The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-01-11

quire the cause, | found DIR. Seyton
standlng on the staircase lnterrogating
/ Stevens, the other domestics being
grouped around
How is this?" exclaimed the doctor
How came you to bring me this? 1t
contains slow poison"
The gentleman brought it, sir, and
OF course | gave it to YOU"
But surely Poor could never have
made this up. Look at it, Frank; what
do you say2 and DR.. Seyton held out
the bottle; but before | could reach it
Stevens had taken it, and at the same
moment his foot slipped, and the vial
was dashed to pieces on the ground.
The doctor looked annoyed at what ap-
peared to him as al accident; but to me
there was design in it; so, as he re-
assembled the stairs, called to Stevens,
who followed me and the steward into
the latter's apartment; when shutting
the door, and placing my back against
it, | thus addressed him: Chow did
you become possessed of that bottle you
let fall just this minute?' (for | could
see that 1T was not the one | brought)
and for what motive did you stop my
horse few hours since, and who was
your companionW These queries poured
out rapidly, not giving time for any dis
tinct reply; but when | paused for a
moment he answered with a look of the
utmost establishment: "Sir, | really do
not understand you. The bottle you
brought gave the doctor, and as to the
stopping you horse and about a compan-
ion | am at quite loss to know what
you allude to-"
But | need not enumerate the answers
by which he fenced off My inquiries;
suffice it to say he denied all knowledge
whatever of my adventure and stoutly
affirmed he had not left the house since
the previous day. What annoyed me
still more was the conduct of the stew
ard, who appeared to regard my state
ment as proceeding either from a weak
intellect or too free use of the means
supplied for my recovery.
There was nothing to beFgleaned from
Stevens, so of course he went his way,
and | remained with the steward. Soon
after day break, DR.. Seyton reioined us,
the invalid was sleeping, and all imme-
date danger was over, so orders were
given for our horses to be put to. In a
few seconds news was brought in of some
of the farm laborers having discovered
the lifeless body of man lying in the
road; the remains had been removed to
one of the outhouses, whittier we pro-
ceeded. 1t was a dreadful spectacle; the
features were quite undistinguishable,
and presented the appearance of having
had some frearm discharged close to
them. The steward and DR.. Seyton
infinitely whispered conversation to-
gether, the doctor drew me on one side
and advised me not to mention any of
the circumstances connected with my
late adventure, but to wait until the in
/ quest; then, as medical aid was perfect
/ ly useless, We took our departure and
drove home.
Two days afterwards a letter was re-
ceiyed desiring our presence at Maze
borough house, and Immediately on our
arrival | was ushered into Mr.. We'll
testers private room. Our interview
was heightened one; we then descended
to where the inquest was being held.
The best report of the proceedings was
given in a local paper published day
or two afterwards, which, if | remember
rightly, ran thus: AS some farm
laborers in the employ of Hon. Frede-
rick Wellester, of Marlborough, were
proceeding to their work on Tuesday
morning, they discovered the dead body
of man on the highway. The remains
were at once removed to one of the farm
buildings, where the remained till
Thursday last when an inquest was held
upon them. No satisfactory evidence
was produced tending to throw any light
[ 80 - e,
was or by what means he met his death,
although it is cOnjectured, owing to the
! frightful spectacle the face and head
presented, that some pistol or gun must
/ have been discharged close to him; hut
whether by himself or by some one I'M
! known, no clue could be obtained. A
pistol ready loaded and capped was
/ found in one of the deceased's pockets,
! but no papers or other means of identi-
/ fication. A strange fact in connection
with this case is the disappearance on
! the same morning the body was found
| of one of the domestics, named Stevens,
| formerly in the service of Hon. Ernest
Wellester, half bother to the proprietor
of Marlborough house, gentleman who
for some years past has resided on the
continent. This occurrence has only
tended to throw greater obscurity upon
this mysterious affair. In consequence
of the utter want of all evidence, the
jury returned ali open verdict-found
dead"
"Such," continued GLADDEN., "was
my uncle's story. You have followed
him to the grave and seen the prepare
tions for razing to the ground Mazebor-
Ou:h house; the Caultdale title has been
extinct; Hon. Frederick Wellester, who
succeeded to it, died few months after
wards without issue; and although dill
gent search was made for the next of
kin (his half-brother Ernst, no tidings
could possibly be obtained of him."
But" said |, "surely your uncle"
"Lived at a time when wealth and in
terest could influence everything and
almost every body"
81 see," l rejoined; it was what is
what is called hush up But suppose
the body that was found was that Of the
half brother Ernst?"
"Precisely. p Chambers Journal
Going to Europe and Coming Back.