Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-01-15
An OPEN VERDICT.

AN OPEN VERDICT.
II ~ very pleasant feeling, that Of
liberty from all busineas cares Of what
0ever kind, il only for q few weeks,
when ones ~avOcations for the remainder
q tn year combine one to thu busy brain,
devouriDg city like this mighty London
Of ours and therefore it was with no
slight d0gree Of anticipated enjoyment
that . year or two ago / accepted IN oft
repeated invitation to visit an old school
chum, DR.. Henry GLADDEN., at the village
OF Clayst0ne, In one of our northern
farriysd, however, 1t m unfortunate
period, and found that what l had pic
tured TO myself q being . happy, jolly
country house; was at that time . house
Of mouSning. Gladden's uncle and pre-
decenor, old Mr.. Williams, had died
only 9 few hours before my arrival. l
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 % cheerful a.
dfcuu1stAncsn t1uld permit. attended
the funeral, md, asawo turned to leave
the churchyaYd, wss struck BY an ex-
psenion of Gladden's which appeared
y b altered without any knowledge Of
il on his part. It The grave has
closed over the last" / felt greatly
tempted 70 ask for An explanation, but
Tor obvious reasons checked my curiosity.
A few mornings afterwards, while &C
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 q hedge
why, what's this" exclaimed Glad
den, - he saw . number of workmen
engagrdin erecting . scatiolding. digging
mp the lawn, and otherwise demolishing
the place. What are all these men
abouti-Hi" calling to one of the peo-
ple) What IL it you are doing here"
pulling down t'house for railway"
was the lAcOnic response.
"Then the final link il being broken"
unused my companion, "a We drove ON
MY curiosity was again aroused, and
this time ! resolved to satisfy it, 30 l
came to the point at once by thus ad-
dressing my friend: HAL, you are not
generally given 10 ambiguous or unsatis-
factory sentences, and therefore-if l am
not presnming too much-would you
mind telling me what you alluded to in
your last remark, and the equally strange
uttered 1t your uncle's funeral?"
"Well, Dick he replied, "it is a
strange story and one, perhaps, that does
not reflect much credit upon my poor
uncle; butt asAthe actors In this little
drama have passed away, and ever the
very scene of action will in . few days
b ploughed up. I may and will set your
mind ut rest on the subject. You re-
nSes1bef that after / had walked the hos
s19tals ID town, I came here partly on a
visit, and partly to study under my late
uncle. But found q greater attraction
than my I had anticipated in the person
OF my cousin Lucy, with whom / soon
fell 0ver head and ears iu love. Her
father wns not averse to it, and things
wero shortly in good train for our mar
rtaGe. lswas - be taken into partner
ship BY my uncle when that event took
place, and the day before the deeds were
Ggned the old gentleman called me into
his and narrated the following
story, which will explain my late express
saons, ana which ! viii tell In his wi
~c MIqM:.u,
nafiy, satd my uncle, "as you are
nov 70 % my son-in-law and partner, l
snink II but right you should become
acqoaansod with an adventure that befel
me In my younger days, and for my
share in which-justiiable a. it then ap-
Pcared 20 mel have never ceased to
SeProech myself. At the time l am
gearing OF, VA studying medi.ine at
mancnestef, Dut while on . visit TO a
distant relative, abr: Seyton, who occu-
vesy nouso"-'x Q sc, Dick,
tns y quite 2 family practice paren-
unesaseQ dladdenl-"I was q might
apeeeaed hy ? shake OF the shoulder,
- lo0kteg up aw, BY the light Of the
In, which STRAINED up ut my win
oow, ID. 6eyton standing at my bedside.
Come, get M, said he, Il have been
49, loI, ana = roor (his assistant) wa
ou. .sss nlgns IL get You to accompany
nOw. Wnlic ne descended 70 the
1.keIyx ~ Stables. I speedily donned
u.sA.inonts ano ~. the time "
Ieacnsa me front gate, the doctor was
s01seo u ms gig waiting for me. 1t was
.3ss ma9nincent moonlight night.
AOh8 ?le CESAR white road, - fast ~
49, coula Draw us, on We went; past
0Os.s6o, Iafm ana mansion; past pond
10y Psfk ana estrea!n; beneath long
OF trees that bordered the road
NE ~ 9fooneo over u, now yelling
moS 81 sns1ox, nov snowing some stray