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


ing the light in her boudoir stepped to
the window and looked out upon the
night. 1t was frosty night i'm Febru-
airy, the ground was covered with thin
coating OF light snow, which the moon.
beams mingling with the glare OF the
street lamps. made very beautiful.
The hour was late. and Idyl would
not have tarried moment at the window
had not a figure ACROSS the street attract
cd her attention
Directly opposite her home lived her
wealthy uncle. David Stagle. He was
a bachelor, but lived grandly, with
many servants, in the elegant mansion
erected by small portion Of his great
wealth, anG Idyl loved him above all
her unclcs. The old gentleman had
few visitors, and the most Of these were
business men. He was a sober, metho-
deal person, who, when night came,
put the cares OF day away, and amused
himself in his library until ten O'clock.
The hour had slipped by when ldyl
Montgomery looked across the street
and saw a figure emerge from her un.
cle's house.
At first sight there seemed nothing
remafk able i'm this, but it was the face
and form Of the man that caused her TO
start, for, as he passed under the lamp
before the mansion, she saw and noted
both.
what could he be doing there at this
hour?" fell from Idyrs lips, and, not
daring to answer herself, she watched
the man till he disappeared down the
street.
Then she crcpt. uneasy in mind, into
bed, and thought and thought of her I'M
cle's late visitor, till sleep shut her eyes
and bore her TO dreamland.
In tine person who had emerged from
the bachelors home Idyl Montgomery
recognized her accepted lover Walter
Clark. lie was clerk in the bank Of
which her uncle was president, and
bore an enviable reputation, both pub
lie and private. But the Young girl
had lately learned that the relations be-
tween clerk and president were not We.
ry amicable; in fact, the former had told
her that he expected n discharge from
the head Of the institution. Therefore
the girl might wonder at the late visit
OF the clerk to the president. and toss
it,
1t was quite early the following morn
ing when ldyl was aroused by vigor.
Gus humping at her chamber door
Flushing Mt the thought that she had
for once oversight herself. she rose and
opening tho portal, greeted the white
face of her father.
Daughter, something terrible hap
pcned last night" he said, i'll n tone
which increased Idyrs fright. lin the
house across the way lies your uncle
David, murdered in cold blood"
For q moment the girl stared mt the
speaker rs if robbed oil the power OF
speech but all ut once she reeled from
him and sunk to the floor in fainting fit
Restora.ivcs were ut once applied.
and she returned slowly to conscious
ness on her couch. Then the event OF
the night returned To her with such
distinctness that she closed her eyes rs
il to shut it out but it would not be
driven away.
After awhile she listened TO the par
ticuars of the finding Of her murdered
uncle, in his library. at daybrcak, will
his cold face resting on the desk, and {
poignard wound in the back.
The murderer had left no traces o.
identity behind.
The servants had retired early, n;
was their wont but there were several
who had heard the opening and closing
of the library door shortly after ter
o'clock.
J This unsatisfactory evidence palet
Idyl Montgomery checks, and she
thought of tho man whom she had seer
emerge from the house so late on The
tragic night.
! What bad her lover entered the
mansion and slain the honored president
of the Commercial Bank? Did he take
the poignard TO secure to himself :hC
position which. to his credit be il said
he filed with honor?
/ The thought tortured Idyrs brain n:
no thought had ever tortured il before
and all through the drcary February da,
she expected TO hear OF his arrest. Blu
the night came without the expected
news. and The young girl was standing
alone in the parlor when woll-knowT
! rap OH the door caused her TO staff witt
an expression Of pain on her white face
Walter Clark was on the step!
Tdyl opened the door 20 him, and fas
tened her eyes upon him when lac stood
in the glare OF tho parlor lamps.
This is terrible, ldyl,' were his frs
words. "Tho Commercial Bank Ina
lost its best president. and you one 0
the kndcst relatives"
She never took her eyes from hin
while he spoke, and there was accuse
ton in her look.
ut is dreadful - she answered hin
slowly. When did you hear oft
at nm early hour this morning.
was at the breakfast table, and upon re
ceipt OF the intelligence fastened &
the scene OF the tragedy. lie, your TN
Gle, was quite dead the surgeons sa,
that the dagger struck his heart. Bn
why avn telling you this Idyl? Yor
hayo Icord "A before aud nv rnpef tito,