South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-07-14

I II
your uncle's house last night2 Why
ldyi, You must have been dreaming"
'Oh. no my eyes were wide Open"
she said, with determination. IL do not
dream that see men emerge from
houses in the haunted hours OF the night.
Last night, when stood Mt my window
and saw yon leave uncle's house 1 was
not dreaming. No! Walter Clark. I
know that l saw you. Tell me. was he
dead when you left him in his library?
Answer me, in the presence Of your
God and the woman who has promised
TO become your wife,"
Her voice was stern, vet full OF bitter.
ness; it was evident that the terrible
accusation was rendiny her hcart-that
all the happiness Of her life was going
out with her words.
..Idyl. are you mad?" he cried. grasp.
ing her arm. Upon the soul God has
given me, / declare that / did not enter
or leave your uncle's house last night -
dcathly stiffness followed his last
words. .rH
"Idyl faced him with eyes fastened
on his, rs though she would look through
them and read the secrets of his very
heart.
You have been dreaming. girl" he
continued. drawing nearer her, "and oh (!
what horrible dream it has been Come
Idyl, say that you did not see me in the
flesh last night, standing OIL your dead
uncle's STEP
Il cannot! / cannot" she cried,
slipping from him, and staggering to a
sofa. upon which she dropped with a
grOan of intense agony Leave me,
Walter" she continued. with averted
face but with hand waving him back.
For the love Of heaven, and the adora.
ton of Idyl Montgomery, go! Oh,
would to God that had not drawn the
curtains last night, for since then |
have looked into world of misery my
life has been blighted. and my eyes have
cursed its future existence. Go! go
leave me alone
lie stood in the centre Of the room,
with indescribable horror written on his
face; he looked like a mailman, and his
white lips shook like aspen leaves as lie
sprung forward and grasped her arm
'Idyl! 1dyl! i am innocent he
cried. Tell me that | may have the
privilege of proving myself SOP"
You shall only go-leave me ~ she
cried. II will keep the terrible secret"
Then she buried her face deeper in
the rich upholstering of the sofa, and
with a look full of pity and Overlooking
with agony, he turned on his heel and
left the room.
The closing Of the door reused her.
"Gone !" she cried. seeing him not in
the room. Walter Clark, was it for this
moment that / was born? You can,
deceive me and l must keep the secret
NV eyes were not closed-I was moi
dreaming when saw You standing last
night on uncle's door step in the full
glare Of the gas. How You left him is
known bit TO you and your God; but
must believe that YOU know more about
poor uncle David's terrible taking of
than you will tell. Prove yourself in
nocent, and drive this hell of agony
from the breast Of the woman who loves
YOU with her whole soul
She walked across the room with the
last sentence falling from her lips, and
parted the curtains half mechanically
The street lamps were burning bril-
liantly, and the air was full of snow
fakes. that came airly down, and filled
the footprints Of pedestrians. Her un
cle's house stood out in bold relief, ST
lent now, for its master lay dead in tlC
great library, and the stiffness of the
grave seemed 10 cnshroud its walls.
Poor uncle David !" sighed Idyl.-
"One knows not when the or m monster
is to come, nor what shape he"
10 oh In
door opened suddenly, and a man step
ped out and halted on the steps.
lie was tall and we'll built, his body
was enveloped in n heavy chinchill;
over.coat. and he wore rimless bu
costly winter cap on his head. His face
-ah 1t was the face that drove Idy
from tho window with cry Of horror
and made her drop the lace curtains il
her fright.
Once before she had seen that maj
emerge from the house, and lie had stooC
revealed 10 her as her lover--W alte
Clark.
She could not he mistaken, for he ap
peared in the cap and coat which haC
lately vanished from the parlor.
All this had transpired in n minute o
time. and the young girl returned 10 th,
window in time 20 see the man re-ente
the house and close the door after him
God give me strength 90 face hin
and discover the truth :" she said. al
: the presence Of the dad, uncle David
| will meet him and settle the question
of guilt forever"
She threw shawl over her head, an,
took a tiny silver.mou1ted pistol from
the marble.top table. u was a presea
from him, and she hid IL beneath Oh
shawl while she crossed the whitcne,
street.
The body OF the murdered man lay il
the library, which could be reached iron
the front door without disturbing an
other part of the house. The servants
with several exceptions, had retired
and the few who remained up were keep