The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-05-26

in the full vigor:of health and strength, he
was crossing the hall, when he stumbled
against female serFant. With something
carefully held in her apron,she was going
towards the apartment where Malcolm had
just left Mr.. Derwent and his daughter.
She stopped and courtesied as he apollo
gized, smile Of pleasure at the gentleman's
politeness lighted up her stolid, simple
features.
ut is no matter sir, thank you sir; aim
hurt bit. was only going to ask Miss
Derwent if this is the scent bottle as heard
her say she could not find the other day. 1t
was lying among the shrubs on the lawn
in the cluster just under the window of the
room where the poor dear young gentleman
died."
While speaking, she displayed the gilt
tering remains of tiny flask or phial of cut
glass. It was of peculiar shape, and uns
doubtedly Of foreign workmanship; but
alwhat induced Malcolm to take the frag-
ments in his hand, and closely. examine
1. them, was the circumstance that some pieces
of red paper clung to some Of them, as if
they had been pasted on. When these were
fitted together, the ominous word ''Po1soN.'
was distinctly visible, and chill crept over
him as he deciphered it.
"Strange," he exclaimed; "surely Miss
Derwent-" And then he checked him
self. No, it was not credible that Sybil had
ever possessed herself of death-dealing
drug, such as this flask had indubitably
held. But as in his mind he had exonerated
her from the folly and wckedness of an at
tempt upon her own life, he recollected
,uhere the woman said abe had found the
broken glass, and he grew very pale.
"You say that you found this in some
shrubs beneath the easement OF the chamber
where my consin, Mr.. Walters, breathed his
last! How clme it there? ?"
The girl stared at him stupidly. "Dear
me now, never thought of that, sir? I'm
sure can't say; all I know is that it was
not there this day week"
How do you know that?'
She colored and simpered. Because !
stood under them IDENTICAL laurels, a-talkiny
TOTO Jem Thompson, the under gardener; /;
and one of my earrings fell out; real gold
they are, and grudge losing either of 'em,
because you see, sir, it spoils the pair"
AGO on" said Malcolm, so sharply thai
he startled and confused her.
eyes, sir, it was one Of my earrings, sir,
that came unfastcned and fell out; and |
went the next morning that was the morn-
ing before the ball--anl searched for 1T, sil
high and low, without finding it"
"And you are positive t!l,t this brok
phial was not there Il. N 2" queried NJ
saJm, now Ell ,cr to g,in all information
lxssible about the poison.
ROUTE positive; beclu;c, if it had been, l
bov co,,, n ,O,,,tn't sir2 T
to 60 the next day, and have another hunt
for my earring; but what with the ball,
a1ld the poor gentleman's sudden death, and
tie doctors a-coming, and the inquest, !
never had no chance of it till this morning,
and there it was safe and sound, and these
bits scattered about close by it,
"Come and show me the precise spot
where they laid" said Malcolm, stridng
across the hall at great rate. She obeyed,
not without little inward astonishment at
the interest he was taking in broken bot
tie, which, after all. might not be the one
missing from her toilet table, which Miss
Sybil had been inquiring about.
The cluster of evergreens to which she
led the way, were, as she said, close beneath
the window of the room where Robert
Walters expired and Malcolm, after care
full examination Of the place, came to the
conclusion that the phial had been flung
from the window, and dashed to pieces in
the fall.
AMI now rose the perplexing question,
"By whose hand was this donep and who
had Leen the owner of this phial ?" Not
Walters himself. No, no. Charles Malcolm
knew the workings of his cousins mind, and
L. g l. 4on
well to believe for moment that he COM
mitted suicide. Yet was he now becoming
equally positive that the young mans death
had not been the result of some internal and
hitherto unsuspectel disease. With this
evidence of Il secret crime in his possession,
what could he think but that Walters had
been hurried out of the world by foul deed
of which this poison had been the agent3
Murder had been done-treacherousl
secretly. deliberately done. That young
life had been taken by some hidden and
remorselcss enemy; and cold perSpiration
bathcd Malcolm's brow, and 4 trembling per-
vaded his limbs, as he remembered that he
was bound by Il solemn injunction not only
to discover who hld committed the deed,
but also to avengc it.
Dislrissng the girl with an outward COM
posure which d:ssipatcl her rising wonder,
he returned towards the house. But as he
was about to enter it, and acquaint Mr.
Derwent of his startling discovery, some
impulse restrained him. The crafty hand
that must have administered the death
potion to the unsuspecting Walters, must
be the hand of one who dwelt beneath this
roof; and he might not cross the threshold
Of Dcrwent Lodge except as the avowed
avenger Of the crime.
He stood for some few minutes, hesitating
whether he should send for Mr.. Derwent,
ncquaint him with what he had learned,
and the conclusions he drew from it. But
it was both difficult and unpleasant task
to say to his hospitable entertainer, There
has been terrible sin committed in your
dwelling" until he had more proofs to pro-
duce than hnlf-a. dozen morscls Of shattered
glass; He must actually connect this phial
with the death of his cousin, before he made
such accusations; AMI his first step must be
to hasten to London, and from thence to
Walters Park, there to deter the funeral
obsequies, which was fixed for the following
day. Clever men, who had made the nature
of poisons, and their effect on the human
body, the study of their Lifetime, must
ascertain 1Or MIN WILL uet'llJ il4uiu Iuc
flask last held, and whether Walters had
fallen victim to dose OF its contents.
Dcterming thus, he stepped into the cab
that had been waiting for him for the last
hour, and was soon on his way to town.
The responsibility that had SO suddenly aud
strangely y fallen upon him, weighed more and
more heavily on his sinking spirits. His mind
grew confused, his brain whirled; for, with
the image of Walters, dead in the very hey
day of his youth-dead at the moment he
thought to crown his life with the glory of
fair woman's .ove--clme ever and anon
the ghastly looks and troubled eyes of Sybil
Derwent, US she sat at the breakfast-tlble.
before the death Of the young man ,ras dis
covered.
Often and often, since she so cruelty Tilted
him, he had told himself that his only feel
ings with regard to his false mistress were
scorn and aversion. Yet now that, in some
inexplicable way, she seemed guilty con-
nected with the demise of Walters, he was
frightened at the anguish the thought cost
him.