The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-03

the rest Of the year / don't often have a
stranger at the Carns's Arms"
Two days later Mr.. Armstrong returned to
Carnestord with builder from Plymouth.
The following day, five or six workmen
appeared, and in a fortnight considerable
transformation had been made in the cot
tage A veranda was run round the front
and two sides. Some rustic wood work ap-
peared round the windows, and the interior
or the house was transformed with fresh
paper and paint. Nothing could be done in
the way Of roses and crespsrs. as these could
not be moved at this time of the year, for 1t
was now just midsummer.
The day after the workmen went out, a
wagon load Of furniture, simple and sub
stautial, arrived, and on the following
day the coach brought down the new
tenants. A girl had already been engaged
In the village to act as servant Miss Arm
strong was quietly and plainly dressed, and
might by her attire be taken for the daugb-
ter OF small farmer, and the opinion in the
village, as the new corners walked through
on their way to the cottage. was distinctly
favorable. In very short time Mr.. Arm
strong became quite popular character in
Carnesford, and soon was on speaking
terms with most OF the people. He won the
mothers hearts by patting the heads of the
little girls, and praising their looks. He
had a habit of carrying sweets in his
pockets, and distributing them freely
among the children, and he would lounge
for hours at the smiths door, listening to
the gossip that went on, for in Carnesford,
as elsewhere, the forge was the recognized
meeting place of those who had nothing to
do. He was considered wonderful acQui-
sition by the frequenters of the suuggery at
the Carne's Arms, and his stories Of life at
the Cape gave an added interest to their
meetings. Hearing from Hiram Powlett
tA.t keh aI 70 nxaI L.
him to get them, as matter Of kindness, to
visit his daughter; and within fortnight
of his arrival, he and Mary went to tea to
the mill.
Several times the conversation In the
snuggery turned upon the murder at the
Hold. In no case did the new conner lead up
TO it, but 1t cropped up as the subject which
the people of Carnesford were never weary
of discussing. He ventured no opinions
and asked no questions upon the first few
occasions when the subject was being dis
cussed, but smoked his pipe in silence, listen
ing to the conversation.
at seems strange to me, he said at last,
that you in this village should never have
had a suspicion of any one except this
Capt Mervyn; understand that you, Mr..
Claphurst, and you, Mr.. Carey, have never
thought of any one else; but Mr.. Powlett-
he always says he is sure 1t isn't him. But
if it wasn't him. MIR. Powlett. who do you
think it wasr'
"Ah, that is more than can tell, )" Hiram
said. II have thought, and have thought
till my head went round, but can't see who
it can have BEEN"
"Miss Carnes seems to have had no enc
mics"
mo, not one-not as / ever heard of.
She was wonderful popular in the village
she was; and as for the squire, except
about poaching, he never quarrelled with
anyone"
"Had he trouble with poachers, then"
"Well, not often, but last year before that
affair there was bad lot about. They were
from Dartport-that's two miles away,
down at the mouth of the river--with one
or two chaps from this village, SO it was said
About a Fortnight may be three weeks
before Miss Carne was killed, there was a
fight up in the woods between them and the
gamekeepers. One of the keepers got
stabbed, but he didn't die until some time
afterward; but the jury brought it in will
full murder all the same. 1t didn't matter
much what verdict they brought in, cause
the man as the evidence went against had
left the country-at least, he hasn't been
seen hereabouts,"
"And a good job, too, Hiram good job,
too" Jacob Carey put in.
EYES," Hiram said, II admit it, it was
good job as he was gone; good job for us
all He would never have done any good
here, anyway; and the best as ever he did
for himself, as know of, was when he took
himself off,"
There was general chorus of assent.
"What was the mans nameg" Mr.. Arm
strong asked, carelessly.
"His name was George Forester" Jacob
Carey said.
AS they were going out from the snug
gerry that evening, the landlord made sign
to Mr.. Armstrong that he wanted to speak
to him. He accordingly fingered until the
other men had left.
30, thought would just tell you, Mr.
Armstrong. seeing that your daughter aud
you have been to the mill, it's just as well
not to talk about the poaching and Georgs
Forester before Ruth Powlett. You see,
it's rather a sore subject with her. She
was engaged to that George Forester, and
lot Of trouble it gave her father and
mother. Well. 1 expeot she must have seen
now that she had q lucky escape. Still, Q
girl don't like a man as she has liked being
spoken against, SO thought would say
word to YOU"
Thank you. That's very friendly in
you. Yes, you may be sure that / won't
Introduce the subject. am very glad you
told me, or might have blunderel upon it
aud hurt the girls feelings. She doesn't
look very strong. either. She has a nervous
look about her, think"
"She used to be very different, but she
had great shock; she was the first. you
know, to 20 into Miss Carne's room and find
her dead. She was her maid before that
and she was Ill for weeks after. 1t came on
top of an illness, too; she fell down on the
hill coming home from church. and they
found her lying insensible there, and she
was very bad. had the doctor there every
day, Then came this other affair, and /
daresay this business of George Forrester's
helped too. Anyhow. she was very bad,
and the doctor thought at one time that she
wouldn't get over it"
Mr.. Armstrong walked home thought
fully
swell, father, what is your newsp Mary
Armstrong said, as she entered. 81 can
see you have heard something more than
usual"
'Well, my dear, don't know that it's
anything, but at the same time it certainly
is new, and gives us something to follow up.
It seems that there was fellow named
George Forester living somewhere about
here and he was engaged to your friend,
Ruth Powlett, but her father and mother
disapproved of it highly. 1t seems he was
bad lot; he got mixed up with gang OF
roachers and some little time before this
murder, about three weeks they said, they
had a fight with Mr.. Carne's keepers; one of
the keepers was MORALLY wounded, it was
said by this George Forester. The man
lived for some time, but at last died Of the
wound and the iury brought in a verdict of