Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-08-08

the place at the time of its occurrence,
and the final discovery of the vagrant
who undoubtedly committed the crime.
He appeared very nervous. as if re-
pressing an excitement that he did not
wish observed.
After time succeeded in drawing
his thoughts from the murder, and for
an hour we talked Of other things.
During all the time that we had been
in the room Claude's eyes had every now
and then sought distant corner.
Finally looked III that direction and
perceived an immense flower pot full Of
earth, from which grew the stock of a
large lilly. The lilly was in bloom,
and at once attracted my attention.
What strange appearing Aower!' l
exclaimed, as l arose to examine it.
Claude sprang up and rushed past
me.
Yes, it is strange he replied, with
i'll concealed excitement. Don't touch
It'll believe the thingis poison!
What makes you think SOP l asked.
Il don't know he answered, little
wildly. "A week ago it was almost
snowy white; since then it has chang
ed till it has become what you now see.
At first thought it was dying ; now
| do not know what to think.
could not banish all thought Of the
strange flower from my mind at once,
and that night l fell asleep thinking of
1t. All night long was tortured by
horrible dreams of murder and blood.
shed, and in all my visions the lily fig
ured prominently. l was very glad
when morning came.
Enos Mortimer had left a will which
cut off his son Claude with dollar.
All his property had been bequeathed
to Victor, but he had stated in the will
that at Victor's death the property
should 20 to the next Of kin. AS Vic
tor had died unmarried, "the next Of
kin" must be his only brother, Claude.
| could see but little trouble in settling
the affair quickly and easily, and could
hardly comprehend why Claude had
sent so far for me when legal service
could have been obtained much nearer
home.
Meantime I Lad moved my practice
to Upington. l had discovered that
there was better field there, and at
once availed myself of what seemed to
be a good opening. Strange to say,
Claude did not approve of the step
He did not openly express his disap-
proval, still his manner spoke fully as
PLAN as words. Nevertheless, we still
remained friends.
Claude was utterly changed from his
former jovial self. lie had lost all his
old Jolly ways and seemed like man
haunted by fearful memory. He was
nervous and unsocable, and his former
twlnklips eyes seemed filled with IL
shifting, unsteady light. The lines
upon his face grew deeper, and the
white that tinged his hair grew more
perceptlble.
Strangely enough, after my removal
to Upington my old friend did not ask
me to call upon him; but l did not
wait for an invitation. One day call.
ed. found him in his favorite room,
and lnstinctively looked for the lilly.
A cry burst from my lips as did so.
There in the corner stood the grew
some flower, looking stranger and more
unnatural than when | first saw it.
From mixed black and white the cup
of the flower had turned to dull. dead
black, and the tongue, which had been
dull red, was crimson, as if colored
by pure life blood. Months had passed
since | saw it last, still this was the
same flower that l had seen before.
A peculiar feeling Of fascination and
horror seized me, and I advanced to.
ward the lily. Claude Mortimer was
there before ME. lie stood between
the flower and me, his whole frame
a.trembe.
Don't touch it he grasped hoarse-
ly. 1T IS accursed !
Let me look at it, Claude l said, ell.
deavoring to choke down the feeling of
horror in my breast. 1T is strange I
With reluctance he stepped aside and
allowed me to again inspect the flower,
but all the while he cautioned ME not
to touch 1t or to inhale too much odor
from the flower. The same sweet yet
sickening odor came from the flower,
but now it was many times stronger than
before. Indeed, this odor was so strong
that was soon compelled to- seek a
chair, feeling faint and dizzy.