The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-01-11
AN OPEN VERDICT

AN OPEN = EkDfCI.
1t is a very pleasant feeling, that of
liberty from all business cares Of what
sOever kind, if only for a few weeks,
when ones ayOcatiOns for the remainder
of the year confine one to the busy brain
devouring city like this mighty London
OF ours; and therefore it was with no
slight degree Of anticipated enjoyment
that year or two ago I accepted an Oft
repeated invitation TO visit an old school
chum, DR.. Henry GLADDEN., at the village
of Claystone, in one of cur northern
counties.
| arrived, however, at an unfortunate
period, and found that what | had pic
tured TO myself as being a happy, Jolly
country house; was at that time house
of mourning. Gladden's uncle and pre-
decessor, old Mr.. Williams, had died
only 4 few hours before my arrival. |
would have willingly gone on my way,
but this my old friend with his wife
would not hear Of, and everything was
done TO render my visit as cheerful as
circumstances would permit. Iattended
the funeral, and, Is we turned to leave
the churchyard, was struck by an ex-
preston of Gladden's which appeared
to be uttered without any knowledge of
1t on his part. II was-'' The grave has
closed over the last" | felt greatly
tempted to ask for an explanation, but
Tor obvious reasons checked my curiosity.
4 few mornings afterwards, while ac-
companying my friend on his round of
visits, we came before an old, large, red
brick house that stood close beside the
road, being separated merely by a hedge
and small lawn.
Why, what's this" exclaimed Glad
den, a. he saw number of workmen
engaged in erecting q scatfolding, digging
up the lawn, and otherwise demolishing
the place. What are all these men
about?-Hi." calling to one of the peo-
pie" What is it you are doing here?"
Pulling down t'house for railway"
was the laconic response.
Then the final link is being broken, )"
unused my companion, as we drove on.
My curiosity was again aroused, and
this time | resolved to satisfy it, so
came TO the point at once by thus ad-
dressing my friend: :" Hal, you are not
generally given to ambiguous or unsatis-
factory sentences, and therefore-if am
not presuming too much-would you
mind telling me what you alluded to in
your last remark, and the equally strange
one uttered at your uncle's funeral?"
=" Well, Dick, he replied, cit is a
strange story, and one, perhaps, that does
not reflect much credit upon my poor
uncle; but, as the actors in this little
drama have passed away, and even the
very scene Of action will in d few days
be ploughed up, | may and will set your
mind at rest on the subject. You re-
member that after | had walked the hos
pitfalls IN town, | came here partly on a
visit, and partly to study under nv late
uncle. But found a greater attraction
than any had anticipated in the person
Of my cousin Lucy, with whom | soon
fell over head and ears i'll love. Her
father was not averse to it, and things
were shortly in good train for our mar.
ridge. | was to be taken into partner
ship by my uncle when that event took
place, and the day before the deeds were
signed the old gentleman called me into
his room and narrated the following
story, which will explain my late express
SUNS dAu Nhl~A Vii teIt III MS own
words:
Harry" said my uncle, " as you are
now 10 be my son-in-law and partner,
think it but right you should become
with an adventure that befel
me in my younger days, and for my
share In which ustifiable as j. then APP
peared TO mel have never ceased to
myself At the time | am
speaking of, | wss studying medicine at
Manchester. but while on a visit TO
distant relative, a DR.. Seyton, who occu-
pied this very house, You see. Dick.
this is quite a family practice paren-
thesized GLADDEN. )-"I was one night
awakened by 3 shake of the shoulder.
and looking up saw, by the light of the
moon, which streamed up st nv win
dow, DR.. Seyton standing at my bedside.
Come, get up said he, / have been
sent for, and as Poor (his assistantl was
out last night, I'll get you to accompany
me now While he descended to the
surgery and stables, | speedily donned
my habiliments, and by the time
reached the front gate, the doctor was
seated in MS gig waiting for me- It was
A most magnificent moonlight night.
Along the clear white road, as fast as
horse could draw us, on we went; past
cottage. farm and mansion; past pond
and park and stream; beneath long
avenues Of trees that bordered the road
side and drooned over us, now yelling
all in shadow, now showing some stray
moonbeam that danced upon the quiy-
ering boughs to the soft cadence of the
Sharp and crisp rose the
echo of our horses tread, and as We came
within sight of our destination we heard
the gallop of another horse, and as We
sped past a turning, saw q horseman
riding up-as we imagined, the messen.
yer who had been dispatched for the
Doctor, and who bad said he must re-
urn by way of MERTON. We stopped
before Marlborough house, the residence
IF Hon Frederick Wellester, presump
i've heir To the title and estate of the |