast.
Both Lccsy and myself started when Mr..
Burton again appeared in the room.
All j. right, thus far he said. III clear.
CHEEKY voice, which, nevertheless, had tho
high ring OF excitement. Come, now. let
us not waste the golden moments, for NOW
the hour is ripe.
We had each of US t" give an arm to
Miss Sullivan. who could scarcely put one
foot before the other, We walked slowly
along over that puth which never had
troddcn, since the night of the murder,
witlout shuddcr. a low moan came
from Lecsy's lips. ~ we passed the spot
where the body of Henry Morcland had
been discovered. Presently we came to
the gate Of the Argyll place. and here Mr..
Burton again Lett US. Follow me-. he
said in five minutes. Come to the libra
ry door, and knock; and, Richard. | par
ticularlv desire you to take II scat by the
bay window
lie went up the walk and into the house,
withuut seeming to ring the hall door bell.
leaving the door open rs he passed in
looked mt my watch hy moonlight. forcing
myself to cnnnt the five minutes, by way Of
stcadyims my head. Which was all in II
whirl. When the time expired, helped
LceSv forward into the dim hall, on to the
library door, where knocked. according
to directions, and was admitted by MIR. Ar
gyll himself.
There was bright light shining from
the chandelier, fully illuminating the room.
| In the midst Of II flood Of rceolcctions, J
stepped within; but my brain, which had
been hot and dizzy before. grew suddenly
calm and cool. When Mr.. Argyll saw
| that it was me, he slightly rccoilrd and
! gave me no greeting whatever. glance
assured me that every member of the fam
ily was present. Ecanor sat in ar arm
clair near the center table Mary and
James occupied the same sofa. Elcamar
looked at me with kind of white amaze
mcnt; James nodded, as my eye met his.
his face expressing surprise and dlSpleas-
urc. Nary rose. hcsltatcd, and huall.
came forward, saying:
'IIow do yUu do, Richard ,
l bowed to her, but did not take her
| outstretcl,ed hand, and she returlicd to
her place near Janlcr, lii tile mean time,
Mr. Burton himself placed Lecsv Sullivan
in an easy chair walked forward and
touk seat near the window. had time
TO observe tile faces Of my whil0m friends,
4 IN Nr
gyll had grown old much faster than the
nne warranted his form was somewhat
bent. and his whole appearance feeble |
gricyed. as nutccd this. as though he
was my own father. for once lad loved
much. Mary looked the same as when |
had seen her, three mouths since, in that
surrcptitious visit to the oak. blooming and
beautiful. the image of what Elcaiior once
was. Eleanor. d"uhtlcss, was winter than
her wont, for my appearance had startled
her; but there was the same rnpt, far
away, spiritual look upon lier features
which they had worh since that day when
she had welded herself to tho spirit Of her
lover.
Mr.. Burton turned the key in the lock Of
the tluor which opened into the hall! then
crossed over and clOsUa tie parlor door. and
sat down by it, saving, rs he did so;
'Mr. Argyll. told you few moments
ago that had news of Importance tn com
nunicatc, and take the liberty of closing
these doors, for it would he Worry 'nnp!"as-
ant to be intrudeu upon. or for any ot Tie
servants to hear any thing Of what ! have
to say. You will perhaps guess the nature
of my communication, from my having
( l.. tl,.s,,
would not agitatc any Of You by the intro
,luction of the painful subject. il did not
! believe chat yon Won d rather know the
truth. even il it is sad to revive the past
But must beg of you to he calm, and to
listen quietly to what / have tn say -
~ Will be very calm do not be afraid
murinurcd Eleanor. growing yet frcblcr.
! for it was tn her he now particularly add
resscd the Injunction.
WAS so occ'iped with her that did not
notice the effect upon the others.
"Mr. Argyll" continued the detective.
~ have never vet abandoned ease Ui
this kind until have unravcled its mys-
try to the last thread. Nearly two wears
! have passed since yon supposed that
ceased to exert myself to disoovc: til,
murderer of Henry Murrland. But have
never for a. ..,lay. allowed the ease to lie
idle i'll my mind. Whenever have had |
have partially followed every clue whicl,
was put in NV hands ut the time when We
first had the matter under discussion. 1t
was no. alone the sad circumstances of the
tragedy which case it unusual interest to
me | became warm Y attached to your
! fa,niiy, and as. from the iirst--yrs, from
the very first hour when | heard of the
murder believed had discovered the
prepetrator, could not allow the matter tn
sink into silence. lou remember, oi
course. our last interview. Soac idea,
were there presented which then opposc,
You know how the discussion of the lacts
then known ended, You suspicious fell mp
on one who had been honorcd and favored
member of your tamily-you tiafrd
although YOU were not certain, that Rich
ard Rcdicld committed the deed You
gave me all the reasons yon had for youl
opinons-good reasons too, some of them
were: but | then combatcl the idea
However, was more or less affected by
what you said, andss tol1 yon, befor,
parting, that if You had such feelings to-
ward the young man you ought not to all
ow him to he, any longer. member o
your family. believe he came to under
stand the light in which yen regarded him
and shortly after left the place, and sine.
has bccu most of the time. in Washington
employed there as clerk in the dead letter
office. believe now Mr.. Argyll, that you
were not far wrong in your coijectures.
| hare discovered Hc mnrderrr Of IIeDrl