Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-12-25


he really did see somebody, and that the
stranger was very much like Neelhan. A
pompous old ass, this Green, with great
wide struggling forehead, google eyes, and
very self -assertive manner. | can quite
understand Joe snubbing hint was Just
like Joe to do so.
: The ad journed inquest takes place to-
! morrow, but there are no new facts. The
BODY was fully identified, and there does
no6 seem to me single suggestion, my
i aear Kate, to bear out your alarming fancy
that Neeiham had kIllei our dear Joe AMI
escaped in his clothes, etc. My dear child,
it is only bad dream. l saw thu body this
morning. 1t startled me for moment; it
was like him, but stouter and taller; and
well. thank God it was not our dear, great
hearted Joe. Furthermore, found at the
hotel that Joe had left some money in
charge of the landlady; that part of his
luggage was in the baggage-room, and
that when he paid his bill he forgot none
of these things. 1 trie1 for the time 10
think myself detective acting upon in
formation he had received, and following up
your theory but it would not work, thank
goodness, and Wood, who leaves tonight.
will tell you SO and give you the comfort Of
our united opinions to this effect. Besides,
10 L onld oCAOAo, JUG to-ce Ill lIO1l Liver
pool, mentioning Aunt Dorothy, shows
that he was not Neelham Or Neadham $
ghost in masquerade. No. no. my darling
Kate; you are not well. Joe's going has
troubled you; the shock of this man death
following, as 1 have said before, on Joe's
genial mention of him; aud the sensational
novels you have teen reading lately-these
are the causes OF your morbid thoughts.
Forgive me for saying NOR bid. The truh
IS, you are lonely and fanclf I'll; so, also am
l; and the best thing for both of us is to
get married. What do you say now to
this proposals. honey moon trip to New
York; Won't that benefit you? Then you
can tell Joe yourself what dear, silly
goose you are, and what wild goose chase
you sent me on to this great, busy, God
forsaken city, when I would have much
preferred days f5ning in the Wye, a
ramble with YOU, and an evenings whist
with Aunt Dorothy at double dummy.
Well, shall it be as I suggest, and to New
York for our hone ymoon!
''Your devoted and ever affectionate
DICK"
Thereupon followed in quick succession
the following kilograms:
From Miss Norbury to Richard Wooduiue
Yes"
From Richard Wooduille to Miss Norbuyy.
'Do you really mean itg'
From Miss Norbuay to Richard WooduiHe
81 never was more in earnest. Wait for
letter which ] am now writing, and then
come to Wyedale with all speel."
From Richard Woodrille to Miss Nog,buru
Il wait impatiently, and write mean
WHILE so that our letters will cross
These are the letters that crossed:
my DEAREST KATE: Your telegram fills
me with alarm AMI with joy, and l should
not be the honest Dick hope am if did
not say that joy is in the ascendant We
shall be two happy people, because we can
make sacrifices for each other. Our love
has nothing of selfshness in it, and while
we have postponed our marriage for the
sake of others, we are now, it seems, to
hurry it on because we both love our dear
Joe, and you are miserable in his absence.
Well, SO am I, SO far as it is possible for
man to be miserable under the circum-
stances You have got ONE strange fancy
into your dear little head about Joe, and
will not be satisfied without following him
to New York l take you at your word.
and shall writeto Manchester by this most
to fix my vacation and l am glad to say
my partners can well afford to let me 90.
Business has prospered with us, and the
future is even more hopeful than our most
sanguine expectations So, sweet Kate
my dear love and friend, we will become
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Woodville as quick
as the law and the church will let us, and
then Hail Columbia Ths hours are weeks
until get y our letter in the morning, my
dear, dear Kate.
Love to Aunt Dorothy, and heap of
kisses for you-one of which YOU can trans
fer to A. D., but only one. Your own,
DICK
my DEAR, KIND DICK: Our dear Joe is
dead. am sure of it-dead and buried in
that grave in Kensal Green. Don't
think me mad. Aunt Dorothy SAYS
l ann she is very good to me, Dr.
Ware says the news of Mr.. Need ham's
death, coming upon Joe's letter describing
their meeting, has upset my nerves. Law
yer Wood has put the affair in what he
calls its legal and logical shape, and
laughs at me. But, OIL Dick, there is an
instinct that is above logic, a pain that is
beyond medicine. My heart knows its own
sorrow, and my heart mourns for our dear
Joe. He is dead and that man Needham
has gone to New York in his place. Mr.
Green may have name that suggests ridi-
Guile and belief in supernatural things
that seems foolish. But l have seen Joe
since he left US, and he was standing bv the
white column in the churchyard. l said
nothing Of this until L read Mr. Green's
letter in The Times, and thea my heart and
soul and mind, all nv baiug, were filed
with the revelation of JOBS death. 1t was
on Saturday night You had Just arrived
by the mail from Manchester. The clock
was striking ten. 1t was a lovely nioht
if,,I T
of the window to blow kiss in nv fancy
far away to Joe, when the moonbeams
seemed to strike halo about that
white column in the churchyard.
and though it is a quarter of mile away,
I distinctly saw Joe standing there.
He was in evening dress, and he looked
towards me and then turnel sadly. away,
While l gazed transixed, clou1 passed
over the moon; and churchyard column.
the sad vision, and all vanished away.
DON you remember that l was sal all the
nights Don't You remember that Aunt
Dorothy gave me Der smelling salts, and
that she was very angry because l revoked
at whist? Don't yon remember that Won
said looked pale and i'll the next day at
church, and that you put it down to poor
Mr.. Luke sermona Your cheering words,
Aunt Dorothy's kindness, helped me to
begin TO forget what had seen or fancied
and Joe's kilograms on Monday quite cured
me until night, when the death of Needham
shocked me, and the letter of that member
of parliament in The Times on Tuesday
drove me crazy. l recalled the vision of
Saturday night, and my heart seemed to
cry out he is dead, your brother is MUIR
dered, the wretched man who was like him
has poisoned himi' Icoul1 not shake it of.
cannot now, even after your letter and
assurances, and the evidence at the inquest.
the identity, the letters, everything. 1 am
woman, AMI not logical; l am woman,
and don't ask me to reason. l love
him; ask my heart, Does he iveg The
answer is, NO | go into his room,
I touch his coat, I look at hi; picture
Does he liveg 1 ask. No! His dogs go
whining about the place, the summer wind
means in the trees, my pigeons come and
nestle upon me as if they knew and were
sorry. Two of the roses on the grave
where Joe's heart was buried with hers no
owed so land l loved her dearly as l could
owe and did love every thiag he loved)-
Two of his favorite rose trees are d ling,
Ind l never saw so red and angry a sunset
aS that Of Loot Now Joo,ox,t NIL,