Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-02-26
LANCASTER, WISCONSIN. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY a $780,

As your Amt gently approached
my bedside, she saw form advanc
ing on the other side with upliftec
hand, in which something brigh
| CLEANED in the moonlight Quick al
thought, without moments hesita
ton, her arm was thrown across m,
neck. The knife Of an assassin de
scended with terrible force anf
glancing off the bone inflicted LONG
and jagged cash in her arm. The
assassin, who had not, seen or heard
her approach, instantly fled, leaving
his weapon behind; and / wa.
aroused from my slumbers by Edith's
shrieks, to find myself bathed in her
blood. Binding my silk handker
chief around her arm tightly, tc
check the bleeding, | sent servant
for the whole house was aroused by
your Aunt's shrieks and the violen,
ringing of my bell--for the neares,
surgeon, and theg proceeded to
search for some traces of the murd :
erous intruder. Mechanically | went
first to Jeff's room, probably because
/ was astonished at not having seen
his face among the wondering group
gathered around my door. 1t seemed
amazing that he should sleep SO
so soundly through such commotion.
The door OF the east room (Jef''s)
was open, and SO was the window ;
but the room was empty
where was jeff? Why had be
gone SO suddenly and nysteriously
Why the open windows? / was all
the more painfully perplexed, as the
most careful examination failed to
disclose any other means of exit by
which the would. be assassin could
have escaped. Every door was Sc
curely barred, every window except
that of the east room was safely fas-
tened. In the flower bed underneath
there were distinct tracts of mans
feet leading from the window, none
whatever leading to it.
These things made me terribly un-
happy, and some suspicion Of my
thoughts must have crept into my
countenance, for Edith OWNED them
at once. However, she remained
silent about the appearance of the
man who had attempted my life, and
refrained from que stioning her. At
best there could be but conjecture
the room was dark, the man dis
guised and your aunt frightened
But the knife which lay upon my
bed appealed with dumb but terrible
force to us both. Tt was my pruning
knife, and that very afternoon Edith
had seen me lend it to jeff Lawson.
Whether the knife had been in any
way poisoned,or whether your Aunt's
wound had been badly dressed in
the first instance, do not know. tut
inflammation set in and for weeks she
was dangerously Ill. For days her
life was despaired of, and it was only
saved at last at the expense Of the
brave right hand that had saved me
SC we'll from terrible and sudden
DEATH
THE matter made a sensation,
which was something more than
nine days wonder in our village !;
bat as | kept my suspicious to my.
self, no one else ventured to express
any, and Jeffrey's name was never
mixed up in the matter. Indeed it
somehow got circulated that he left
Garrick the evening of the attempted
murder, and no one contradicted it.
The object of the attack, which was
evidently robbery as we'll as murder,
for every drawer and desk in my
room was thoroughly ransacked,
caused much wonder and discussion.
1t was pretty generally known that
my allowance as minor was scarce.
ly adequate to my few simple wants.
what became of jeff Lawson,
father?' Jessie asked, with a stolen
glance at aunt's face.
From the night he SAID good bye
to US in this very room, thirty-one
years ago, | have never heard of HIM
nor from him. He disappeared in
the most extraordinary manner.
Doubtless he is dead and as far as
be is concerned, have no hope of
the mystery of that awful night ever
being cleared up
And his mother, pspa?' Fred
questioned.
'Ah, his poor mother. She broke
her heart over his disappearance
Mothers will do such things over the
most worthless sons. Well, Upton,
what's the matter?'
IF you please, sir. there's a gentle
man wants to see you, said our old
butler, closing the door behind him,
and looking mysteriously round. He
says his business is urgent, bat he
won't give his name.'
"a strange gentleman, at this hour,
and on such a night, exclaimed papa
rising. He must be some belated
traveller. Show him in
We all looked at each other, and
glancing toward the door in eager,
nervous curiosity, as an elderly gen,
tleman with very white hair and
beard entered the room, and made a
courteous bow, which embraced
everybody, and proceeded to uubut
ton an enormous travelling cloak, in
which be was enyeloped. For mo.
ment or 80 his eyes wandered round
the room, as if in search of something,
and then he smiled sadly
You do not know me, Mr.. Neville, ,
quoth the gentleman, after what
seemed an ominous sill nee, drawing
more directly into the light Of the
fire, which blazed cheerily
4 have not that pleasure, SIR papa
replied, looking al our visitor more
attentlvely.
'Ahl Yet my picture hung there
once, pointing to vacant space
among the portraits on the wall. MY
name is Jeffrey lawson
Jeffp cried papa and Aunt Edith
with one voice.
jeff we al echoed in amaze
ment. Here was the sequel to the
story with vengeance
You do not seem oyerjoyed to see
me, Robert Mr.. Lawson said, after
another pause Well. perhaps yon
ara pas ~ liapna Rns xnr E1.,h