Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-21

III
THE THIRD STORY.
Continued from yesterday. }

Dr. JalkeS anu LII. kiOvu WatcueQ the
case with interest. and they concurred in
the opinion that she could not last mauy
months. DIR. Jaikes was of the opinion
that her death might be preceded by a
lucid interval, and his hope was strong
that some clue to the murderer might
then be gained. DR.. Lloyd differed from
him in this, and declared his belief that
only shock similar to the one which had
wrecked her reason would restore it to
her, even temporarily.
Surprising that she did see the murder
committed" he said to me once, 81 be-
lieve she would recover sufficient reason
to point the murderer out, if she ever saw
him again; but that is among the things
so unlikely as almost to be impossible"
But it is not always the most likely
things that happen.
Who for instance. would have thought
it likely that Mr.. Win Lockwood should,
on his return to England after four years.
absence. come straight from S. to the
Manor House and ask for Miss Tharpe !?
| suppose he had seen no newspapers on
his outward voyage to India, and by the
time he reached his destination the E.
murder had ceased 10 be common talk,
and some other "atrocity" had taken its
place in the minds of men. Certain it is
that he knew nothing of the tragedy.
Unlikely in the extreme! And yet the
most natural thing in the world for one
who had always had the name of most
impulsive man. not to wait to hear news
in any roundabout way. but TO come
straight to his old loves house. to see if
she were still unwed.
At any rate, one May evening when the
Misses Thrape we're out, and DR.. Lloyd,
now a very frequent visitor at the Manor
House. was sitting in the garden with me
and poor Isabel, now wasted to a very
shadow. we heard a ring at the garden
door. There were never any callers
there. 1t could only be DIR. Jaikes or the
Misses Tharpe, so. as the servants were
both out. ran round and opened the door
myself.
A handsome bronzed man of about thir-
ty stood in the doorway, and spoke, hat
in hand:
Does Miss Tharpe still live here p''
Yes" | said.
''Can | see Miss Tharpe? am William
Lockwood. very old friend.''
Come in,' said, and led him to the
library. Then went and whispered to
DR.. Lloyd who the visitor was.
did not say dozen words to him, but
when l turned round Isabel was gone.
Had she gone to the library? We has
tened thither. The girl was standing just
inside the door, looking at the man who
had been her lover, with wild, passion
ate light in her eyes.
..Isabelp ?" he said, in a chilled, changed
voice.
well, Will.'she said, "you have come
back. then? Why don't you ask after
Edith P"
"I-you-Good God! how i'll you look!"
was all his answer.
Edith is not ill.," said Isabel, quietly !;
'come and see her,
made step forward, with some vague
idea of interference, but DR.. Lloyd stayed
me with a glance.
"I-perhaps your sister may think it an
intrusion" he stammered, apparently
quite oblivious of her presence.
"Oh, no." said Isabel, "she won't think
that. Come and see her. And you come.
too" she added, turning to US. could
not fathom DR.. Lloyd's motive in allowing
this gentleman to be subjected to such a
shock as this must be; but obeyed him,
and we all went silently after her up the
long. winding, understanding passages,
through the pretty boudoir. and into the
dim chamber where deaths image was
enshrined.
Isabel entered first, then DIR. Lockwood,
and DIR. Lloyd and stood in the doorway
| noticed that the young mans eyes.
strangely enough. turned first to the win
dow and then to the dressing table, as he
followed Isabel to the bedside.
With sudden movement of her hand
she drew away the scarf from the throat
of the body. and left exposed that awful
CHASTITY wound.
Lockwood gazed spell-bound for quite
two minutes. Then with wild, harsh
cry that echoed through the quiet house,
he flung himself on his knees beside the
bed.
1T isn't true-it can't be real, Oh,
Edith my life, my darling"
DR.. Lloyd stepped forward and dragged
the man away before the hand he had
stretched out had time to touch the wax
hand to which he had reached it. He
whispered in Lockwood's ear. suppose
told him briefly what it was and how it
came there. and led him to the door but
as they reached it
"Stopl' cried Isabel. in a terrible
voice; you have seen-now you must
hear. Though have known it all along.
could not speak but now the chain is
loosed and find words. was mad then
and perhaps have been so since. WHY
do you think wanted her body? WHY do
you tn ink have dragged cut my wretch
ed life so long? Because knew this hour
would come. Because knew that some
day he would come back-to her, not to
me-not to me. and that this sweet mo-
ment of revenge would repay me for all
the sufferings of these years. Ask him if
he remembers the last time he saw this
room. Ask him No, ask him moth
ing. Hold him there. and let him hear
how his love. his darling, met her death
n
Lockwood himsel looked like death as
he sank into cb near the door and
looked at Isabel The girls whole body
seemed TRANSPORTED, instinct with a new
full life. Can yeu fancy the scene at all,
reader? suppose not. for my words are
faint to convey any idea of the picture |
saw then. and which haunted me day and
night for years. The horror on the bed.
change'ess and Interchangeable The man,
as far from it as possible, covering be-