Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1880-07-29
WHOLE NO. 2878

minute stood with lighted candle in his
hand, gazing iyedly down on the few square
feet just in front of the fire. There was an
armchair there; and in it was Butler; and
Butler was quite dead
The others gradually took heart to enter.
They saw Ferrand standing silent near the
hearth; they came slowly forward to the front
of the chair and-then they, too, saw what
was in it, Young and strong as they were,
you might see the cheek blanch and the hand
tremble as they looked at each other, awe
struck and Mortified, overwhelmed by the ter
rible doom inflicted, as if some invisible power
OF evil, on one who 80 lately had been enc of
their living comrades. Elworthy alone
though at the dread sight his face, too, turned
pale-Elworthy alone preserved presence of
mind; he was occupied in observing Ferrand.
Ferrand was standing, as he stood from the
first gazing down on the murdered youth with
fixed, unwavering gaze. The horriAed ex-
CARNATIONS of the others did not move him
he seemed not to be conscious that anybody
was present.
What do you think of it p asked Elworthy
quietly.
Ferrand did het seem to hear the question.
But he must have heard it; Or in q moment
more he answered, in an absent self contained
sort of way: Think of it ? Think of it? Who
wonld have dreamt that he would look so
pale Only three hours ago. he might have
been dead a week.
Elworthy started forward and caught him
by the arm. Only three hours agol What
do you mean Before Heaven, | believe that
you killed himr
Strange to say Ferrand did not seem to heed
the accusation but he still stood gazing, as
If his senses had been petrified and his intel
lect benumbed by that dread spectacle. Me-
chanically his lips moved. Slowly the import
of the last words that had been uttered must
have made itself Ineligible, at least in some
dim unconscious way, to his brain; for in
few moments, without taking away his rivet-
ted gaze from the char, he said
who says that killed him p and then
stopped.
1t was impossible for Elworthy at that mo-
ment to know whether he was addressing
being conscious enough to understand the ac-
cusation that had been made against him-or
whether the mind was far away. He saw, at
all events, that Ferrand did not then fully
realize the gravity of the charge, or the perils
of his own position, and was more likely to
betray the truth in such condition of mind
than if he were rudely awakened from his
trance. So, altering his tone, he said in allow
soothing voice, but carefully watching the
effect of his words: Poor Butler poor fell
low! Why doesn't he wake up2'
why doesn't he wake up? Yes why
doesn't he wake up2' echoed Ferrand dream-
ly. Then looking closer at the body, he add
ed, lie is dead l suppose"
1T was cruel of you to kill him, returned
Elworthy quietly. Then, as he saw that Fer
rand did not seem to have quite understood
the words, he asked, in the same low tones
Wasn't it cruel to kill him, Ferrand Why
did you do iii?
Oh said the other, with long shudder
4 don't know why did it. The knife was
so sharp-I had it long time--it seemed so
tempting Here he suddenly stopped,
and for the first time looked at his interlocu-
tor in a startled questioning manner, as if to
ask, What have been saying to your He
had awoke from his trance; the light of un-
derstanding again shone from his eyes, but
the secret was out.
You are the murderer, shouted Elworthy;
and, retiring few steps, he shouted to the
others, Don't let him get out-close the door
he did It'll
But before anybody could even attempt to
secure the criminal, he had given one frenzied
look around, rushed at Elworthy who barred
his passage, and brushing him aside broke
through the ring of the other spectators, out
of the room into the passage and was gone
Follow him follow himr shouted Ell
worthy. Little need of exhortation now; for,
with what speed they might, all had begun
the pursuit; but, on arriving at the door lead
ing up to Ferrand's staircase, they found it
bolted from the inside. They could afford,
however, to wait now; the murderer was
trapped. The secret of Sydney's assassination
was discovered the perpetrator was nolohger
mystery-a malignant Unknown he was
wild beast in human form-a raving, furious,
wild beast but he was Gagged at last
1t need hardly be said that the news of the
murder, and of the discovery of the criminal,
spread like wildfire through the college. Late
as it was, not many minutes elasped before the
tutors, the undergraduates, even the old Pres
ident himself, were gathered on the grass-plot
of the little quadrangle, eagerly discussing the
exciting events of the night, and the steps
which now must be taken.
But events now were Fastening on to the
conclusion of the tragedy. The windows OF
Ferrand's room, high up in the tower, were
plainly visible from the quadrangle. They
could see that the interior of the room was
was brilliantly lighted up, the reflection show
ing wildly through the blinds of the apart
ment, and illuminating the old stone walls.
Peals of riotous laughter could be plainly
heard proceeding from within-wld, reckless
laughter which proved, if anything were
wanted to prove, that the perpetratOr Of the
two Outrages was mailman.
A party of volunteers was detailed to break
down the outer door leading no to the tower
rooms Willing hands and arms lent them
selves to the work. 1t was clear that the muir
dercr heard the sound of the blows administer
ed to the ponderous woodwork, for, from tho
first moment of their commencement all, was
silence in that lonely upper chomber. Up To
this time the little crowd gathered on the
grass plot had heard that boisterOus laughter
rising now and again on the still air of mid
night, lulled and subdued by distance, but
cfil xuitl flu int finn, # To
own But now the solitary laughter had
ceased. At length the old oak door crashed
in, and one or two of the leaders in the work
sprang through the gap thus made, and rushed
up the steep stairs. AS they rushed into the
room, invountarly they were arrested on the
threshold by the sight which presented itself.
There, in one of the distant corners, near the
window, stood Ferrand, apparently utterly
Unconscious both of their presence and of the
approach of danger lingering the fatal steel
which be still held clutched in his hand, and
talking and laughing gently to himself There
could be no doubt that he was maniac. Grad
ually they drew round and quickly seized
him. He offered no resistance at all, but
went on gibbering to himself, with CLASSY eyes
that evidently did not comprehend the import
of what was going on around The dagger
was taken from him, he was conveyed to the
stairs and firmly secured. No sooner did he
arrive at the foot of the tower than he was
seized with fearful commissions. In less than
three days he died, after passing through fits
of ravng delirnm, but mercifully allowed tn
pass into ins6nsibility at the last.
Sydney recovered though his recovery was
tedious. He explained, before the coroner's
inquest.that sat to try the facts connected with
this terrible case, the modus operandi adopted
by Ferrand to lull his victims into security be-
fore striking the fatal blow. He said that on
the night of the frework dispay'he had gone
back to his room, to look for more fuel. and
had found his lights already burning, and Fer
rand seated in an arm char before the fire.
He was rather astonished at this, as he had
not previously been very intimate with Fer
rand, and had, indeed, as he confessed, cared
little to make his acquaintance, not being pre-
possessed with his appearance. But on this