Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-10-26

There was straw in the further end
of it. out of which yellow cat raised
two cleaning eyes. and then flew up a
ladder against the wall and disappeared
among the rafterS. In the middle OF the
floor. lying a little apart. were three fig
ureS with sheets over them. Instructive
" we felt that we were in the presence
of death. | looked back at Charles and
Ralph. who were still standing outside
in the falling snow. Charles was bare
headed. but Ralph was looking abSently
in front of him. seeming conscious of
nothing. The Inspector made me a sign.
He had raised one of the sheets and now
withdrew it altogether. Ny heart seem
ed To stand still.
1t was Aure.a. Aurelia changed in
the last great change of all. but still
Aureia The fixed artificial color in the
cheek cOnSortcd i'll with the bloodlcSS
pallor of the rest of the face. which was
set in a look of surprise and terror. She
was altered beyond what should have
been. She looked several years older.
but il was still Aurclia. Those little
gloved hands. tightly clinched. were the
same which she had held to the library
fire as we talked the day before; even
the dress was the same. Alas. She had
been in too great Il hurry to change it
before She left. or her thin shoes. Poor
little Aurelia.
And them don't know how it was.
but i'm another moment Ralph was
kneeling by her. bending over her,
taking the stiffened hands in his trem-
bling clasp. imploring the deaf ears to
hear him. calling wildly to the pale lips
To speak to him which had done with
human speech. | could not bear it. and
turned away and looked out through
the open door at the snow falling. The
inspector came and stood beside me. In
the silence which followed we could
hear Charles speaking gently from time
10 time. and when at last we both turned
toward them again. Ralph had flung
himself down on an old bench ut the
further end of the clubhouse. with his
back turned towards us. his arms resting
on a barrel and his head bowed down
upon them. He neither spoke nor
moved.
Charles left him and came toward us,
and he and the Inspector spoke apart for
a moment. and then the latter dropped
ON his knees beside the dead woman and.
after looking carefully AT dark stain
on one of the wrists. turned back the
sleeve. Crushed deep into the round
white arm cleaned something bright.
II was an emerald bracelet which we
both knew. Charles cast haSty glance
nj Roluh. but he had not moved. and he
drew me beside him SO as to interpoSe
our two figures between him and the in
spector. The latter Quitely turned
down the sleeve and recompoSed the
arm.
Il knew she would have them on her,
if she had them at all" he said in low
voice. I'VE need look no further at
present. Not one will be missing. They
are all there"
He gazed long and earnestly at the
dead face. and then to my horror he sud
denly unfastened the little hat. made
an involuntary movement as if to stop
him. but Charles laid an iron grip upon
me and motioned me to be still. The
stealthy hand quietly pushed back the
fair curls upon the forehead. and IN an
other moment they fell still further back,
showing few short locks OF dark halr
beneath them. which so completely al
tered the dead face that could hardly
recognize it as belonging to the same
person. The inspector raised his head
and looked significantly at Charles.
TO BE CONTINUED.