Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-09-04

suspect hoax, Of imsgins the affair TO
be only the mischievous, trick of some
idler. He therefore fastened up stairs
to change his coat, leaving the Bible con-
tanning the document from the dead on
the table; while his sister, finding her
niece better, left her to see that her
brothers best hat and gloves were ready.
We wonder what Barbara is about
meanwhile.
Presently Mr.. Comyn returned to the
parlor, and putting the Bible in his pock-
ct; (for he dared not again look at the
horrible piece of writing,) set, off at
quick pace for the town. Nor, as he
hurried ON, did he give passing glance
at. the track which diverged from the
high road towards the Nut.hole. The
magistrate was at home, and great, in.
deed, was his amazement when he heard
the minister's story: but lo!zwhen Mr..
Comyn, reverently taking the Bible from
his pocket, opened it to show MIR. Cragie
the note, written, as he decla.ed, in the
peculiar handwriting of his friend, he
found nothing where he had deposited il
but piece Of blank paper, folded up in
the same form, but utterly void And
then, in truth, the worthy magistrate
waxed somewhat wroth at first accusing
Mr.. Comyn of being credulously duped
by some pawkic servant who owed him
grudge, and ending by setting him down
as g clean daft, dotted, and dazed by too
mickle study" (mld, in his ire, he had
very nearly added "too much toddy.")
But as in no amicable frame of temper,
the gentlemen were about to quarrel
downright, the magistrate asking the
minister what proof he could adduce Of
Mr. Bruce's not being alive and merry,
a reasonable loud knocking at the street
door interrupted them, and presently a
domestic entered to announce that "a
drowned man had been brought to the
door,"
With shaking limbs the minister fol-
lowed Mr.: Cragie down stairs to the lob
by. now full of people. 1t appeared that
some men employed in the salmon'ishc
ries had, within the last hour, dragged
their nets, in which they had discovered
the corpse of man whose skull had
been literally smashed in twain by vio
lent blow.
1t was, in fact, the body of Mr.. Bruce.
Here, indeed, was confirmation strange
# the statement which the mysterious
md missing document had contained
and both Mr.. Craigic and the minister,
exchanging look that expressed their
mutual dismay, were soreIy perplexed
IA their own minds how to account for
these singular events. The body was
eeverently laid out in the hall, whilst the
magistrate, summoning some of his off.
:ials, and accompanied by the clergy man
and one or two of the fishermen, proceed,
ID to the cottage of David Balm.
1.-The bellman was not at home, having
gone" they said, "to Mr.. Comyn's to in
Iuire about his lodger. Mr.. Bruce, who
aad not come home to his bed the night
before, as was customary"
Strange glances passed between the
auditors but sign from the magistrate
imposed silence, and they departed, deter
mining to survey the Nut hole, near
which, in the river, the body had been
found in the nets. AS tney threaded the
hicket of hazel, at some distance from
the pool, one of the salmon.fishers de-
;lared that from plot of whitelhorn and
bramble- bushes he had seen the eyes Of
foumart, or pole-cat, glare out upon
MIN, and, in low voice, directing the at
tention of comrade to the spot, they
| could detect the figure of II man crouch.
ng among the trailing shrubs. Whisper.
ng their suspicion to Mr. Craigie, he or.
lered the whole party to join quietly in
/ search, and follow him and the minister
20 the Nuthole. Thither, then, the mag.
,trate, attended only by Mr.. Comyn.
proceeded; and who think We, found they
there
A young man, handsome, and we'll
dressed, in the undisguiscd apparel of a
gentleman, stood there, evidently uncon.
scious of the advancing twain. He held
stout, club-like stick in his hand, which
he was examining intently-for it was
covered with blood, now dried, and amidst
which stuck clots of hair! As the gen.
tlemen came suddenly upon him he start.
I'd and dropped the stick; whilst Mr..
Comyn, staring at him in wonder, for
as we have said-all disguise had been
discarded, exclaimed" John Percival
is this you?"-s question which thv
young man could have answered in the
affirmative will. strict veracity, but fo,
the assertion from the magistrate which
followed it up.
"And you, sir, are the murderer Of
Mr.. Bruce !'
"Good God! what do you. mean o.
cried the Mortified youth.
"That stick, which you have just drop
ped, is covered with blood" said Mr.
Craigie. GA foul murder has been com.
mitted, and we find you with :hc sup
posed instrument of that murder near
the very spot where there is ground to
believe the act was perpetrated."
A fearful pang shot through Percival's
frame but conscious innocence made it
brief; and with calmness of demeanor
which guilt never could have assumed,
and gravely smiling, he turned to his un,
Gle, saying
You cannot believe that am guilty %
"No, no, John !" answered the indi-
vidual appealed to. "God forbid that
should judge you wrongfully, butt
"But, interrupted the magistrate, "not