The Van Buren press., 1870-01-25

mat ner cnllo, ner only cniiu, Hau beeH
cruelty murdered.
Grace was inferred in the family vault,
tho case was given into the hands of ex-
perienced detectives to investigate, and
the family became gloomy and reserved.
But none seemed to mourn more sincere
ly than Percy valdsmar. He was chang
ed /; so changed that none would have re
cognized in him the happy youth of but
few weeks before. ae
Time passed by, but nothing became
kno wn, and her mysterious murder seem
ed to be shrouded forever from mortal
ken. .lf
Christmas drew nigh, but there was no
preparation, az had been their wont in
days gone past, to celebrate it. There
would be no merry voice to greet them,
no one to look for Christmas presents.
Moodily Christmas Eve, Dir. and Mrs
Valdemar sat before the fire late in the
night Sat before the fire thinking Of
their lost daughter, their only child.
All at once there came desperate tap.
ping on the window pane, and a shrill
voice crying ftH
Let me in Let me p 4uaa
They sprang to their feet simultane
ously, and looked with bleached lips at
one another.
alt is Gracie's voice" whispered Mrs
VaIdemar in horriiied tone. but they
moved not toward the door, almost be-
leving that her spirit had come back to
haunt them.
Still the rspping kept on, and the plead
ing voice cried 1el a7s nI gA
{" Let me in ! Let me in, fatherV'i
He moved toward the door, opened it,
and a figure fell prone and white at his
feet, trembling in every limb, the strong
man picked her up and carried her in,
her long yellow hair streaming over his
arm, and her face pale, ghastly and sunk
en-. s.....t., ..,. tt..,. .
any child, my own child" moaned
the poor mother as he laid her down on
the couch.
Soon there was hustling of many feet,
and the servants came crowding in one
and all From his room above, Percy
Valdemar heard the strange noise, and
rushed down to sec what it meant
"My God!" he exclaimed, as he glanc-
ed into the room which was the scene OF
utmost confusion, :" is Grace!p His
arm fell ncrveless by his side, his face
became paler than any sleeper in the
churchyard cold, aud large drops Of per
spiration rolled down his forehead. "
"Ycs, it is Grace, Percy" sobbed the
old man, "our own Grace -G.t.
Atthat moment Grace opened her eyes !;
they fell on Percy, and she gave horri.
fed shrek. He waited to hear no more,
he did not approach to welcome her back,
but turning, FASTENED to hisroom, A few
moments later there was loud report
and hoavy fall. A servant hastened to
Percy's room; he was lying dead on the
floor, shot through the brain
Hero was another mystery. Why
should he, who had mourned her so deep
ly, commit suicide on the night of return
to the bosom Of her family?
Christmas morning dawned and Grace
lay delirious, but still living, and Percy
corpse lie was inferred in the family
vault beside the strange girl which had
last been placed there, and then all wait
ed for Grace once more to recognize
them.
Three weeks later she became con-
scious and able to talk. 4
"Where is Percy p was her first ques
ton. They hesitated they feared to tell
her; but she read from their silence what
they reign would have kept hid.
He is dead,' she continued, odd
be tell you snything--make any confes
soL 7" ,t..-t
"No."
"God have mercy ON his SOUL" she
said, mounfully. :" am glad he is gono!"
The parents looked at one another.
Was her mind wandering? s a0l .a. s.
"You know when | left here, she re-
sumed, as soon as she could gain
strength, " how went alone. arrived
safely at Blackwatcr station, and as !
emer@ed from one car, there emerged
from auothcr car that had just arri, ed
from au opposite direction a Young girl
tho eysct counterpart of myself lnvol-
unfairly we both stood still and looked
at each other. For a moment she ap
pearsd irresoiute, and then approaching
me, she asked Hsa fHg
ais your name Valdcmar ?"
al replied that it was, and asked who
she was aud how she knew me- She then
told me her story Her mother was my
fathers sister Helen, who married and
went away so many years ago. Her
mother had died some weeks before, and
on her deathbod she told poor Annie the
history Of her elopcmcnt from home, and
babe her come and seek her brother, my
father. Sho did not wish to come. She
dreaded to meet us, she said, for fear we
would consider her dependant. kiss
ed her, told her how gladly we would
welcome her to heart and home, and cried
with her over her grief. At that moment
Percy appeared. introduced him. She
was his cousin also, and he appeared glad
to meet hor. AS intended to turn about
and come home with her, he asked us
both to go to friends house with him
and get dinner, Unsuspectingly we fol-
lowed him to very out OF. the way house.
We dreamed Of no evil, and doubted him
not, though he was very taciturn, and
scarcely spoke to us on the way. He
at low, desolate looking house,
and an old woman give us admttance.
ave wish to get dinner Mrs. Brown
he said, and then whispered something
to her in lew tone.
Shs turned nuickly asked us Ia follow