Litchfield enquirer., 1872-11-07


 does not seek rich husband, but rather please her.. She is evidently smitten with you."
 So much the better, sir, for already entertained for her a warm and sincere affection"
 Besides" resumed MT. Jenkins, ssI am rich enough to allow my daughter to marry whom She likes. Tioueh such as you see me now, I had not farthing at twenty; at forty I was worth twelve thons- and pounds. Five years later my fortune was tripled finally, two years ago, "a sad event added twenty thousand pounds to what already possessed
 Mir. Jenkins made so piteons face in pronouncing these words, ssa sad event, " that I felt myself bound to remark, out of mere politeness,
 ''You lost some relative ?'
 '.Alas yes," he replied. "one of my distant cousins died in horrible manner
 'sHorrible?"
 t'Yes, murdered! She and her old servant"
 bounded on my chair.
 sMr. Jenkins continued: "We had said hundred times to that poor Miss O1DSOn
 ssGibson ?'
 s.Yes. Not to go and live with an old woman servant in 8 large isolated house, which could be so easily entered at night"
 ssIn London ?"
 "NO, st Hampstead.
 I became hvid.
 "You are unwell," said MT. Jenkins, taking my hand into his own with con- cern.
 s.It will pass thanks =. an attack of giddiness. Y.
 And, while he held me and patted my hands, looked fxedly at the head oi Bacchus which grinned on the little finger of his left hand.
 "Are you better?" he asked me.
 s'Quite restored, thank you. ''
 ''Then I resume. The poor old lady, as have said, came to tragic end. She left considerable fortune; the share which came to me increased my fortune to plum. Now I shall give my daugh. ter twenty thousand pounds for a mar riage portion"
 He continued speaking, but I listened no further. agreed to every thing, ac- cspted everything, and hurridly took my leave.
 This time my reason was powerless to subdue the ideas which so strange coin cidence could not but suggest to me.
 From that moment felt convinced oi the existence of supernatural interven- tinn.
 That point decided, the matter must at any cost be elucidated. Not to know more would only cause me intolerable sus pense and suffering.
 Again had recourse to Mrs. Bernard and confided to her the state of my feel ings. told her all.
 She laughed in my face, with the grace, must admit, which woman knowns how to display under such circumstan- ces.
 As for me, I felt utterly unnerved; trembled like frightened child; I was doubtless an object pitiable to behold, for the first burst of hilarity passed, she began to condole with me-
 "Look here, Charles" she said, 'syou are a man: do not conduct yourself so like one void of reason. You terrify me- What, because you dreamed one night when the sun had heated your braiI during the day, and produced night mare-because you believe you have discovered an analogy-a resemblance in a ring, you come to me like madmar and recount the most improbable things to me-"
 ssIt is,"I broke in-'sit is a warning from Heaveny"
 'sYou suspect Mir. Jenkins of having committed crime?"
 Perhaps"
 s'But this is madness! Do not at least go and tell any other person than myself That MT. Jenkins is a worthy and rather ridiculous sort of John Bull I do not deny; but that he has ever in his life killed anything except partridges or hares when out shooting you will not convince me of beg you to drive away these foolish ideas; address yourself to your better reason"
 "Reason has no longer anything to dc with this business. /"
 ''What is required to convince you: Proof ?"
 "Well, yes You remember that, being ill in consequence of that sad occurrence was unable to be present at the trial Was the murderer of Miss Gibson con demned? Did you read the evidence Did you closely examine into all the cir cumstances?"
 ''Ahi Charles, you know that women dc not occupy themselves with such things.
 However, that is the main point"
 '"Thus, you presist in believing"
 '1 believe nothing yet, know nothing But suffer terribly. seem to be envel oped in an invisible, impalpable atmos phere which stifles me. feel mystery around me and desire to clear it up." "You are mad, tell you!' ''So be it. But suffer-cure me"
 "Well, like you too we'll to refuse you What must be done?" ''You know the head of the police?"
 "Yes, very we'll" '"Then, obtain me an interview and per mission to examine the reports relative te the Hampstead murder.
 Certainly, but nothing more. Nc name must be pronounced. Do not, or the faith of dream, disturb the repose of an honorable family, among whom you have only met with kindness and been re ceived with hospitality" 'sNo name shall be mentioned"
 fI will then procure you the Interview you desire" -..-.
 'sThanks.
 ''When you leave Scotland Yard call on me and tell me that you are cured, and will not begin again. left, and two days afterwards I re, ceived a letter fixing the hour for the in. teryiew at three o'clock on the following day.
 was punctual to the appointment.
 ''I know what brings you here," said the functionary had come to see. "And you consent?"
 'I consent to give you all the information you require about that affair I can comprehend that you may have, from a scientific point of view, some in. terest in thoroughly Investigating that strange affair. However, I should tell you that it has but slight importance in my eyes. The trial has long since taken place, and the murderer undergone his sentence" 'Ahr' s'He is at Portland I gave sigh of satisfaction.
 Justice" thought, ''does. not con demn man at hazard" however resolved to profit by the per. mission of the chief of police twill you