The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-02-06

finger rubbing It OF, he found no trace of
wound.
there is a cut anywhere
An examination soon revealed ghastly wound
an ugly, gaping abrasion upon the left side Of the
head. above tho ear, and just behind the temple
The locks were matted over It, and the blood st
oozed slowly from its mouth.
Pending the arrival of a doctor, the stranger clip
ped the hair from around the wound, and, after
bathing II with feminine tenderness, he gave the
patient over to the charge Of the ladies Of the house
who were in attendance.
"I presume you are the host, sir" said he, at
once, add essing the elder Of the two. Z" II you will
be kind enough to let me have bed until can rest
for an hour or so and dry my clothing, shall re-
sumo my journey under great obligation TO you.
Matters Of Importance urge Inc TO lose no time and
shall only delay until my horse recruit for the
balance of my ride In fact but for the incident of
finding the unfortunate lady in the creek should
have continued on the road without consulting my
comfort SO far"
"will you tell me how You happened upon the
adventure, and how you account tor the lady's
wound and present condition."
The traveller gave brief account Of the events
without, however, throwing any light upon his own
"May ask your name sir ~ inquired the host,
whom we will introduce to the reader Mr.. Thorn
! ton, OF Squire Thornton, as he was dubbed by his
neighbors in honor Of his being a Justice Of the
peace. O.
! al beg pardon for the misconstruction. MY
name is Gaspard Durer, short while since soldier
in the French service. Do you see anything in my
appearance or anything else about this case which
justihes you in interroRating me ofaciallySn
Until one who is found with body that has
been murdered or dangerously assaulted has ac-
counted satisfactorily for his presence there there
! is legal suspicion liked upon him."
"If must be detained to satisfy the law. I Weld
to the annoyance with little impStience possible
where the officer Of the Law exercises his duties 30
courteously."
After few more remarks we're passed, the squire
bade his son Eddie conduct tho gentleman TO his
room and see him we'll provided for the night.
After the traveller had left, the vagrant still lin
gered shifting his hat restlessy but mechanically,
he seemed to resume conversation which had prob
ably been interrupted by the strangers exit from
the stable.
"'Pears to me now n-an expression which indi-
Gated the result of some mighty reflection for his
cahbre-" Pears to me he aint telling the truth.
He aint named Casper Deray, because he'd a said
so fust. Pears to me he looks like old Raoul Dupuy,
and Gaston afore him and, II amt mistaken, he's
been in these parts afore."
Who's the woman, Randy ~
II have been lookin' at her, but pears TO me
never seen her afore -leastways, she don't come
from about here
"The resemblance of Durer to the Duprys is strik-
ing, and thought at first he the of CASTOR,
who has been absent so long. What think you my
son?"
Can't say, father, but his resemblance TO Mr.
Dupuy at the manor would be noticed by any one"
/" Perhaps" suggested the vagrant. " he's 4 SON
OF Dupuy himself, if half they bring from furrin
parts is erect; pears to me he must have mors'n
one.
fraud or lie," chirped the vagrant
We will dispense with your comments on the
characters of my friend" retorted the squire.
No offence, SQUIRE but spense or no 'spense,
knows the laws, and alters take to have proof
afore says libel on any man."
"What do you know of Raoul Dupuy villain, that
YOU dare maintain such thing concerning his
character, which is polluted by your mention Of it,"
" Never mind what ] know, squire, 30 long as
ain't said it,, answered the tramp.
"what is. your opinion, dOctorV" asked the
Ia l. ,oAt,o 4.
patient, squire. The skull is fractured and it may
be necessary to trepan it, if any portion is bearing
on the BRAIN"
"Do you think the blow will permanently affect
her brain. or that che will be sound in mind should
he recover?"
- If the pressure of the bone upon the brain be
| removed, she will doubtless recover her Senses
But until she is completely we'll again, and even
after, no risk must be taken in the case. Absence
| OF excitement or noise ia Indispensable as the
! slightest mental shock might make her raving
| maniac. Blows upon that region of the head have
been known to deprive persons of the power OF
Speech and IL she is not kept perfectly quiet, she
may recover only to finger out a dumb existence"
After breakfast a servant whom the squire had
dispatched across the creek upon his first arising
| returned with the Information that Mr.. Taylor
the gentleman whom 'the stranger had left at his
gate on the road-would be over Immediately after
breakfast.
Upon the arrival of Mr.. Taylor, he and the squire
retired for consultation, to which they after awhile
called Randy, the vagrant. They then returned Ia
the traveller, and, after hearing his account once
moro, and comparing the time of his leaving Mr.
Taylor with that OF his arrival at the squires, they
proceeded to the creek in company.
Upon their arrival the squire addressed the
traveller:
"I have taken counsel with Mr. Taylor touching
this case, which seems deep mystery, after all the
information we have been far able to gather
the lady seems unknown even TO Randy, who visits
every house in this and the adjoining counties,
and you are equally stranger to as. consider
however, that you have been fully discharged from
any connection with the affair. We must first at
! temDt 10 Gather hR lady ,.
At this point the doctor came out Of the sick
room. He stated that the lady had greatly i'm.
proved during the night, and that the wound was,
IN all probability, not serious the lady had even
recovered, in measure, the control of her mental
faculties and language, though she was not fully
conscious or coherent as yet.
The squire, Mr.. Taylor, the traveller and the doe
tor together proceeded to the bedside of the unfo.-
tunate woman ythe stranger-being assured OF his
release by the words OF the squire first ordering
to bring his horse to the door before leaving
the piazza.
Upon reaching the bed the woman opened her
eyes, and, seeing the kind manly faces OF the squire
and Mr.. Taylor, she family smiled, and ran her
eyes over the rest OF the group.
She passed the doctor without any variance OF
expression, and then rested them upon the face OF
The eyes became set in horrible stare, the Eight
forsook them, the pupils, diated; she raised her
sell to sitting posture by convulsive movement
OF the arms; then, crouching to her knees aud
throwing herself wildly down her face she
shrieked out with a curdling moan:
Z" Oh, Oh, Dupuy don't don't I" and conscious
ness once more left her.
Despite his Eelf-command, the traveller paled
He at once retired with the gentlemen, however to
the piazza. Nothing had passed between the group
until the doctor broke painful constraint which
had fallen upon all.
! Gentlemen said he " the worst mishap that
could beiau this unfortunate lady has just occurred
through her having seen this gentleman, Mr. Durer.
She Is raving maniac. She may die, she may re-
cover after lingering illness but, in any event,
she will be fortunate if she ever recoyers her reason
Darkness has settled upon her brain for a long
night, which may never be followed by the dawn"
" To what, DOCTOR" asked the squire, " do you
| attribute her shock 2"
" She evidently stricken with horror at the
! sight OF Mr.. Durer, whom, from my knowledge OF
| the laws of the human brain, she has in some way
associated with the violence which has been done
her, to her great terror
There was pause painful luli.
Then the squire spoke to Durer.
q The case, sir, has taken a turn. You will