The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-05-05
miscellaneous.
4 Startling Discovery.

Gutcnley was ut its wits ends Who could
the mysterious stranger be? No one had ever
before been month in the place without
having complete inventory taken of all his
antecedents and belongings. And yet, for
more than double that period, Rupert Ray
had abode there but beyond his name which
might be an alias, everything connected with
him remained in profound obscurity.
Exceedingly suspicious" commented
Squire Gulliwum with shake of the head.
And all Gutchley shook its head in uni
SON. for the Gulliwums were the creams
cream of its society. None of your upstart
arstocracy were the Guiliwums They had
past TO point to. The ancestral Gulliwum
had came over in the first convict ship that
sailed for America, and, after many ups and
downs had met with n fall one day that
broke his neck. But for the rope that chanc
ed to he round it at the time, more of his
bones might have been broken.
Mr. Ray boarded with the widow Peeke,
who failed not to put in practice every
widowly art to break the ice of his reserve
Which was quite natural. In the first place,
he was a nice looking young man, and the
memory of the departed Peeke had already
ceased to be green Secondly the widow
in common with the body of her sex, pos
scssed an acquiring mind To have board
er in the house, and know nothing ofhim but
his name, was thing out of all reason.
She afforded the gentleman every possible
opportunity 10 explain invited him to be
communicative by first being communicative
herself; in fine, left no means untried to car
~ her point, short of the rudeness of down.
right questioning. But all in vain. Rays
reserve remained impenetrable.
No true woman ever yet gave up the pur-
suit Of secret. Fooled in the use OF fair
means, Mrs. Pceke determned-we will not
say to resort to foul, but to any that promis.
ed success.
Mr.. Ray, she knew, received great many
presents. On the chance that some of them
might happen to be left exposed, she took
upon herself the daily task of putting his
room to rights. But never letter or scrap
of paper was visible Mr. Ray kept all his
ing desk, and none of her keys would open
it
But perseverance is apt to be rewarded in
the end. One morning the widow found
a freshly opened letter on Mr.. Rays dressing
table. With that thirst for knowledge that
was born with the first woman, and which
will die only with the last, She caught the
missive up, and ran her eyes over its con-
tents. With a frightened scream she sank
into chair and remained for n time motion
less and terror.stricken. Then springing up
she FASTENED TO her chamber, hurried ON her
bonnet, and rushed from the house, clasping
in her hand the terrible letter
In the course OF an hour Mr. Ray returned
from his morning walk, and had barely seat.
ed himself at his desk, when knock came
to the door 1t was opened before he had
time to answer and in stalked rough look
ing party" whose face and figure recalled
the opening couplet of the gifted McSpat.
TENS "Elcgy on a deceased prize fighter ;"
His frame 1t was rugged,
And his nose 1t was plugged"
And in the background stood another of
the same ilk.
May inquire your business, gentlemen ~
asked Ray, visibly surprised.
Yes, yer may" replied the foremost man !;
"we've got a capus for yer"
"A what2"
"a capus--a dockyment ter fetch yer
dcadr live
DO you mean you have come To arrest
me?"
"Ycs, jist"
"What for?'
well, 'tar'n't for no good don't reckon;
but eff you ant done akin quest ms, I'm done
answerin cm. Jim, help the gentleman ter
make his t'ilct
Before he had time to resist, had he been so
minded Rupert Ray wrists were manacled.
His hat was placed on his head by the atten-
tive JIM and the two constables marched their
prisoner off between them.
Ray was taken on sight before Squire Gull
liwum, whom he found waiting for him, ex-
haling an atmosphere of dignity that was
positively expressing.
ii demand an explanation ofthis outraged"
exclaimed the prisoner.
With some difficulty the prisoner was usher
ed through the crowd into the magisI erial
presence and confronted with his accusser-
no other than his fair landlady whom the very
sight of him seemed to give turn
The magistrate begged her to compose her
self, which she did, to some extent, and after
being duly sworn, and having chastely kiss
cd the book, she proceeded:
1t was not her nature, il she knew herself
to be suspicious The late Mr. Peeke-(tears
to his memoryl-had pronounced this the
weak point in her character Still, she had
noticed marked want Of openness in her
hoarder. She had observed, too, occasional
symptoms oficvity in his conduct. Instance :
She had once found him teaching her little
boy to sing, How doth the little bizzin bee"
etc (Ruled out by the court) She would
scorn to pry into other peoples secrets but
when people will leave their letters lying
about, other people can't help seeing what's
in them sometimes. 1t was in this way she
had become informed of an atrocious plot
against her own life. Here the witness quite
broke down.
"Have care, young man," admonished
the Squire, "lest to your other crimes you
add the still more heinous crime OF con-
tempt of court"
81 may at least know Of what | am accus
ed" persisted Ray, mastering his anger.
You'll have an examination tomorrow"
replied his honor. "In the meantime it is
my duty to commit you"