Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-07


more to save her reputation than my life
that was striving and plotting.
| In the meantime I was prey to the
| most dreadful anxiety. I was sure by
| that time she must be missed and sought
| for. Perhaps she had been seen to enter
my chambers. Every step that heard /
| feared might be that of policeman. In
the morning q stranger called on bust
ness; this was, of course, nothing extra
ordinary; but when he was gone I felt
convinced that he was a detective officer,
and came there as spy. 1 thrust few
clothes into a carpet bag, intending to
escape TO Europe. ] caught up box of
matches to set the place on fire. grasp
ed a razor and looked eagerly on its
keen edge as the surest and swiftest way
to end the misery. But all these would
leave her to the jests of the world and
my own sufferings were nothing in com
parison. At this distance of time 1 can
/ look back impartially and coolly upon
shat dreadful day, and | can solemnly de-
clare that I would rather have been
hanged for numbering her than allowed
| breath TO sully her fair fame.
81 had just laid down the razor when
hurried step crossed the ante-room. 1t
was her uncle.
"Now," thought call is lost. She was
seen TO enter here and he has come to
claim her."
| "My dear sir" he began, in nervous,
unsettled way, you remember the bust
ness came about yesterday"
"Perfectly."
Sand do you remember the words l
used as I was going out. Imean in ans
wer to what you said about my not being
able to touch this money until after my
niece's death?"
eyes, | recollect them distinctly"
"My niece has disappeared since yes
terday morning." he continued, turning
even paler than before, "and if any
thing serious should occur and you
should repeat those expressions, they
might be laid hold Of aud 1 don't
| know what would be the consequences.
I might be suspected of having murdered
her."
Poor fellow. If had not known the
truth | should have suspected it myself
from his excessive terror and anxiety.
He wiped the perspiration from his face
and sank into a chair. The sight Of a
persoE more frightened than myself re-
assured me. I was calmer than l had
been the preceding morning.
"Where did she go? How was she
dressedq" inquired, anxious to know all
l could on the subject.
81 don't know. She told me she was
going shopping and calling, but no one
saw her leave the house, and none of the
servants know exactly how she was dress
ed. When 1 went home to dinner the
first thing I heard was that she had not
returned"
''What have you done? Have you sent
to the police and to the hospitalsf"
eyes, and to every FREUD and store
where she was at all likely to call"
"You may depend upon it," replied,
very impressively, shat will not repeat
what you said yesterday. You are right
in supposing that it would tell against
you very much if she should be found
dead under suspicious circumstances"
He talked little longer, and then went
to renew his search for his niece. How 1
preserved my self-posse ssion during the
interview do not know; so far from be-
ing really calm, could have gnawed the
flesh off my bones in my agony.
That night when the doors were fast
ened and l was alone, except for the com
pany of the dead, shut myself up in the
closet for two hours to ascertain whether
she had died from want of air, for I dis
trusted my own knowledge of the appear
ance of suffoeated persons. The place
was we'll supplied with air from several
large crevices. Ny first idea was correc
she had died from other causes.
i When [ emerged from the closet /
found that the lamp had burnt out, and
that the night was intensely dark. 1t was
raining in torrents, and the thunder and
wind rOared a terrific chorus, based by
the sullen booming of toe river, then at
high tide. / sat there in the dark upon
the floor holding the cold, stiff hand of
the dead within my own. 1 thought
dreamily how often it had welcomed me
with its soft pressure, while the sweet
eyes had beamed brightly in mine, and
the full pouting lips had wreathed
into dim pies of delight. Now, that haLd,
that used to be so plump, go full of
warmth and life, was rigid and cold; those
eyes were dazed and ghastly; those lips
were clammy and hard! Tears came to
my relief; | wept as grown men seldom
weep, and with that eart-easing gush
! came new idea of escape for her and
me. [ was ready to believe at that mo-
! ment that her spirit rested upon mine, land
inspired the thought for it burst upon me
executed as that instant it would be crown
ed with success. How could I otherwise
have had the temerity to snatch her
up in my arms, carry her down stairs, at
the risk of being encountered BIZ some of
the other inhabitants of the house, bear
her through the streets, aud by a way
| that l knew. The tide was running
strong and deep against the wall. l
pressed one kiss against the cold fore
head and threw her into the black, hurry
ing waters. Gladly, gladly would have
gone with her, and held ner to my heart
IL death! but the impulse was still on n e,
and, without delay, fastened back. No
| one saw me.
A few days after saw by the papers
that her body had been found in the up
per bay. The medical evidence, after
| post-mortem examination, was that she
| had died from rupture of the heart, and
that death took place before the INNER
sion In the water. So It was conf occurred
that she had been standing by the river
when the fatal attack selzed her, and had
| fallen in unperceived; and a verdict of
accidental death was returned.
! Her uncle is stout and rudy, and
laughs as heartily as ever.
/ shall die bachelor. | am lean and
! pale, and bowed ano gray haired, and the
sound of my own laugh is strange to me.
Once Week.
| The Biggest Man in the World
Iowa does not only stand at the head of
| the list as corn growing state, but stand
| lro 81 r