Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-04-07
A Sisters Vengeance.
tLondon Refereel

the Thames. l flung fresh coal on the
gloomy embers, and stirred them till
till they sent up blaze Uf light that
drove the CHESTS out of the shadowy
corners, and then picked up paper
haphazard from the table, to dawdle
over it till the waiter would light the
gas or some human being should wan
der in TO keep me company. Itwas an
American paper. Some visitor to the
club had LETT it behind him accidentally.
l turned the pages hstlessly, until
suddenly my attention was arrested by
a paragraph headed Extraordinary
CRIME" 1t was the story of the
robbery of a body of lady from its
grave. The whole affair was shrouded
in mystery. On the l4th Of the month
there died in an American city the
beoutiful wife of an Englishman travell-
ing for pleasure. In the same paper
which contained this paragraph, found
under the heading Of "Cradle, Altar,
Tomb" the following ION the 14th
Instant, in this city, gDrusilla, the be-
loved wife Of Blissett Emerton, Of
London, England, aged twenty -four. "
In due course the poor lady was buried,
and during the night the churchyard
was entered and the coffin carried away.
No motive is suggested IN this Ameri.
can paper for the crime. The husband
is interviewed at his hotel. he is in
consolable for the loss of his beautiful
young wife-mad with mingled rage
horror at the desecration OF her remains.
He tells his story to the reporter. He
had only been married a few months.
They were travelling for pleasure in
America. His poor wife caught cold
fortnight since, returning from the
theatre. He had medical advice, but
the cold increased and inflammation oil
the lungs set in, and soon all was over.
He buried his head in his hands and
weeps, and the reportea leaves him
alone with his sacred sorrow. The acs
count in the paper 1 was reading by the
4 light concludes thus: "Up to the
present no clue to this mysterious affair
has been obtained" l glanced al
the date of the paper, asd flung it down
in disgust. 1t was two years old.
had..grown interested in the affair, ant
there it was two years old already, and
probably forgotten. Where should
find out how it ended? The shadows
had grown darker and darker the fitfu
fare of the fire had died down into
dull, red glow, and the riverside lamps
were being lit. I flung myself back
into the easy-chair, thrust my hand;
into my pockets, and half closed my
eyes. Suddenly l was aware that
was not alone IN the room. From the
darkest corner there rose long black
figure. 1t glided slowly towards me.
had placed the paper where had fount
it, on the table, by my side. The figure
seemed to be looking for something. II
passed Its hands over the tables anC
peered down among the papers,
Presently it came to the table at my
elbow. In the gloom, as sat in th'
deep m-chair, l believe 1 was almos
invisible. The figure came right up t.
me, and, reaching out its hand, passeC
it over my table. Presently it selze'
something and gllded away with it tt
the window on which the lamp withou
flung flicker of light. Then l saw
that it was a man, and that in his haDt
he held the American paper in which
lust read the account of a mysteriou
crime. He glanced at it, and muttere'
+ something that sounded like "HoV
careless OF me 7" then folded the paper
thrust it into his breast pocket, AM
walked out of the room. Hardly ha'
the door closed behind him when tn
attendant came in with the lights
, "W Who is that gentleman who has jus
gone out ?" said.
Don't know his name, sir. Am
seen him here often.'
remembered that at this club ever
member had to sign his name in a dali.
book kept in the hall for that purpose
l ran downstairs aud looked at th
, open leaf to see If that would afford m
= any clue. The first name that caugh
Y my eye was that of Blissett Emerton.
No wonder the Hgure l had seen il
the darkness had been 80 anxious to fin
that paper. 1 saw at once what ha
|, happened. lie had LAID the pape
y down thoughtlessly and dropped OFF t
e sleep. l had not noticed him In th
a gloom, and be was quite unaware of M
presence. r
One thing more I did before l left.
7 l turned over the members address
book, and looked under the E's. Their
I found the name Of Blissett Emel
= ton" and against 1t mo. 7 Blac
court, Temple"
Soon afterwards found time TO din
at the club, abd there + met an ol
. friend OF mine, o barrister, whom ha
not seen for a year, who after Dime
}, invited ME TO come to his chamber fo
an hour. fta rrr ~tr- n
!. tStill in your own diggins thcn,'
e said. o lsA = e.-s'-Al'E ls.z 90 ~