Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-12-21
PHOTOGRAPH MYSTERY.


said to be so Impressed upon the
retinia of the eye that it can DO
photographed theretrom after
death. When this theory was nrst
broached, an occasional effort was
made to test it's accuracy as
means OF identifying murderers,
and the most extraordinary OF the
cases forms the groundwork Of the
present story.
In the summer of 49,, a young
physician named Edwin Stone COM
menced practice in certain village
not a great way from New York
city. He invested all the money be
had in the world in a cheap little
cottage, which he selected, not for
its business advantage, but because
it was the very pink of perfection 10
all other respects. For the fact was,
he was engaged to be married as
soon as his circumstances would
admit. HIS affianced wife was
Ella Thorne, the daughter of the
lawyer; and, poor as Edwin Stone
was. he would NOT have exchanged
her silver voice for a golden dover.
To keep up an appearance-sn
indispensable thing IN this world
the Doctor was obliged to keep
some one to answer the door and
make himself generally useful. ln
accordance with an invariable Gus
tom, the Doctor got the largest
youth he could obtain for the
money, and this happened to be a
logged fellow who had such a
hang dog look that he enjoyed the
enviable reputation Of having "a
devil 10 him." Ofcourse, the wages
that Seth, as he was called, received
from the Doctor we're not sufficient
to keep body and soul together,
and as he wrote an excellent hand,
two birds were killed with one
stone by Lawyer 1horne's giving
him occasional employment as a
copyist.
Juet at this time wealthy man
of science offered a large sum Of
money for the best treatise on the
subject alluded 10 at the commence
ment of this article. Being thor
oughly conversant with everything
pertaining 20 the subject, Edwin
Stone applied himself to the task
like an enthusiast.
The manuscript was finished and
sent away, and both Edwin and
Ella awaited the result with beat
ing hearts, for the prize offered
was sufficient to enable them to
marry at once.
At length the momentous period
arrived, and the result justified
their sanguine expectation ; Edwin
was declared entitled to the prize,
and was duly notified to appear
and receive the amount in hard
cash.
The two we're almost beside
themselves with JOY, and the day
was fixed at once. Edwin lost no
time in securing the money, but
like most young doctors, he had no
bank account, 80 on returning
home with the amount late at night
he took the precaution to fasten 1t
in belt about his waist. After
dismissing Seth, who was waiting
his return, Edwin sat down by his
bedroom fire, and was soon lost in
one OF those reverles where every
thing is couleur de rose.
The next morning Seth was on
his way to the cottage, as usual,
when he encountered wyer
Thorne, who was just starting out
for his morning walk.
81 think we are going to have a
fine day." said he to Seth.
"It may be-" replied the latter
"but 1t will be a windy one, If that
red sky is any sign.
The lawyer had an eye like a
lynx, but for the life of him he
could not discover the slightest
tinge of red in the heavens.
"By the way,n said be, "as you
have finished all but a page oI
= two OF your last job 1t will take
you but a moment or two to do II
now"
Seth was at first disinclined tC
comply, bat he finally went in ant
sat down with pen in hand, walt
Ing for the Ink, which the lawye
, brought from his desk in the ad
joining room.
Before commencing Seth drew
his hand across his eyes as If t
brush off something that blurre'
his sight. and he had scarcely writ
ten the first word before he stsrte'
up and angrlly exclaimed; ~ dl'
not ask you for red ink J"
The ink was as black rs the &C
of spades, and this being Seth
, second optical deluslon that morn
ing the lawyer advised him to defe
the copying for short time.
Seth thereupon departed for tn
doctors cottage and shortly after
. ward came rushing back to an
nounce that he had found Edwi
Stone with a hatchet embedded i
his scull.
In consequence Of his suspicion
CT