The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-05-17
Gbe Gtn1es, Mem Bloomfield, ])a.

ing, Or was the bed really empty? In an
instant | was up and feeling with my
hands to satisfy my eyes Myra. was gone
turned to the window 1t was open
[ do not know how it was, but in a
moment / seemed to understand what
had happened, and to take in all the hor-
rors of the reality. TO put on my boots
and dressing-gown was the work Of a
moment, and then climbing out of the
window, let myself fall on to the soft
mould beneath. l knew L should see
the print of small feet there. Then bare
headed and shivering in the cold morning
air, ran down the garden.
No idea of going to Mrs. Furnival, or
alarming any one, entered my head. [
went Immediately to Myra's garden, and
when / was there l turned from the
hower-border to the bank, at the foot
of which runs the river.
shall never forget the scene of golden
light white mist, and shiny water, that [
there looked on. | seemed to note every
detail, though [ was looking for one OBJ
ject. But no; | could not see it. Thank
heaven, it was-I was turning away
thinking that, when my eyes happened to
fall on the flags below me. There was
something white at the verge-something
like a human hand caught in the green
weeds that grew so thickly just there.
| did not exclaim, l did not utter a
sound; but | slid down the bank, and,
needless of danger, entered the water,
Up to my knees then up to the waist
clinging desperately to the rushes and
then under the water, held down by the
entanglng weeds, / found what | sought.
Though with all my strength, battled
to bring her to land. knew that she was
dead-drowned. | knew that she sue
ceedod, and then my misery burst silence
and, winding my arms round the poor
dead form, [ uttered wild cries.
There was an inquest, funeral, and
then Myra Richardson disappeared from
amongst us. The girls strange death was
talked of as a nine-days wonder " tenn
porary, insanity" had been the verdict
returned, and, for time, all the odd
ways of the poor child were talked of
and commented on, and she was forgotten.
That she was concerned in the mysterious
robbery was never known and no one
but Mrs. Furnival ever heard the story
of the stolen sovereigns from my lips.
1t was not till months afterwards that
l heard some details of Myra's history
1t appears that she was the daughter Of a
wealthy Australian merchant, who had
married a female convict, whose history
was scarce y clearer than her daughter s.
Though well-born and educated, Mrs
Richardson had been convicted of some
theft and in spite of the evidence that
insanity was in the family and had before
exhibited itself under this form, was trans.
ported for seven years. AT the end OF
the time, still retaining magnificent beau.
ty, she had won the affections ola trader
and married him. The secret of her
mothers disgrace had been kept from
Myra for some time but, by some chance
she came to know it, and whether insani
ty was really already in the blood or hel
vivaclous nature was too strongly i'm
pressed with the story, was not known
but from that time the wld-elfshnoss o.
character took possession of her, and her
father terribly troubled, hoped to memo
matters by change of scene and climate
resolved on sending her to England.
The wild Australian had probably made
up her mind that her mothers evil fate
should never be hers. Still, after al
we can but surmise for as her last words
which sounded in mortal ears declared
no one knew her secret. 1t was hers anC
hers alone and till she rises from he
quiet forgotten grave, and tells out tn,
sad story to One who will not judge hel
harshly, it will remain forever mystery.
A Stupid Witness.