The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-05

Mr.. TruSco5t, about that missing leaf in the
register
81 suppose l shall hear a lot of that be-
fore we have DONE" the clerk said in a tone
of vexation. 1.-THE rector is in a GREAT
taking about it, and so am l. Ny father,
who was here before ms, was a most careful
man about the registers, aud so have l been
myself since | have had them under my
charge, and now to think that a leaf has
been taken out, and that it was never
noticed until the other day. Are you here
IN the interest Of the same parties that were
here the other GayF'
Yes, we are all in the same interest.
Philip replied. "First of all. | should like
to have a look at this register myself. | am
entitled to that, l believe, on paying the
fee of one shilling. l have brought a
strong glass with me to try and find out
whether it is of recent date"
The clerk took the keys and accompanied
Philip to the church. the safe was opened
and the volume produced. Philip carried
it to the window, bent it back to the fulless
extent, and examined the edge of the miss
ing sheet with the glass.
''No," he said, II cannot form positive
opinion. 1t Ger tainly looks newer than the
rest of the paper, but from Its having been
cut with so sharp knife it is smoother
than the face OF the paper, and therefore
reflects the light somewhat better There
Is, as far as can see, nothing to guide us
here. Suppose we sit down and talk it over
a minute or two. From what we know of
the matter, it is probable that either it was
cut out eight or ten years ago, or that 1t has
been cut out in the last few months or 50.
Now can you remember who has been here
to examine it latelys"
81 can't tell you who have been here. the
clerk replied, 'but l can tell you how
many people have come and he to TX out
small cash book from the safe "Thls is an
account of the cash have received since the
first of last December. There have been
four inquiries altogether; one by letter for a
marriage certificate, one personal inquiry
about birth registers, one letter for copy Of
register of BURIAL one personal for marriage
Certificate
There have, in fact, been only two per-
sonal visits"
That il so, sir"
ut might be either of them" Philip said.
you see the volumes all have the number
of the year TO which they relate on their
backs, Sd that when person inquiries for a
death or birth certificate he could. if he
happened to be alone here, take gu any of
the books and cut out a leaf. What SORT of
person was it who came for a copy Of this
certificate of birth~
Let me see. 1t was young man. He
mentioned while | was coDving the regis
tiers of the birth that he happened to be
staying down here, and as he was going TO
be married shortly, AID meant to insure his
life, he thought he might just as we'll ges u
copy of the certificate. his name was
Armstrong, | remember. He was boru in
lS44. December, 1874, think it. was.n
WAS he alone here ut allan
mo, sir. | never leave anyone alone
here.n
"Well. now as TO the other?"
"TGe other was lady, sir. She was tall
aud dressed in mourning, and had thick
veil on-qute the lady | should say. She
said she wanted to look in the register for
marriage in the year 1853 That was in the
next volume to is you Sc This is for the
four years up to the year 1851. she could
not find what she was looking for, though
she went through the marriages during
those four years."
"Then She must have. been in here
nearly half an hour, and she was never left
aloneW
"Lor', no, sir" the clerk began, and then
stopped suddenly, ani his usu LILY rudy
face lost evey tinge of Col +.
''She was alone" Philip said.
well, she was for moment now one
thinks of it, the clerk admitted. at was
not Tor minute no, nor half minute;
she was sitting o this chair looking at the
book, aud was standing b3hind her when
she said. There is some one calling you. [
think, Mister Truscott' Thinking it was
the rector who hal come along aud found
the church door open, | hurried out. I did
not see him in the church, and Just went
out of the porch to look. There was no one
there, and | went straight back again.
was not out half minute altogether, | am
prepared to take my affidavit
Half minute would be ample,n Philip
said, She knew by the book she had before
her where the notice she wanted would be
found i'll the next volume AS she sat she
could reach out and take it from its shelf
She had only to turn to the date, cut out
the leaf, replace the book on the shelf and
thrust the leaf under her cloak 1t would
not take ten seconds. You sec by these
other cut leaves now strongly aud hastily it
was done. There is no longer any doubt as
to how the leaf was lost now. This is very
serious matter, both for those concerned in it
and for yourself, Mr.. Truscott.n
II see it is," the clerk slid in great dis
tress. II know | ought not to have gone
out and left any one alone with the regis
ters, but it was done 80 natural it never.
entered my mind. She seemed lust easy
and gentle. i think that there is some one
calling you, Mr.. Truscott,' and out | ran
without thinking of it for a moment; and
If you hadn't asked me about it / should
never have thought Of it again. When l
came back she was sitting just as had left
her, running her finger down the pages,
reading the names; and no one would ever
suspect lady Of such an action as that
well. try and remember all you know
about her. That is the only thing you can
do to help to undo the damage you have
What was she like9n
well, as | have said, sir, she was tall,
and held herself very upright-out Of the
way stiff, should say"
"What age was SHEEP
ut is difficult to judge ladies' ages when
they have got their wells down, sir, but
should judge her between 40 and So |
could see her hair at the back Of her bonnet
as stood beside her and leant on the table,
and 1t was what should call sandy, not rcd
or yellow, but just about the color of sand.
Is there anything the matter, sir; do you
think you know the ladyg
Philip did not answer for moment. The
description mad brought up his mother be-
fore his eyes. For moment his heart
seemed to stop beating, then with a great
effort he said, II know some one like your
but it could not possibly be her.
Go on, was there anything else you remem-
berf'
only her hand" the clerk replied, "her
dress was all black, quiet black, but nothing
as one would remember, but she took her
glove off when she began to examine the
book. / thought that 1t was to turn the
leaves over better, but suppose now that
Il was to be able to use it quicker for citing
but the knife She had marriage ring and
heah Natd - -