The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-09-03

message, bidding me to come at dusk and
Harry would meet me in the willow thicket
across the moat; further than that he dared
not venture
think still that / was right. Since the
night that Harry put his signet-ring upon
my finger l have belonged to him. How
then, could / dispute his will? Moreover,
he was in trouble, and / could not refuse to go
to him in his need. Therefore / went-
when it was growing late, so that it be-
hooved me to return, he led me to the edge
of the thicket and kissed me; and that was
our very last kiss ON earth, yet knew it not.
l would had known, that l might have
stayed to perish with my love. l hurried
along the darkening path, but before l had
gone far heard an angry voice that seemed
to be that of Mr.. Fairfax. / feared greatly
for Harry, but dared not turn back lest
should be seen and cause worse trouble, since
1t might well be that Mr. Fairfax was only
| speaking to some groom laborer. All
night ! could not sleep for terror. and next
| day news was brought to my father that
Harry had disappeared.
"The country was searched for him, but l
knew he was dead. for had he been alive he
would have found means to relieve nv
anxiety.
"Mr Fairfax shut himself up, and drank
hard; and after a few days he desired that
| the moat should be filled up.
"The work was begun. and that night
knew the reason.
again old Betty came to me- white-faced
and aged by many years. She told me the
horrible thing that has never since
been out of my thoughts. 1 see
before me, day and night, the moat, the dark
ening path, and my Harry as he stepped off
the plank and saw his father standing be-
fore him. Old Betty could not tell me what
had passed. but Mr.. Fairfax had seen me- for
she heard my name.
'After many furious words, Harry said
clearly, i never will give her upl' Then
then-that cruel man struck him hard on
the temples with the handle of his heavy
hunting whip. Harry fell back into the
moat and he never rose again. Mr.. Fairfax
knelt at the edge and called him hoarsely
| and when no answer came he rushed into the
house.
betty was too terrified 20 say the next day
what she had seen, and Lean / give up
Harry's father to punishment?-I who have
been the cause of my husbands death?"
The writing here became unsteady and in
distinct, as though the poor girls mind had
begun to wander. 1t is legible on the next
leaf.
=
people look at me strangely; they
thought did net hear to-day when some one
said l was mad. Am l mad? Mol am
sure l am not; my brain is quite clear,
clearer than ever, and each thought is
as bright as if ii were written in fame /
know what l am going to do. The moat is
not half full yet, but in few more days there
will be no room in it. l must get Betty to
hide this paper for me in Harry's cupboard;
she taught him and me the trick of it long
ago. l will not tell her why want it hidden
tonight, oh no; she might be afraid if she
knew; and / must be quite alone, too. 1 am
; going to punish him, he shall have two
deaths on his soul-two-two. God will
never forgive him as much as that.
Il shall be safe with Harry; if anybody
} finds this they need not be afraid Of me.
will fasten a stone over my heart that the
water in the moat may hold me down tight
} till | find him.
al will sign my own name to this-my
I, name, that no one can rob me of now.
"PRIsCILLA FAIRFAX.
I determined, after reading this sorrowful
tale, to have the moat carefully searched at
: the spot indicated by the spirit. That there
: might be no lack of witnesses, i invited both
the doctor and curate of Stepton to be pres
, ent. After reading the manuscript, they
were to the full as anxious as l for further
l confederation of its story. Weknew that the
( Fairfax mentioned in it had died suddenly of
delirium tremens, and probably the work of
) filling in the moat was then discontinued;
for, as 1 have already remarked, it was of its
: original depth on enc side of the house. As
2 the workmen approached the bottom, they
dug slowly and carefully. Complete success
( rewarded our efforts; for precisely where the
ghosts finger had pointed we found the de-
cayed and broken bones of woman.
The doctor gathered them up with his own
, hands, and in dong so, turned over some of
!; the earth, and espied, sunk in what had been
soft mud, heavy signet-ring bearing the
: Fairfax crest. Encouraged by our discover
les, then gave orders for the whole of the
moat to be cleared, IN the hope that we
; might find the remains of the poor youth
| who was so cruelty murdered.
We inferred from the manuscript that his
room must have been at one of the corners
! furthest removed from the hall; and our con-
q lecture proved true. We found some bones
, singularly perfect considering their age, and
e two or three metal coat-buttons. The latter
have placed with the ring and manuscript
: in cabinet To the bones we gave decent
= burial, depositing them all in the same grave
:, Since that day no midnight footsteps hav,
q approached my chamber; and 1 trust tina
d the uneasy spirit has found rest through tn,
J; discovery of her fate, and that nothing NOR,
n will be seen or heard of the Ghost of Morcar'
5 Tower,
|