Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-20
"whers is the key p" 1 said shortly.


But Ella hesitated.
"uncle, she said timidly through the
keyhole, "we have found On old key
that VIC think viii open the door. The
locksmith did not come"
j listened appalled, TO this glib perver-
sion OF the truth. and wondered if it had
ever been practiced upon me. Still all
was silent.
1.-THE room is quite dark, Charlie"
said my wife nervoGsiy rs she proceeded
to fit the key in the lock.
in another moment tho door was open,
and q gust OF wind almost extlnguished
my candle. / held IT aloft with a whis-
tie Of dismay, for what 2 scene met our
ewes The room was strewn with manned
and dishgured furniture the mirror was
cracked night across the crockery was
smashed. and the lower half OF the win
dow appeared TO have entirely vanished.
And oh, horror the pae-pink window
curtains, the .bed-curtains, the covers Of
the chairs, we're stained here and there
with deep crimson. But where was
Uncle Gregory?
lie had disappeared. The room was
empty
Ella. after a Mortified glance around,
uttered a series OF piercing screams.
"Hush !" | exclaimed, Selling her
arm viciously. Have you lost your
senses? You will wake Uncle Simon"
But she sobbed and cried, and de-
clared Historically that Uncle Gregory
was dead, aud that it was ali my fault. l
Indignantly pointed ont the glariDg in
Justice of thls remark. and stated my
conviction that the old gentleman, in
desperation, had probably taken "long
drop" from the window. 81 hope You
are pleased with the result OF your plan.
Mrs. Danvers," / went on, with cutting
sarcasm. SIT has certainly been most
brilliant success-so far. OF all the"
was interrupted by the sound of
door opening along the passage, and the
next moment Uncle Simon. in an exceed
ingly airy costume and carrying a can
die in dangerously horizontal position,
appeared before our astonished gaze.
q had always suspected that my uncle
wore a wig. Now L had ocular demon
stration. His head was bald as sn egg
"Bless my soul !" he gssped, with
chattering teeth. letting the candle run
down on our new Kidderminster. "this
is most CHASTITY house, / refuse to go
TO bed again, Charles" he continued,
excitedly. 81 shall sit mp all night.
My nerves are quite unstrung."
Here there was terrific and continu-
Gus peal ut the front-door bell. II rang
and rang, and rang. went down to
open tour domestic having gone to
bed-and Ella followed me. Hardly had
l drawn back the bolt than Mr..
Carper burst in, dishevelled, painting,
purple with rage, hisclothes stained with
earth, his hands cut and bleeding. He
tore past us upstairs like mailman,
and Oh the landing he cannoned violently
against Uncle Simon, who was clinging
TO the stair ratings shivering and shaking
in his very sketcby attire. To our utter
amazement the two old men grasped
hands warmly and all but embraced each
other.
Where on earth did you come from,
Carper?" quavered my uncle, almost IN
tears.
Finicker !" returned the other in
choking voice, "I'm glad to see you
very glad to see you. Let rs leave this
internal place now-at once" Then
turning to me 81 tell you. Charles
Danvers, you will regret the despicsble
part YOU have played to-day only once,
and that, sir, will be all your life. You
are low, contemplate hound, sir. But
I see now through your plot to secure
both my money and my friend Mr.
Finicker's. Yes, my friend, | say. You
might have saved yourself your lies, sir
and you, too, Madam" fiercely, to the
pale and trembling Ella. " Mr.. finicksr
and we're foolish enough to quarrel, it
is true, but rejoice to say that we were
reconciled a week ago. All, you may
cry, madam, and you may swear under
your breath, sir, but you are an Internal
young liar, Charles Danyers. and your
wife is not a whit better. l renounce
you both forever "
"And so do l." Chartered Uncle
Sam. 1--WE leave this house tonight,
late as it is. We can get rooms, without
doubt, at the Lowthorpe Inn"
So saying he retired-with as much
dignity as his costume would permit-to
his room, accompanied by the dilapi-
dated looking Mr.. Carper. Ella went on
crying. l simply swore, "not loud,
but deep"
Within ten minutes the two old gen.
tlemen reappeared, equipped for de-
parture. Irotestations, explanations.
apologies, were all in vain. Our outraged
relatives left the house without deignlng
to take any further notice of either Ella
or myself, and as they disappeared into
the darkness felt as if every atom OF my
sell-respect went with them.
draw a veil over the narrowing scene
which followed.
My wife and / did not speak to each
other for at least a week after this de-
plorable eyening-but that is a mere
detail.
The failure OF Elias "plan." how
ever, marked an epoch in my life. 1t
was my last deception. Since then |
have been. doggedly uncompromlsingly
truthful and straightforward in all my
words and actions and have observed
similar metamorphosis in Ella. If ever
in the future l find out Gregory Simon
in a lie | shall fog him most unmerci-
fully. We have neither seen nor held
any communication with either uncle
since that unlucky night. l fear our
chances of heirship are gone forever.
Sic transit gloria mundi!
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