The Dickinson press., 1889-08-24

evergreens. She had on a simple dress
of nun-like gray, a little white lace at
the throat and wrists. She was pale-so
pale that even her lips had lost their
usual scarlet bloom; the only spot of
bright color about her was her golden
hair. She was standing up. tall, will
lowy and graceful, twisting sprays of
holly into wreath round one of the
pictures on tho wall Little Amy clung
to, her skirts, gazing admiringly up at
her as her deft hands twined the holly
round the frame.
Tommy, his arms full of ever.
greens, stood by, handing her spray
after spray. Somehow this simple
homo picture of Lucy standing
among the children there. branded itself
upon Paul Norton's mind in colors never
to be etfaced. AS she turned to meet
him, no smile of greeting curved her
lips; those mobile lips seemed rigid; and,
pale as she was, her eyes struck him with
their burning brightncss-they shone
with a kind of fever light.
''Is your head bctter:' he asked anx-
iously.
Not much"
You shouldn't try to keep about when
you have one of your bad headaches"
ho said sylnpatheticallv. you exert
down and rcst:"
"1f l could rest!" she replied But
lying down, quiet silence, drives me
mad! am better here"
Paul looked at the children
llo was good uncle, and very fond
OF his small nephews and neccs; but
just now ho wished them elsewhere. He
wondered whether there was any pos
sibility of getting them all out of the
way; he wanted to talk to Lucy. He
was pondering whether they might not
he induced to go out in the garden and
pick some more holly bcrrics-whcn his
brothers voice was heard in the passage
outside.
"Paul-Paul!' and tho tono of the
summons told him that something was
amiSs
"What is it, Hal?" hc said. opening the
parlor door
Henry Norton motioncd to him to step
out and shut tho door behind linn
"There's an awful busincss!' Henry
said in an agitated undertono There's
a man been found murdered in the wood,
close by the gate. It's that very Mr.
Bercsford who was hero yesterday"
"Murdercd? herc:" exclaimed Paul in
mortified anlazen,ent, but also careful not
to raise his voice.
ats too true-thero lie lies, shot dead
poor fellow! Como with me. Paul: we
must see what's to be DONE"
There was 4 childish cry of terror and
disnlay from the parlor tho sound of q
fall, and then Amy's voice upiftcd in
burst Of loud, frightened sobs.
Tommy dashed open tho door.
"Oh, father--unclc!-som hap
pcned to Miss Lucy"
Paul rushed forward Lucy had fallen
on the floor in a dead faint, her white
faco upturncd, the holly still in her hand
Can she have heard what we were
saying outside" Paul exclaimed in dis
may as he knrlt by her side
III thought we spoke quite quietly"
said his brother, almost equally agh,st.
his florid face pale and perturbcd
"Tonlmy-Lul:e--run and fetch your
mothcr!"
They left Lucy, still inscnsble, in Mrs
Norton's care, PSul tearing himself away
from her reluctantly, and indeed only
being induced to accompany his brother
by his sistcr-in-law's repeated assurances
that it was only a fainting fit. which she
knew perfectly we'll how to manage. and
could manage much better without any
men hanging round,
Mr. Norton's startling tale was indeed
true There on the borders of the wood.
just off the pathway. partly screened by
the bushes, the body of tho stranger who
had presented himself as Mr. Beresford
at Hazelmead tho previous afternoon
lay stark and frozen among the long
frosty grass and weeds. He had been
shot right through the heart. and on
search being made pistol was found
lying a few yards oT-one of those small
pocket derrngers which are small enough
to be concealed in a lady's hand, but
which carry the deadly, large concal
ball Was this terrible decd which had
fallen like blood red "boll from the
blue" into their peaceful life, one of sill
eide or murder? There WAS 10 sign o! :.
struggle, no evidence apparent on a cur
sorry examination to tell the ta;c Mr.
Norton, of course, Immediately sent in
formation to the police, who were speed
lily on the spot, and on their arrival the
body was conveyed to ono Of the out
houses. there to await the inquest No
letters or papers, bearing any address or
giving any clew to the deccased's family
Or residence, were found upon him, so.no
notification of his tragic fate could be
sent to his friends Inquiries made at
the Tiger, the nearest inn to lIazclmcad,
elected that the stranger had arrived
there on foot the previous afternoon
had partaken of rcfreshmcnt, asked the
way to Mr.. Norton's, and expressed his
intention Of returning to the Tiger to
sleep: but meanwhile, before this infor-
nation reached uazclmead. Paul Norton
had returned to the house.
"Is Miss Lucy better:' was the first
eager question.
"Oh, yes" replied Mrs. Norton, lit
was just faint; she says she was feel.
ing very i'll this morning, as indeed any
one could see; and she was startled and
afraid there was something wrong when
dai called you out OF the parlor, Shes
much better now. and is lying on the
dining room sofa. quiet"
Paul went to Lucy, and bent over her
with tenderest inquiries and expressions
OF resretful fear that his overheard con-
versation with his brother had given her
a shock. "But never thought you'd
hear us" he said deprecatingly
II am so sorry tainted and frighten-
ed you all" she murmured. But wo-
men are weak creatures, you know
and her lips quivered suddenly into a
strange smile. a pale CLEAN of ghastly
mirth
Eyes, we who are strong must he care
full of you tendercr plants" lie said: ''it
is our place to guard and shield you!
Lucy, how should prize the privilege
of cherishino yoll If Won would oiva II r.,