Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-10-29
anxiety, often cried herseli 10 sleep

| Won, Nelly-Nelly ~" wv"
know what has happened J.
Il was with these words that John
Birch had suddenly presented him
self to his sister, q tall Keyed girl,
who might have been taken rs n soll'
cned likeness Of himself She was
busy at work when he came In, but
on tho first glance at his agilated lace
shc dropped her needle aud rose hur'
riedly.
"Oh, John what Is the mattes T
"Uacle David has been missing from
homo since tho Esd, OF last month,
aud no one can tell what has become
OF him.
"Nlissing from home John why II
was only last week that we heard he
had fortune lett him by his brother
ayes that's true enough, Nclllei aud
I hear that It comes 10 mo alter his
death. The lawyers are seeking him
everywhere. But think Of poor Polly
being in all this trouble and us
never to know it ltjust seems as II
that odd job of work in the country
came on purpose to take me out OF
the wayi aud your so mop'ng up
here that you never hear anything, he
added frctfhliy.
"John III put on my things and so
to her at once If you think | can do
any good"
ayes, Nell, / think you may. !
know l always like to have you by
me when | am in trouble. | would
90 myself hut | am forbidden the
house. You remember what told
you of my quarrel with the old man.
I wish to heaven those i'll words had
not passed between us
AT this moment there was sound
of heavy footsteps on the stairs, fol-
lowed by a smart rap at the door,
Nelly went to open it, but started
back at the sight Of two policemen on
the threshold.
"Does John Birch lived here y
eyes am John Birch" sad the
Young man, "what do you want with
me 2"
"Comc this way and I will tell you.
"No, tell me here"
The officer glanced cempasslonately
at Nellles white face as he answered.
"Well, ii you don't mind the young
woman hearing you're our prisoner
"Your prisoner Impossible ! On
what charge"
81 dare say you know well enough
There's been q body found by the
river, and it's thought there's beer
some foul play"
"Whose body g
"David Birch's, the bird fancier,
that's been missing lately"
"My uncle ~ grasped John.
"Exaclly. Yon're our man.
You've had a quarrel with him, and
you're arrested on suspicion. We
cot the clew from Thomas Bartlett" :"
"Bartlett!' i The young carpenter
repeated the name with groan and
staggered against the wall, adding,
"May god forgive him for this wicked
ness !!
AT this moment his sister threw
herself on his neck with cry that
thrilled those who heard it.
Yes, it was true a body had been
found; and there was evidence that
identified it as that OF the old man
who was missing. The story went
that it had been first seen by some
workmen on their way home one we'
evening. 1t had foated up with the
tide, and been toyed with as a ghastly
plaything, then beating against one OF
the low-lying river banks, and flung
out piteous sight for men to shud-
der at, as it lay with the dehllng river
slime clotted among its tangled gray
hair, and its dead. bruised face turned
upward to the sky. From examina-
tiou Of the body, it was thought there
had been. struggle. The motive had
clearly not been robbery, tor purse
containing sovereign and some sill
yer was found iu one OF the pockets,
together with very remarkable an
tioue silver watch on Which were en-,
prayed the initials I'D. b. which
were readily translated into David
, Birch. When the watch and purse
with the old.fashioned coat found on
the body, were shown 10 the bereaved
granddaughter, and tearfully recogniz
ed by the trembling girl as belonging
, to her grandfather, the evidence @
;depti,v was complete. How had the