, 1875-01-24
MY UNCLES STORY.
How d Murderer Was Discovered by
Dreams

[ TO WHS Al ulu N3U-4 huuulI say IuH tuf6s
/ score and ten--vheR I hoard him tell this story
| Although he has bean dead many years, it is 61et
/ 80 wildly in my mind that I eau now cali NJ
from menory everything every circumstance
connected With it: tho time, the place, the Christ
| mas Eve. the blazing i1o, the old man in hi
easy chair. tho old cat Reuben plaYing at hi.
| feot and even tho very words in which h6 tole
it. fancy could initiate tho very tones OF his
| voice.
hare said he was An old man. He Tas moro
! than that. He was the loyeiisst. the most ami
able, the most enchanting man I ever knew.
Let me describe his venerable pesson. cannot,
with poor weak, human words, paint the beau
ties Of Ills mind. He WAS tall aud straight, OF
graceful and KingiY presonce. Hls halr was
white, very white, aud fossv, and hung in thin
cu1ls to his sp1euddlY- -molloi shoulders. His
eye-Ah | show shall paint it? Pigment ne'er
vent on palette that could be made to initiate it
was the tander. loving blue that could look
more Affection than most nortals Ars capable
Of expressing through all the sonaes. His
face MAS beardless, round. and rosy,-a
face that man Would not be ashamed
to kiss. His mouth waa mora than splendid, in
tellectual, clean-out-such mouth as painter
would delight to put upon canvas ii he could.
How saall give an idea Of his mental qualities
His coiloqu1al powers were Notwithstanding.
DO not remembor that have ever 10 my life
met such IN enchanting conversasionalist.
have sat night after night until midnight listen
ing to him without ut.eting q word myself.
thought it would be mean and contemplate to
Say anything. No lover Of tragedy ever hung
upon tho words OF Booth. Kemblo, or Nur-
doch with greater delight than I have ex-
perienced III listening to this grand old man.
His memory Was prodigious. He recollected
everything be had over heard or read. he uas
fosld Of romance, and his mind WAS stored NTH
d rich fund Of legendary tales.
It was in the year 18-; the time was Christ
mas Eve. Tho old man and I 1ere sitting by =
blazing fire in the comfortable library Of my
fathers house. 4 ferce snow-storm WAS in
progress without, and the ,noiat fakes spattercd
against the Windows Ut times as il they wanted
to get in ont OF the cold; the Wind blew
hoarsely in the chimney as II it were afflicted
With = bad cold. **Unclo," said I, 'this
is good night for = story" "Yes,
nephew,"-ho always called me naphew,-''I
have been thinking 80 as sst here By this cosy
fire. 1t isn't likely chat / will spend Christmas
Eve with you many more times; indeed, I am
world my sands are about run out; the old
man with tho scy&he will soon smts mo. The
story am going to tell you is one haye never
told before. No human being has ever heard it.
1t is my own. l have ciuug to it for more than
thirty years. It has been part OF myself. I
have regarded it 10 part Of my being; 30 firmly
has 1t become imbedded in my soul that have
not forgotten 1t for single moment in thirty
years. 1t is q true story. These white locks Of
mine arc my Witnesses, for in ono short night
they changed from midnight black to s1owy
white.'' Here my venerable uncle drew his
handkerchief, and, a. l thought wiped the
gathering tears from hia eyes. He then COM
menced in rich voice, aomewhat thickened With
emotion, and rotated . story which to mo was
lnenablY thrilling.
Tin the year is" said be. IL WAS manager
Of the estats Of Sir ILeodosius B.. who
owned splendid country seat near the City OF
M, in England. He WAS ; man OF great
wealth. Although much OF my time was occu-
T Was not deprived OF his delightful COM
pan!onshP. He .as splendid fellow. proud
of bis wife, fond OF good clothes; not aristo-
cratic, but occupying nliddle-g1ound between
high pride and low meekness, aud TerT fond Of
old port We were associated together I may
say almost constantly; in my travels over his |
estate upon business matters he Was nearly al |
ways with me. Wo hunted together, fshod to- |
gether, played at piquet and cassino and often |
ran game of chess Ill night. I do not remem- |
Der any amusement or diversion he was SO sell |
fish - to enjoy without my company. The fam
ily at Hickory Hall, which was the name OF his |
seat. was not large, consisting OF Sir Theodoslua
and wife, myself the manager, and few under
setvats.
Sir Theodosius ras not & man OF the world.
Ra loved home. He loved his dogs, his books, |
Ind his plcturea,-he Was dilettant, and had
arge collect1on Of articles Of uirtu,-and the
luietness OF home life better than tho hollow
social Life OF the great city. He Was IN amateur
astronomer, and had fitted up small obserya-
ory, which Was = source Of great pleasure to
IL. To London he never went mort than once
rear. Visltors rarely came to the Hall. 30 you
ea We had quiet household. sir This WAS
onatlmes seized with fits OF sadness and mel
lncho1y, and would lock hiu,sslf in bis library
or tHo OF three dayB. Aside from this he was
CRY jolly and companionable. These
pells OF sadness, as I learned, were oo-
asioned BY \ tragic circumstance con-
'ected With his marriage. He had been
Co!onel in the English army, and Was stationed
. India. One day, he and Maj. Banks fell into
n unfortunate quarrel III drunken caronse,
nd duel mas the consequence. Banks was
lled. and Str The, filed NTH remorso, threw up
is commission and cana ho1na- Ho remained
! secauaion for some years. [ believe he
bought st ons tins Of taxing holy orders
A