Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-12-26

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what the devil am / to do? Send for
policeman and give you into crs.c-
dy? Yes, you! There's as much
against you as anybody else. You
were here when Miss Stella's mother
died, and you were here last month,
You've got charge OF the glasses and
things, and according to your own
account, you were frssing in both
rooms after either death. That cursed
tumbler was in your possession, and it
disappears again as soon as you find
that there is something wrong about
its contents
Good Lord, Sir, gasped Mrs
Markby, 90 you accuse me p
No, | don't. / only want yon to
understand how easy it is to accuse
any one, ane bow hard TO prove the
accusation
But surely master might be put
upon his guard. Yesterday be sent
down word that there was something
wrong about the taste of the Tartar
sauce, and it made my blood run cold =
Nonsense /" snapped Fletcher the
poisoner, If there be one, isn't in the
kitchen, and % fourteen years have
passed between the cases, I think we
may wait another fourteen days be-
fore we make ourselves ridiculous
about Tartar sauce
Colonel Ravesy was buried on the
28th Of May. On the 10th of the
following month. Stella Lockwood
received that invitation to visit the
school as often as she pleased till it
broke up for the Midsummer holidays
On the 18th of June Mrs. Kirkman
went to London about the sale, and
on that night occurred almost stimuli
taneously two events which throw as
much light upon the mystery sur
rounding the cracked tumbler as ever
will be thrown.
The rale as the Honor was early
hours. Half past ten usually found all
the household fast asleep. This night
Mrs. Lockwood had retired som what
earlier, aud about a quarter to eleven
she woke with a start and halt uttered
cry.
Il had such a horrid dream about
Stella she said to her husband. Il
thought she came into the room, look
ed at us intentiy, and then walked ont.
And there was such a strange, cruel
expression on her face,'
go to sleep, muttered st. John.
MY dear, cannot Sleep said she
little later. l must go and see if
anything is the NATTER st. John
was good sleeper, and liked his
sleep. He turned round with q grunt,
and slept on.
Mrs. Lockwood threw on a wrap
per, took the night light, and hurried
along the passage which led to Stella's
room. As she came within four yards
OF the door, it opened, aud Stella,
fully dressed, came out, and made for
the stairs which led to the upper part
OF the house. Something, call it fear,
instinct, chance, what you please,
something which came without the
exercise Of thought, made Mrs. Lock
wood follow without a word. The
dim light she carried made it difficult
for her to see her way, so as to keep
up with the girl, who walked straight
on without any light at ali. Up she
went to one of the topmost attics,
threaded her way through the lumber
it contained without touching a thing
or faltering step, knelt down on the
floor Immediately under tie window,
removed part of the wainscot, and
from hole behind it drew forth a
tumbler and small, square, glass
stoppered bottle. Then she replaced
the board, rose and walked away as
unfalteringly as she had come. As
she left the attic, she closed the door.
Mrs Lockwood, who by this time had
recovered her presence Of mind, was
close behind her with hand outstretch.
ed to touch her. This qnickened
movement made the night-light flicker
the draught caused by the closing
door extinguished it.
Mrs. Lockwood's first thought, an
unlucky one, was to throw open the
window and call for help, but her
voice failed her. She turned toward
the door, and now she could not find
it.
The night outside was bright and
clear. A narrow strip of moonlight
came in through the small gabled
window, but this only dazzled her
when she faced it, and made the SUR
founding darkness more dense.
Have you ever got of bed in q
strange room, IN the middle of the
night, IN the dark, and missed your
way back? If SO, you have for a
moment felt sickening sense of fear,
though there was nothing Whatever to
be afraid of--past, present nr future.
Now, put yourself in this lady's place,
and imagine her sensations, lost, voice.
less, helpless, alone in dark strange
room, thrilled by what had passed
before her eyes; Lorrifisd by fears Of
what might yet have to be seen.
1t seemed to her that she staggered
around that attic-tearing her hands
on nails in the wall, and bruising ev-
cry limb against the timber piled
around-for hours. In point of fact,
only half an hour had passed from the
time she left her own room till she
rejoined her husband, having STUN.
bled on the door by sheer accident
when about to give up the search in
despair.
Come with me- she gasped. No
never mind that Half awale, he
was staring at the stains on her gown.
Il have scratched my hands, that's all.
Come with me, and look for Stella
Without rousing the servants, they
searched the house; no Stella was to
be found high or low. The hall door
was shut but unlocked, and with the
bolts drawn. They went out on the
terrace which formed the grand en-.
trance. and commanded a good view
of the park.
She would never leave the house
al this hour, st. john said Mrs.
Lockwood; she must have tainted
somewhere. Let as roase the SER
wants.
Nat vat Cho 800, h.,a ro,,rd ~ =