Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-08-16
A FLOWER OF DEATH.

DEAR FRIEND MANSoN-You have doubtless
heard of my fathers death and the terrible
murder Of my brother My father left rather
peculiar will, and the sickness and death of his
legal adviser still leaves affairs in unsettled
condition If you will come to Upington and
that things are Strengthened out as they
should be, will make it well worth your time.
Yours, as of old, CLAUDE MORTIMER
This note was received soon after my
graduation from college by me, Frederick
Manson, struggling lawyer, from my old
college chum, Mortimer.
/ few months after launching myself upon
legal careerI had picked up a newspaper
one day to see an account of the death of
Enos Mortimer, who had been one of the
prominent men of the state Not more than
three weeks after reading of the death of my
old friends father, came across, in the same
newspaper, an account of a mysterious muir
der. l was startled and Mortified when /
read the name of the murdered man. 1t was
Victor Mortimer, Claudes brother The per-
son who committed the deed was unknown.
In response to the note l went.
There were tears in Claude's ewes when be
took my hand, and his voice shook as he
said
II am glad to see you, Manson, but sorry
that our meeting is at a time 50 fraught with
sorrow to me-"
lie looked twenty years older than when
saw him last Dissipation had left its marks
on his handsome face, and there was very
perceptible sprinkling of white in his hair
Under the hand of affiiction, the old jolly
light had died out of his eyes, which to me
seemed to be strangely aversive and restless.
That evening as we sat in Claudes favorite
room he told me the story of the murder |
did not ask him to do So but of his own free
will he told me of the terrible deed His
brother Victor had been alone in the man
sion at the time that he fell the victim of an
assassin. Claude had been with him that day,
but had ridden away late in the afternoon,
and had put up for the night at a small vii
lage, twelve miles away. In the morning he
had continued on his journey, to be recalled
by message stating that his brother had
been murdered.
He came back and found Victor dead, hav-
ing been killed in the hall of his own house
by a blow on the head with some heavy in
strument, that had crushed his skull like an
egg shell. The object of the murder was evil
IDENTIFY robbery, for the dead mans pockets
had been rifed. Detectives had been EN-
ployed, and within weeks time some of the
stolen valuables were found upon the body
of an unknown man, who was discovered
floating in a small pond twenty miles from
the scene of the crime.
listened to Claude's story in silence, re.
framing from asking any questions that
might cause him greater suffering. He seemed
disappointed by this, and for long time
dwelt upon the popularity of the murder, his
absence from the place at the time of its &C.
currence, and the final discovery of the va
grant who undoubtedly committed the crime
He appeared very nervous, as if depressing
an excitement that he did not wish observed
After time l 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 Claudes
eyes had every now and then sought dis
tant corner. Finally looked in that direc.
ton and perceived an immense flower pot full
of earth, from which grew the stock of
large lily. The lily was in bloom, and at once
attracted my attention.
"What a strange appearing fowerr 1 ex-
claimed, as 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 thing is poisonl'
"What makes you think 500" asked
"Idon't know" be answered, a little wildly.
"a week ago it was almost snowy white:
since then it has changed till it has become
what you now see At first thought it was
dying; now do not know what to think"
l could not Danish all thought of the
strange flower from my mind at once, and
that night fell asleep thinking of it. All
night long was tortured by horrible dreams
of murder and bloodshed and in all my Wis
ions the lily figured prominently. / 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 Victort
death the property should go to the next of
kin. As Victor 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 OBJ
tanned much nearer home.
Meantime had moved my practice to Up
ington. l had discovered that there was
better field there, and at once awaited myself
OF what seemed to be a good opening. Strange
to say, Claude did not seem to approve of the
step. He did not openly express his disap
proval, still his manner spoke fully as plain
as words. Nevertheless, we still remained
friends.
Claude was utterly changed from his former
Jovlal self. He had lost all his old jolly ways
and seemed like man haunted by fearful
memory. He was nervous and unsocable,
and his former twinkling eyes seemed filled
with a shifting, unsteady light The lines
upon his face grew deeper and the white that
Hinged his hair grew more perceptible
Strangely enough, after my removal to Up
ington my old friend did not ask me to call
upon him; but l did not wait for an invita-.
ton. One day called. found him in his
favorite room, and instinctively looked for
the lily. A cry burst from my lips as did so.
There in the corner stood the grewsome
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 pass
ed since | saw it last, still this was the same
flower that had seen before
A peculiar feeling of fascination and hor-
ror seized me, and | advanced toward the
lily. Claude Mortimer was there before me.
He stood between the flower and me, his whole
frame atremble.
"Don't touch it'll" he gasped hoarsely. SIT
is accursed!"
"Let me look at it, Claude" said, endeav-
oring to choke down the feeling of horror in
my breast at is strangel"
With reluctance he stepped aside and allow
ed me to again inspect the flower, but all the
while he cautioned me not to touch it or ia
inhale too much odor from the flower The
same sweet yet sickenipg odor came from the
flower, but now it was many times stronger
than before. Indeed, this odor was SO strong
.4l;.. WAS soon culnpellcd 70 seek chair.
feeling faint and dizzy.
81 should think you would die, shut in
here with that thing" cried. 1.-THE odor is
terribler'
"Not SO very bad after you get accus-
toned to it," he replied, hesitatingly. SIN
deed, if you are not directly above it you will
not notice the odor at all after time"
SIT is the strangest thing ! ever saw ar
heard Of" declared. ut actually fills ma
with horror. Why, should dump the thing
out DOORS"
He shook his head, look of alarm on his
face. ...N
mo, no." he cried. II would not part