The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-08-18

epNuous ~ tae DARKNESS by the lights mov-
ing to and fro about it, and the iighted-up
windows, which are all reflected puzzlinely
into the water below. A bridge over the mil
race leads to the house door. Herewarl
walks at once into the kitchen, immediately
following the Doctor and the party from
AlnSscourt. He takes off his hat and shakes
tie water from it, and turns down the collar
OF his coat, and then he stands in the proun
and listens.
1heie Is great crowd in the kitchen. all
the village, he thinks. Every one is eager in
question or answer, according to the amount
OF information he or she possesses Old
hathaway tells Doctor Jones all he knows of
the affair, gravely and concisely. He is a
decent looking old man, in milier's dusty
White dress. He is the only person present
Who can give any information on the subject.
amt what he can give is not much. He was
coming home from the Palliser Arms at
about ten oclock, when, in passing through
the corner OF the plantation at about hun
dred yards distance from the mill, his little
terrler discovered the body, lying close to
tie path. he dragged it QUIT was living
partly under some blacl1be brambles-and
struck o match to see the face. He recog
nlzed Robert North ut once. He left the
body and ran on to the house. There was
nobody there but his daughter and the old
woman, their servant. The old woman ran
on to the village to tell the ganekeeper
Grant, or to get the apothecary, he did not
know which. He himself ran up to Kings
court for Doctor Jones. The village paople
had come during his absence, and carried tie
body into the mill. The body WINS quite cold
t7hen he had found it, and there was blood
on the face. s
{, This is the substance of Trathawnys re-
port. Eereward listens there is a gaping
circle Of listeners round them. They cannot
hear the exciting details too often, it appears.
A group OF old women near the fire Join in
1t intervals With groars,, and cxclamations of
compassion, and wonder, and horror, as the
case may be. sss ss
The yCcmyznan was stranger in the place
and he appears to have more friends now
that he is dead than he had while living
But there Is no one to suffer acutely for his
loss. At least no one present appears to be
i, such grief rs to prevent full endowment
q tae znelnn cEoly business. Hereward looks
round for Anne Grace Trathaway, but she is
not III the rQpu. He wonders vaguely
whether she is sorry, but no one mentions
her in connection With that of the dead
man. -.-s- ..-z
Doctor Jones makes his way into m inner
foonl, and Helrward, looking over the heads
IT the l1eopie Through the open door, sees a
s.roup gathered round table. He can see
some objecS lying on the table, but the peo-
pie are crowded SO closely together that
he cannot distinguish anything plainly.
l.e eonversat;on in the kitchen goes on.
!oud and enge-, and he hears it without its
making any Impression upon his brain.
.'His lordship will be furious when he
'icals this" one man says exci:edlv. Hell
pu. spring guns and man-traps ali over the
place. Serve them right too, the blood
thirsty villains !" .
He was brave lad to venture among
them, " remarks another, shaking his head.
'.Hc told me he was never bit afraid of
them. They wouldn't shoot at him again.
he said, and if they did it would only be to
frightan him. He did not believe they'd
take lis life"
''He made mistake then poor chap! II
wonder when they shot himl It was early
for poarchers to be hanging about the plan
tations. They're q daring lot, that's what
they are! I hope his lore.ship will clear the
place Of them, Tor they're no credit to it or
to us.
eff the fellow who did this Job is caught,
he'll swing for it," the first speakers asserts,
decidedly.
Hereward shivers little, and puts Lis hand
into the pocket Of his great-coat to find the
that ought to be there. 1t is
not there, and he unbuttons the great-coat to
get at the pocket of the coat beneath. His
forehead is hot, and he passes the handker-
chief over it. There is very troubled look
On his face.
did the Doctor say where he WIS hit ?" a
newcomer asks. bustlins into the circle.
'.In the head-the top of his head is blown
clean OF. They found his own gun lying
right i'll the middle of the path, near a pool
Of blood Whoever did the deed managed it
badly. If they tried to hide the body at all
why didn't they do it? A child would have
discovered it, much less dog"
The dOg-a little wiry-hGired te-rier-who
had played such an importans part in the
evenings transactions, is lying Oh the hearth
before the fire. Hereward looks at him. and
the dog wags his tail Children and dogs,
and women, always like Kersward, often
without encouragement on his part. Blu: he
frowns down the dogs conciliatory looks,
turning his back upon him.
Il wonder who'll get the place ?" lad re-
marks from the chimney corner.
Il wouldn't take a present of it." several
voices answer at once II don't think therel Il
be many putting in for the situation. Its
three or four keepers there ought to be- and
rot one. Sure old Grant is as good as no
body, or as bad. The poachers will think
they'll have it all their own WY now, and
there will be no standing them.
Doctor Jones comes out into the kitchen
presently, and speaks to Hathaway for a lit
tie while apart. The old miller shakes his
head two or three times, md then the little
Doctor goes upstairs He is absent only a
few minutes and then he takes Hereward 8
arm and they leave the mill together.
''The poor girl IS in terrible state" are
fha first words he sneal1a