The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1878-05-03

ls~sassr their ,s@slutsssn ~ striM l.
ssassstsss snsNnsH* atst 80,
susf msssnsnr lrsssy,sls.i ~ish ~
nni ltsrlaa. thr slsrv >'"''H
Va, ii tstafnssi III thr hanhtsA huusss. /.
MI ligsssl Vie hNrsltns nnd s~nna
,hr lantern down iusa III. darkness s~.
l5w. Tie lirat Ilirksrsl brightly nr.
" aallnr. With rhrst Ike fasiirnrs.
il,rhl IL marrow irun ss.r~ usmshs
sonk thu rrA~haF. and wHS nrHs ~ ,ie'
peeni.
A damp, mnssy oslnr fillch The walled
rom. The lantern harsi up enid.nly
with sseNiy, bright glare. and ,hr
fnr.s III the TIRE. Adventures loekci
corpse. like In their pallnr.
NIL rhoak ~ tie lear that hs,l come
on him, anil walked slowly ever ths iinr,l
nsuf. A pile oi .atth was hrsped MP
IN IN. corner. and near th. irun stairs
he stepped npon snmeihing that grated
with n hnrrh. cfunchinG sound under
hin feet, and n gust VI hnc. peculiar.
smellinr ,lnst tllrl the air liz seized
lhr lantern, AMI brought iis rays to
bear upon tho spot. A Ahu,l.ler rnu
through his frame nj whit he lrhell.
There, On the damp floor, lay uhc glis.
tening bones 81 skeleton; In neshlsss
hnnls still grasrcu ii lcathcrn suhssnncr,
anil the skull rcemel 10 smile morking-
IN nj him ~ he bent over II. An iron
lamp, rusty with age, stood near the r.,
mains aud the glitter VI diamond
spanked upon ono of tho bony Fingers.
Ormshy stopped and raised the skelc
tim, but thc bones snapped apart mud
| k@H .f..h n 49,
lcaihern substance II had clutchcd 10
tightly proved 10 hc a pocket compan-
ion. Ned opened u, and shower III
COINS ran out like n golden stream. In.
aide II was portrait.
"Eh what in the deuce liz
gaxrl Vt tho portrait eerncstly. II was
Il round, sparkling fncc, with dancing
eyes mil glossy waves Of pnrplish. black
hair. The mouth wnH small, and 4
saucy smile. half sorrowfml, hall sa.l,
fingered III the crimson lips. ''Hyhl.
for MI thc world T. cried he. In astonisl,.
mrnl. Touching 4 spring AZ thu hapk IL
tho casr, lock ~ dirk hair fell ont,
anil i yellow Alp Of paper, on which
were written the words, "Sybcl. wife III
Leonard Ashmorc, Hart, Ashnorrlan.ls.
England" There we're package III
letters nna broken seal ring, and, lAHt.
III, M unfinished diary.
let ~ ~ bark, gentlemen" sai.l
Ncl. ~ feel TINT wise Providence
l,as placed II III our power 10 nnrnyel 4
dark crime. Let IN return 10 the outer
day u,ld rcnl this diary. which, perhaps,
will give I'M the claw 10 this horrible mys.
terry. =
They returned ~ tin inn, md, In The
stiffness IL their private parlor, Ofmsby
| opened TIN leaves IL the mOlly journal.
The first part was merely jottings I'll in.
eilenis occurring in the travels III gen.
tleinai, md sketches II places vihite.l
a,nl people srcn then there wnsA blink,
after which cnme the startling words,
Walled up nliye9
u, Leonard Ashmorc, Haronet, Of
Ashmorelandn, England. being Of sound
MUD, and knowing TINT nm for over
buried from tho outside world, and feel.
ing that In few hrief hours shall mase
81 he, write herein tho particulars of a
1 lilenns crime, hnying faith TINT rome
tim. this record will oome 10 light. and
the perpetrators be punished. Ile il
known that 1, T.eonarI Ashmorc, Baro.
net, and Lord John Willonghby, III
| Willonghby Hall. England. came to our
death n the hands 81 Hugh Allonby.
keeper 81 the .Allonby Inn, Scotland.
W. were returning from short trip
taken for the benefit of my health, aud
TINT Of my little daughter Bybel, who
accompanied IN. W. stoppcd ON the
10th lny ii june, H., NJ Allonby's for
the night, and occupied adjoining rooms.
I was tired and weak, mud retired early.
Willouphhy declared he distrustcd o,ir
host hut ! smiled n the idea. Lord
John carried leather bag filed with
guineas, aud tho innkeeper accidentally
entered his room nm Willoughby placed Il
under hix pillow. Allonby begged par-
don, and Wlllongllby got into bed. nficr
fastening lilo door. Abont = o'clock,
heard n heartranaing moan. tried 10
rise but for moment could not do No.
Again That groan, and, dragging myself
10 the door, behold Allonby carrying my
murdered friend down tho stairn. The
blood was running freely from ktAb In
the breast, aud his night-Hhirt wAa Grim.
scn with gore. With sort 81 horrible
fascination / crcpt on after tho innkeep.
er. He went downtown --d0wn intn
4 ~
saw them olga grave IN ono corner ol
this horrible room, and then, with iii,
wife's help, he threw tic body into IL
Then they both went 10 work, and The
dirt fell with dull. heavy thud into the
grave. Finally il VIVA done. and lonp
mound Of fresh earth lay hcapcd in thu
corner. When II wns done, I sank bach
In the shallow Of thu iron strps and
groAnel. fnint with horror. The guilt,
couple glanced hnstily around, bnt lid
not sire me. and they ran mp the steps
and heard the door close with hcav,
jar. Now, ! have exhausted my feeble
strength In attempting 10 open the grenl
.loor, have screamed until tho SOUND
~ my voice has become terror. Thu
J pAnRr of thirst anil hunger warn mo thin
! II help does not arrive shortly shall
become like that still, inanimate thint
beneath yonder heap of earth. fear fo
the fntr ~ my child, and by tho light d
the fast-dying lnmpl besccch and prn,
yon ~ whom this Nh. may fall that 70,
, leave no stone nntuFned ID learn her fate
anl bring 10 justice Hugh Allonby AM
his wife, whom l hero Holcmuly cllarn,
with the mnrlcrof Lord John Willough
by, 81 Wilioughby Hall. Here. In m,
living tomb, by the grave III that muir
dered friend, bid tho world . Last fare
we'll.
Tho journal dropped from Ormsby'l
had, and he sprung excitedly 70 BIZ
feet.
We must act, gentlemen, and tha
immediately. shall ofEcr reward 10
Allonby'S arreAt. and send telcernmr /,
! A.hmorelanjs aud Willonghby Hall"
: "IIe still said Nod, putting hi
hands 10 his head. Hore Ii Hugh AL
lonby's address: have him brought Il
justice ~ soon - possible. Tho Ilaro
. snAks~ .la..xa.AA- Il. f.~t.~ -xAl. 49, y