St. Landry democrat., 1879-05-10
AN OPEN VERDICT.


1t is very pleasant feeling, that o.
liberty from all business cares of what.
soever kind, if only for few weeks
when ones avocations for the remainde,
of the year con6ne 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 l accepted an oft.
repeated invitation to visit an old school
chum, DR.. Henry GLADDEN., at the village
of Claystone, in one of our 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. GIadden's uncle and pre-
decessor, old Mr.. Williams, had died
only few hours before my arrival. I
would have willingly gone on my way,
but this my old friend with his vie
would not hear of, and everything was
done to render my visit as cheerful as
circumstances would permit. I attended
the funeral, and, as we turned to leave
the churchyard, was struck with an
expression of Gladden's which appeared
to be uttered without any knowledge of
it on his part. 1t was The grave has
closed over the last" 7 felt greatly
tempted to ask for an explanation, but
for obvious reasons checked my curl.
osity.
A few mornings afterwards, while
accompanying my friend on his round of
visits, we came before an old, large, red
brick that stood close beside the
road, being separated merely by hedge
and small lawn.
"Why, what is this ?" exclaimed
GLADDEN., as he saw a number of work.
men engaged in erecting a scaffoIding,
digging up the lawn. and otherwise
demolishing the place. What are all
these men about '-Hil' (calling to one
of the people)" 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 I resolved to ,atisfy it, 90 [
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-i. 7 am
not presuming too much would you
mind telling me what you alluded to in
yourlsst rem ark, and the equally strange
one uttered at your uncle's funeral"
Well, Dick" he replied, sit is
strange story, and one, perhaps, that
does not tf-ct much credit upon nv
poor uncle; bot, as the actors in this
little drama have passed away, and even
the very scene OF action will in q few
Gays be plowed up, I may and will set |
your mind at rest on the subject. You
remember that after I had walked the |
hospitals in town, came here partly on
visit, and partly to study under INV
late uncle. But found a greater al.
traction than any l had Anticipated N
the person of my cousin Lucy, with
wnom soon fell over head and ears in
love Her father was not averse to it
and things wers sho- tly in good train tor
our marriage. | was to be taken into
partnership by my uncle when that
event took place. and the day before the
deeds were signed the old gentleman
called me into the room and narrated the
story, which will explain NV late ex.
pressions, and which I will tell in his
own words: srss-
Harry" said my uncle, las Won are
now to be my son-in.law and partner
think it but right you should become
acquainted with an adventure that beteI
me in my younger days, and for INV
share in which--justifable as it then an.
peared to mel have never ceased t.
myself At the time 7 am
speaking OF, was studying medicine At
Manchester, but while on a visit to q
distant relative, DIR. seyton, who occu. !
pied this very house"-(s You see. Dick
This is quite family practice psren
thesized Gladden)--"I was one night i
awakened by shake OF the shoulder t
md looking up saw, by the light OF the |