Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-08-14
TERMS .s2.oo PER YEAR
WHOLE No. 1896.


He spoke ~ earnestly that at itsi
father consented 10 make The net.i
tul arrangements, aud we were sa.
i.tisd Aiasi while be was absent,
some rumor had come Ia Mr. FAR
fax's ear, and when Harry returue,i
home he was made a prisoner in his
room. aud only allowed To issue from
il for his meals Mr.. Fairfax
thought to ta'ne him, but he knew
not that there was q device whereby
he might be bafflel In by gone
days, when Harry was fain to escape
from noisy guests, he would slip out
at the passage window ; or it the
Drawers We're too near the stairs for
him to pass, he would let himsel,
down by rope cunnlngly made fast
TO an iron bar that was across his
own window. A thin aud narrow
plank was concealed below the grass
at the edge OF the moat, being held
rope loops to two pegs knocked
into the bank Once across the
ditch. he was tree, tor the gentlemen
We're too bus within 10 espy him.
Now, however, his father was always
on the watch, fearing lest he should
escape. We should have been in
sore straits had we not had one friend
among the servants--old Betty
who hal seen my Harry born. She
sped away to me with 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.
"Was | wrong to go? | thought
not nay, | think still that | was
right. Since the night that Harry
put his signet-ring upon my finger
have belonged to him How, then,
could dispute his will Moreover,
he was in trouble, and | could not
refuse to 60 to him in his need
Therefore | went
"When it was growing late, SO
that it behooved me TO return, he led
me to the edge OF the thicket and
kissed me and that was our very
last kiss on earth, and | knew it not
| would had known, that | might
have staid 10 perish with my love
| hurried a'ong the darkening path,
but before l had gone far | heard an
angry voice that seemed to be that
Of Mr.. Fairfax. I feared greatly for
Harry, but | dared not turn back
lest | should be seen, and cause
worse trouble, since it might we'll be
that Mr.. Fairfax was only speaking
to some groom or 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 knew he was dead, for
bad he been alive he would have
found means to relieve my anxiety.
''Mr Fairfax shut himself up. and
drank hard and after few days he
desired that the moat should be filled
up.
"The work was begun, and that
night l 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 nv
thoughts. | see before me, day and
night, the moat, the darkening path,
and my Harry as he stepped off the
plank and saw his father standing
before 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, Il never will give her
up! 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, aud
be ntver rose again. Mr. Fairfax
knelt at the edge, and called him
hoarsely, and when no answer came,
he rushe / into the house.
"Betty was too terrified to say
next day what she had seen, and /
can | give up Harry's father to pun
ishment-I who have been the cause
OF my husbands death ?"
The writing here became unsteady
and indistinct, as though the poor
girl Is mind had begun to wander. 1t
is iegible on the next leaf
People look at me strangely :;
they thought | did not hear to day
when some one said | was mad. Am
| mad? No, | am sure | am not !:
my brain is quite clear, clearer than
ever, and each thought is az bright
as if it were written 10 flame.
know what am going to do The
moat is not half full yet, but in few
more days there will be no room in
1t. must get Betty to hide this
paper for me in Harry's panel cup
board she taught him and me the
trick OF 1T long ago | will not tell
her why | want it hidden tonight
oh no: she might be airai6 if she
knew; and must be quite alone.
too. Mr.. Fairfax is drinking-al-
ways drinking. am going to pun
ish him; he shall have two deaths on
his soul, two-two. God will never
forgive him as much as that.
II shall be safe with Harry; if
anybody finds this, they need not be
afraid for me. | will fasten a stone
over my heart, that the water in the
moat may hold me down tight till
find him.
Il will sign my own name to this
my name, that no one can rob me
ofnow. "PRIsciLLA FAIRFAx."
determined, after reading this
sorrowful tale, TO have the meat
carefully searched at the spot IN.
Dictated by the spirit. That there
might be no lack OF witnesses, | in
yited both the doctor and curate OF
Stepton to be present After read.
ing the manuscript, they were to
the full as anxious as | for further
confederation of its story We
knew that the Fairfax mentioned in
it had died suddenly OF deIirtum
tremens, and probably the work Of
filling in the moat was then dis.
continued for, as / have already
remarked, it was of its original
depth on one side of the house. AS
the workmen approached the bot.
tom, they dug slowly and carefully
Complete success rewarded our eff.