The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-08-11
tcoPYRIGHT sEcURED.1 ~
rEs.s
TheHeir Of Mills.
~, y.
Oh -.
g
~
Saf Sttprnry's fte. IS
rs
ALFRED B. TOZER, .a
tHTIIoR OF "BOUND HAND AND FooTsn5
"Wuo WAS 70 BLAME" ETC, ETC. w
CHAPTER VII.
THE THEORY OF THE SOUL.

the morning WOulu ne SOlVeQA upon nlS
return, and his conscience was not alto.
gether easy at his treatment Of the faith
ful girl. -.
And Fanny His love for her was part
of his life. 1t seemed to him that he had
loved her always. But at no time during
the period of his acknowledged affection
for her, had che seemed dearer to him than
now. The occurrences Of the very next day
might place him far above his atianced
in worldly position, but instead of sagely
thinking that perhaps he had been hasty
in binding himself to an early love, as
many others would have done under the
circumstances, he was ready to accept
any advancement that might come to him
all the more gladly, because his darling
could share it with him.
Communing with his own thoughts alone
under the soft starlight, he remembered
with regret, the grieved look her face had
worn when he left her that morning.
Had her eyes expressed resentment at this
his first want of complete trust in her, he
would have felt stronger in the course lie
had pursued. But now, the memory Of
the pain on her sweet face, together with
the thought that he alone had been the
cause, troubled him.
The house where she lived with her
father and brother, her mother having
died year before, was but few steps
from the main street, he would follow to
bis own home, and he resolved to turn
aside, and enjoy her company for few
moments. When he reached the house, O
light was burning in the sitting-room be-
low, and with the familiarity Of an always
welcome visitor, ne entered, without the
formality Of knocking.
The room was vacant. A bright, wood
fire was burning in the stove, and Fanny's
kitten was purring softly on a rug, but
there were no signs Of her mistress.
More disappointed than he liked to admit,
the Young man was about to return to the
street, when a light in the upper hall at
tracted his attention. Knowing that
Grover Clayson's room was just ut the head
of the stairs. Eugene. thinking that he
might learn something of Fanny there,
ascended and tapped lightly at his
friends door. There was no response. and
he pushed the door open and entered. A
lamp, standing OF the mantle, was burning
dimly, but its faint light revealed no one
in the apartment, save himself.
He listened moment and heard foot
steps in the djoining room. The door be-
tween the room WAS slightly ajar, and,
knowing that Grover was the only person
likely to be there, the young man peered
through.
For second his eyes seemed riveted to
the objects within, and then he started
back in horror.
His face was ghastly pale, and as he
drew his hand across his forehead, as if to
clear his senses, he found that it was BATH
ed in cold persperltion.
be easily frightened. The scene that his
gaze rested upon would have, for r. mo-
ment, unnerved stronger man than he.
Az first, he only 81 his friend bending
over a long table, in the centre OF the
room, lie seemed to be working ;ntently
with something which resembled steel
instrument, for Eugene caught the gllmmer
of polished surface as it moved to and fro
in the light
When Eugene first looked upon the OBJ
iect over which Grover was bending, it
was almost entirely concealed by long.
white cloth. Presently, however, Grover
drew the covering away, and stepped
aside.
1t 1uas a nude human body!
As it lay, white and rigid, under the
clear light, the wat her saw that death
had occurred but rec ntly. There were no
evidences of decomposition, in fact, the
the body had the appearance Of being pre-
pared for the grave.
els Grover a murderer" was the first
thought that came TO the Mortified watcher.
A moments reflection, however. con-
vinced him that the body was there for
another purpose than secretion. His
first impulse was to take his position at the
door, and watch the actions Of his friend,
but his whole soul revolted at the thought
of thus playing the part of spy in that
house.
"I must know the meaning of this
mystery" he thought. al owe it to my
self and to my friends-my more than
fricnds-ir this house, that should not go
away with any suspicion like that which
Just entered my mind. Even at the risk
of losing Growers esteem forever, l will
make my presence known to him, and let
him know what have Seem"
Accordingly, he tapped loudly at the
door. In q moment Grover stood excitedly
beside him in the room, with his hand
held in seeming carelessness against the
door.
Excuse me for intruding upon you at
this late hour" he said, "I want to see
Fanny, if she has not already gone to her
room."
Fanny is not in the house," was the re-
ply. "llavc you been home l think
she must be with Bertha"
al ought to have thought of that be-
FORE" said Eugene, still making no move
ment to retire.
"What ails you, Eugene ?" asked Grover,
his excited face turning white. as he spoke.
"Have you had a quarrel? You are pale
and trembling, old friend, what does it
mean ?"
Eugene did not reply.
"You act rs though you had seen a
ghost" Grover went on laughingly. "I
hope you have met no spirits in this
house -
"I think this the likelicst place to meet
them"
What do you mean ?"
"I mean-may God forgive us both
that unthinkinSly, looked into that
room you are guarding so closely, before I
knocked"
Grover staggered back in surprise,
but did not speak, and Eugene turned to
60.
"Don't 60 yet, Eugene! I can't let you
leave Inc with that look on your face" And
Grover caught him by the arm, and almost
forced him into the room where the dead
body lay. He then locked the door.
Eugene" he continued, almost irnplor-
ingly, eve have been friends too long, to
be estranged by this nights imprudence on
my part. l will tell you all, and you can
curse me, if you will. But we must not
forget Fanny. I swear to you that she
knows nothing OF this. 1t would kill her.
You must promise not to tell her."
Eugene hcsitatcd.
Growers face frightened. "It may not
be as bad as you think" Eugene" he 8 lid.
"I will not insist upon pledge of secrecy,
until have told you. Look here"
Grover stepped to the body, and pointed
to the head, which showed that the knife
had already been busy upon it,
l. L