The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1876-12-28
THE PHOTOGRAPH MYSTERY.

from alter death. when this theory was
first broached, an occasional effort was
made to test its accuracy as a means of
identifying murders; and the most ex-
traordinary of these cases forms the
groundwork of the present story.
In the summer of 18-, young physi-
clan, named Edward Stone, commenced
practice in a certain village not far from
New York City. In saying that he COM
menced practice, l mean that he seri-
ously intended to do SO when patients
were forthcoming. In his medical studies
he made a speciality of diseases of the
eye; but as there is nothing of any &C
count for an oculist in a small village,
he made virtue of necessity, and put
up his sign as physician merely. He
invested all the money he had in the
world in cheap little cottage, which he
selected, not for its business advantages,
but because it was the very pink of per-
fection in all other respects. For the
fact was, he was engaged to be married
as soon as his circumstances would ad-
NIT. His affianced wife was Ella Thorne,
the daughter of the village lawyer; and,
poor as Edward Stone was, he would not
have exchanged her silver voice for a
golden dover.
When he first entered into possession
he only furnished the two lower rooms
of the house, the front one being his con-
sulting-room, and the rear one his bed
room. The visits of patients were like
those of angels, few and far between ;"
but whenever he had an extra run of
luck, be and Ella would have a fine
time shopping together, in order to fur
nish the house by degrees, and have it in
readiness when the auspicious moment
arrived.
To keep up appearances-an indispen-
sable thing in this world-the doctor was
obliged to keep some one to answer the
door, and make himself generally useful.
In accordance with an invariable custom,
the doctor got the largest youth he could
obtain for the money: and this happened
to be dogged fellow, who enjoyed the
enviable reputation of having"a devil
in him." OF course the wages that Seth,
as he was called, received from the doc
tor were not sufficient to keep body and
soul together; and as he wrote an excel
lent hand, two birds were killed with one
stone by Lawyer Thorne's giving him
occasional employment as copyist.
The summer passed away-autumn
came and went-and even winter brought
no improvement in Edwards prospects;
and the poor fellow often wondered
whether his Towering hopes would share
the fate of everything else the summer
had brought forth.
Just at this time, wealthy man of
science offered large sum of money for
the best treatise on the subject alluded
to at the commencement of this article.
Being thoroughly conversant with every
thing pertaining to that subject, Edward
Stone applied himself to the task like an
enthusiast. He did not do this so much
for the prize itself as for what lay behind
it; fer he saw in fancy ruddy flame in
his dingy fireplace, and beside it sat
Ella Thorne, with child On her knee,
as much like her as it is possible for any
bud to be like flower. And although
it was but an imaginary flame, it lent a
new sparkle to his eye, as he sat up night
after night engaged in that labor of love.
As the work progressed, he read it aloud
to Ella, and they laid thousand foolish
plans regarding the expenditure of the
money-when he obtained it. So much
was to be invested in the weddipg-dress;
SO much in perfect rainbow of carpet
for the parlor, and, to cap the climax,
Edward added, with an effort to be funny.
awe will buy that gaudy picture of the
Good Samaritan in Wellington boots
and swallow-tailed coat, that we saw in
the shop window the other day."
No telescope ever saw SO many stars in
heaven as the eye of Faith, and neither
Edward nor Ella entertained the posi-
bility of failure to secure the prize.
But after the manuscript had been for
warded, they waited with their hearts
in their mouths for the day upon which
the successful competitor was TO be an
nounced. And every hawk they saw
accommodating above the village seemed,
to their anxious eyes, a carrier pigeon,
bearing the intelligence they so i'm
patiently awaited. At length the mo-
mentous period arrived, and the result
justified their most sanguine expecta-
tions Edward was declared entitled to
the prize, and was duly notified to ap-
pear forthcoming and receive the amount
in hard cash.
Thetw were almost beside themselves
with Joy, and the wedding-day was fixed
at once. Edward lost no time in secur-
ing the money, but, like most young
doctors, he had no bank account; so on
returning home with the amount late at
night, he took the precaution to fasten it
in belt about his waist. After dis
missing Seth, who was waiting for his re-
turn, Edward sat down by his bedroom
fire, and was soon lost in one of those
reveries where everything is coleur de rose
Often when he sat beside Ella in church,
the sun would suddenly strike through
the painted window, and make the
gloomy aisle burst into blossoms with
rubies and erleralds; and thus the en-
chanted vista of the future appeared to
Edward Stone on that memorable night.
There was ia brook just behind the cot
tage, but winter had laid its icy finger
on its warbling lips-consequently the
gurgling sound that broke the silence
of midnight could not proceed from that. |
Whatever caused it the gurgling sound
soon ceased, and was succeeded by the
prolonged howl OF dog in the distance
that peculiar howl by which the super
stitious know that some one is dying in
the village.
The next morning Seth was on his way
to the cottage, as usual, when he encoun-
tered lawyer Thorne, who was just strik- |
ing out for his morning walk.
4" think we are going to have fine
day." said he to Seth.
"It may be-" replied the latter; "but
it will be a wintry enc, if that red sky is
any sign"
The lawyer had an eye like lynx,
but for the life of him he could not dis
cover the slightest tinge of red in the
heavens.
"By the way" said he, " as you have
finished all but page or two of your
last job, it will take you but moment
or two to do it now."
Seth was at first disinclined to comply:
but he finally went in and sat down with
pen in hand, waiting for the ink, which