Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-05-10
Sir Richard Beverlyv exclaimed old

Sir Richard Beverlyv exclaimed old
Mr. Harcourt, Indignantly.
Nay said the baronet, gently pressing
the old man down into his seat; do rot
interrupt me just now. I am relating sim
ply what the poor fellow told me. I do not
mean to say that there was anything wrong
or criminal about the interview of the low.
ers. At any rate am not aware of it, nor
did poor Barney even suspect it, or be GER
tainly would have told me-
distraction 7 exclaimed Mr. Harcourt,
moving about uneasily in his chair, swho
| supposed that anything criminal could grow
out of an interview between my OVID dar-
ling Minnie and Edgar Houston p
Edgar Houston it was, sure enough
said Sir Richard, in tone of voice, and
with certain manner, by no means calcu.
lated to appease the growing indignation of
the excitable old gentleman, 'and can you
possibly imagine the state Of feeling expe-
rienced, when the discovery was made.
And, now, sir, 1 will inform you how it has
come to pass that poor Barney now lies
stretched out upon the floor of that old
summer. house. I loaned him the old cloak
and mask, which I had used with so much
success, and instructed him when, how and
where to make similar use of them. I
took him up to the Green Room; showed
him the private entrance, and, in short,
endeavored to make him acquainted With
every nook and corner of the two upper
stories of the house. paid him to haunt,
in the guise of ghost, every portion of
| these abandoned stories whenever he had
reason to believe Miss Harcourt was up
there, and, as the spirit of her father, to
warn her against becoming the bride of any
other man than Sir Richard Beverly. l paid
him also to keep strict watch over young
Houston and to keep me we'll Informed as
to bis movements. And now, sir, there he
lies out there, as consequence of his faith
fulness to me- So saying, the barouet
pointed out of the open window upon the
dead body of poor Barney, which the SER
wants we're about to remove.
unfortunate wretch = exclaimed Mr..
Harcourt, turning, with sbudder from the
widow. Would to God that we could
have found him sooner There is no telling
but what something may have been done to
save bis life
Better as it is,' said the baropet, in a
tone of voice, and with an expression Of
countenance, which manifested the exis
! tence Of deep internal emotion. Better
much better that those lips should be
sealed and that tongue paraiyzed forever,
than he should have lived to stand up here,
in your presence aud mine, and told tale
of all be saw and heard that midnight hour
in those abandoned rooms
In the name of heaven what mean
you, Sir Richard p said the old man start.
ing up from bis chair, and trembling from
head to foot.
Beyond all question: said the baronet,
'poor Barney was murdered because Edgar
Houston did not wish it made public that
himself aud Miss Harcourt were discover.
ed together, and alone, at midnight
Sir Richard Beverly!' said the old man,
growing pale as death, you are treading
upon dangerous ground ! Beware ! be-.
| ware !
DO you not feel assured that young
Houston discharged the pistol that caused
the death Of BarDey7' asked the baronet
Feel assured! said Mr. Harcourt, show
do 1 knoy aoho may have 6red7 You for.
get, that l did not know even of the arrival
of Edgar, and you only speculate and sur
mise about the matter altogether; for, ac-
cording to your own story, you have not
seen the young man, since you left Nor
folk
well, Mr.. Harcourt,' said the baronet,
taking small pearl box from his pocket,
here ia a very fancy little match case which
l found up stairs near the pool of blood -
Will you do me the favor to read the name
on the slide?
Edgar Houston J. exclaimed the old man
in tremor.
That goes some way, at least, to prove
the fact of his presence said the baronet.
you will notice that the side of the case is
bloody, too; and has the appearance of hav-
ing been held between bloody fingers
Mr. Harcourt groaned
perhaps you remember the hour when
We went up to Miss Harcourt's room for
the keys. 1t was after midnight, l think,
and about ten minutes after the report of
the two pistol shots Am | right p
quite right replied the old man, With
an abstracted air.
you found your niece up and dressed,
and her bed apparently unused, did you
not? In fact, she told you she had moi re.
tired
Very true, Sir Richard, said Mr. Har.
court. 'Zouuds you have a most excel.
lent memory for trihes !
sIs your niece in the habit of keeping
such late hours 2 asked the baronet.
'She almost always retires early replied
the old man.
sAud does it not look little strange,
that the shot should have been fred and
this little case Of Houston's found upon the
same night that Miss Harcourt ook it into
her head to sit up SO late 7 Or iu plain
words: don't you believe it at least possi
BILE, if not probable, that Houston and Jour