The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-04-30
SAVED. AS BX FHR q :
Circumstantial Evidence
fCoNCLUDED
CHAPTER IL.


to tomb would have been pleasing
study to an artist. 1t was only when
the shadows Of evening were lengthen.
ing across the grass that she closed it
with a sigh, and appeared as if her
thoughts had reverted rather painfully to
some object Of personal interest In
this connection, perhaps, she tnrned to
the fly leaf of the book and read aloud,
"Presented to Mss Minnie Crouch, By
her friend, Dr. Herndon. March 5, IS
Her deep blue eyes shadowed into abso-
lutte pensiveness by the long silken lash
es seemed to linger on the simple in.
scription, in the bold, manly hand; and
she only looked up, when a figure dark
ened the low open window.
"Put up the book, Minnie; it is toe
sad for you to read just now;" and g
small hand was placed caressingly on
her arm 1t was her younger sister, An
ME A greater contrast could scarcely
be imagined than existed between these
two girls. A melancholy--perhaps mol
quite observation-disclosures spoke in the
attitude and look of the elder The
bounding step, merry eyes, and radiant
bloom of the younger sister
made sunshine in the shady place"
so eloquent were they of perfect health
and trust in the present, and perhaps o.
hope, unclouded by doubt, for the fu
ture. AS she stood, with the gloriou:
sunset falling like halo over her rich
fair hair, her joyous countenance and
elastic fern, she seemed to her soft-eyed
sister of romance a vision almost toe
bright for this sins stained earth-a thing
Of light and bliss-a 'joy forever" that
the apotheistical Greek might have plac
ed among the forms of heaven, and wor
shipped as an Aurora or Hebe.
Come, Minnie;" she pleaded cares
sinely, show can you stay indoors this
lovely EVENING" Do come out and walk
with me. The day is indeed like some
thing fresh from the hand of CODA
straggler from the files of June Come.
NAY, Aunie," replied Minnie, slightly
turning away her head. go you back
into the light and sunshine--it is youl
element. l am waiting here for Tom
and--I have another chapter to read.'
81 am very sorry you will cling tc
those dark pictures of life just now;'
and Minnie blushed as she saw that hel
eyes rested on the name of the giver
but Annie, absorbed in her own contem
plations, spoke again. Isn't it more
than strange that DR.. Herndon does no
come back? Tom is either strangely
ignorant or unuaturally silent, and ht
grows angry-a thing never known be
fore-whenever we question him. l won
der where he can be ?"
"There is Mary Lomax at the gate.
interrupted Minnie, as if anxious tc
change the subject. go out to her
Annie. You can say that l am busy
reading somewhere, and do the enter
tanning. don't feel like talking to any
QUE can't see what is keeping Tom
The younger sister turned as directed
and went slowly out to meet her friend
She had before suspected that feeling
stronger than friendship had sprung uE
between Minnie and Dr. Herndon, who
had been a constant visitor a. theil
house, up to the very day of his myste
rious disappearance, and her sisters in
creased sadness at Ills continued absence
left scarcely doubt that Minnie's tende
heart had been given to him, whether hi:
own had been pledged or not; and tht
conviction brought the first serious
shadow to her snowy brow as she NOV
ed away
As the elder sister watched her re
treating figure, the tears gathered almos
unconsciously on her long, silken lashes
and fell upon the open page Of the book
believing the name Of her lost love
with an incense pure as ever Peri Offered
at the gates Of Paradise. While the two
girls still leaned upon the gate, she saw
Tom come up the street, and pausins
just long enough to bid them good even
\ ing, pass through the arch, and come
rapidly on to where she sat.
"Where have you been?'' she asked
timidly, as he entered; for Tom, usual,
the easiest and best of souls, had no
seemed himself of late.
"Attending to some business of which
you know nothing" he answered, con
strainedly. "The town was busy getting
the body of a miner, which some of then
found buried away somewhere in the pi
out into the world, when his spirit nt
longer iuhabits it, and I-went anothe
way"
"Who was the man?' she questioned
with a blanched face.
elbow should l know" he exclaimed
fretfully. did l not just tell you | wen
another way? / won't stand all thes
questionings and suspicious"
II am sure, Tom, they are very natu
raj. 81 she returned, still trembling.
Natural! They are anything bu
natural" sulked Tcm.with half savag'
orowl. because o fellow who has NJ
responsibilities, takes into his whimsical
half crazy head to GO streaming off TO
a week or so, without issuing bulletil
to everybody who has not the leas
earthly concern in the matter exact,
where he is gone and what forth who'll
meddlesome town seizes on the fellow
who has the i'll luck to he last seen in hi
company, and insnlts him with all man
ner of'impertinent questions, until h
feels half inclined to put an end to som
of them in good earnest" She had onl,
spoken of the miners body, but her
Tom had gone off without a word upol
that other dreadful question.
"Dont say that, Tom," she cried on
very bitterly, while her compressed lip
!, grew strangely, CHASTITY white. "Ob
don't say that, if you ever had any lov
for u.s."
"What is the girl up to now 7" gaspe'
| Tom in trembling tone. "MlnnIe, ar
you going mad, like the rest of us p
II sometimes think, nay almost hope
that / am" she whispered, in broke
VOICE,