Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-04-06

/
been contamination and without a
word. but with one look at her-a
look so full Of that great agony
whereof / but now spoke that it
haunted me for many a day after-he
passed out at the door. and so dis
appeared
Then Mistress Abigail turned
sharply upon me. angry, as it seemed
! that I should have witnessed this
slight put upon her. and also suspi-
( cious and bewildered.
"What is the meaning Of all this?'
she demanded. "Why is Colonel
/ Conyers thus disguised, and where
fore are you here with him in secret
when | myself was not informed of
his presence in the house?"
Il know no more about it than
yourself. Mistress Abigail l an
swered. more loftily than was my
wont. ~Only.' added. and i know
not what put the words into my
mouth-"only that he must be al
! Coope,'s house betireep ten O'Clock
and midnight"
/ could see that her face changed.
/ She did flush and turn pale. and
looked keenly at me; but then, with
out speaking, she left the room.
could not now bear the loneliness
or the library. / was frightened at l
knew not what and | called unto our
trusty head servant. old Pompey,
and through him did earnestly desire
that my uncle should come TO me.
And when he came / told him all
that had that day happened, whereof
1 have here made mention. whereat
he was greatly bewildered and anx-
ious.
Hour by hour the vague terror up
on me grew greater; and when al
eleven of the clock message came
from my aunt and my cousin Anne
summoning me to retire, l replied
that / would remain with my uncle
who would wait up for the genera
/ and Colonel Conyers. / knew that
they would not approve thereof; yeI
for this, in my then present state o.
mind. was | but little concerned. My
thoughts were all of Johnny cousir
John-and of that deep, still agony
in his face.
Midnight struck. and all was still
about the house, save the sleepy
tread of the servants who waited up
! Scarce had / done listening TO the
faint echo Of the strokes on the towr
bell when there were voices in tn,
hall. and a mans light. quick steI
strode along the passageway. Anc
the next moment there entered, no
my cousin John Conyers, but Col
oneI Beverly. an intimate friend o
his. and at that time adjutant 10 the
general.
He stood still i'm the midst OF the
floor, and looked at US both withou
a word, even OF salutation. This, to
gether with an indefinite expression
on his countenance, did warn us tina
something unusual had happened
but before 1 could utter the question
that rose to my lips, my uncle spoke
Go. Aggie-go, child!' he said,an'
his voice trembled, whilst yet hi
manner was so imperative that L wa
forced To obey. Yet went 1 not fal
but stood at the end of tlse passage a
the foot OF the back staircase, an
listened in dread suspense for som
sound from the room / had left. Ye
all was quiet. No sound,no murmur
only as L once glanced up at sligh
rustle-as of silk garments, did cate
sight OF a figure which 1 knew To b
that OF Mistress Abigail, fiittin
stealthiIy across the head OF tn
stairs. She too was up at this lat
hour: she too was. like myself watch
} ing and listening-for what? Th
inquiry crossed my mind vaguely, yt
J with fierce earnestness OF desire
know what perchance wouold be tn
answer from that heart which hel
its own secret
Presently. after a tedious time, d
appeared unto me. the library doc
, did softly unclose, and Colonel BeN
erly came forth, walking with tina
} light tread as OF one who leaves I'll
chamber of sickness or of deatl
Then hurried back. to my uncl
There he sat, as before. in his arm
chair, yet was he trembling as on
smitten with palsy, though his fac
was marveIously still and calm
~Oh. uncle.' then l cried, "pra
: pray tell me what has happened.
can not cJys not bear this suspense
Twice did he essay to answer, bI
his voice was husky and choked.
. lost not my presence OF mind, b,
: fastening to the dining-room. di
snatch decanter from the sideboar
I and Herewith hurried back. Whe
I he had drunken of the wine. Il
: which / was forced To hold To his lip
, he spake, yet still brolSenly and wit
difficulty.
"Jonn-my son, John Conyers-"
waited, breathless. and. ass it wel
D with all the blood in my veins slow
gathering and freezing about n
= heart. And then it came.
t He is deald-killed. shot 10y an a
7 sassin.'
Dead" shrieked. and sunk lii
D a lifeless heap at my uncle's feet.
I I'm affiiction hath He remembere
4 mercy" muttered my uncle. LET ,
d not murmur. Rather let us gi'
I thanks. Let us paaise Him for II
l infinite mercy and goodness, al
5 that we. only we. are called upon
, mourn"
{ He bowed his face on his tremblir
: hands, and for an instant his for
shook as In c0nvulsion. But wht
P he looked up his countenance vi
| 81.