The Press., 1890-01-23
A FLOWER OF DEATH.

 legal adviser still leaves affairs in an unsettled condition If you will come to Upngton and sec that things are strengthened out, as they should be, I 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.
 A few months after launching myself upon legal career had picked up 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, I came across, in the same newspaper, an account of mysterious mur- der I was startled and mortified when 1 read the name of the murdered man. It was Victor Mortimer, Claude's brother. The per son who committed the deed was unknown.
 In response to the note went
 There were tears in Claudes eyes when he took my hand, and his voice shook as he said:
 q am glad to see you, Manson, but sorry that our meeting is at time so fraught with sorrow to me-"
 He 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 favori1e room he told me the story of the murder. l 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, 1..L IaI 1-Ao o~f%z and had put up for the night at a small vil- lage, twelve miles away. In tho 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, hay ing been killed in the hall of his own house by blow on the head with some heavy in- strument, that had crushed his skull like an egg shell. The object of the murder was evi- dently robbery, for the dead mans pockets had been rided. Detectives had been em ployed, and within weeks time some of the stolen valuables were found upon the body of an unknown man, who was discovered floating in 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
 
 dwelt upon the peculiarity of the murder, his absence from the place at the time of its oc- currence and the final discovery of the va grant who undoubtedly committed the crime. He appeared very nervous, as if expressing an excitement that he did not wish observed.
 After time I 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 Claude's eyes had every now and then sought dis tant corner. Finally looked in that direc tion and perceived an immense flower pot full of earth, from which grew the stock of q large lily. The lily was in bloom, and at once attracted my attention.
 "What strange appearing fowerl" ex claimed, as arose to examine it.
 Claude sprang up and rushed past me.
 s'Yes, it is strange" he replied, with il concealed excitement. Don't touch iti believe the thing is poison!"
 sWhat makes you think sop asked.
 ''I Idon't know" he answered, a little wildly IA 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" could not banish all thought of the strange flower from my mind at once, an6 that night fell asleep thinking of it. Al night long was tortured by horrible dream! of murder and bloodshed, and in all my wis ions the lily figured prominently. I wa: very glad when morning came.
 Enos Mortimer had left will which cur off his son Claude with a dollar. All hi, property had been beoueathed to Victor, but he had stated in the will that at Victori death the property should go to the next o kin. " As Victor had died unmarried, "ths next of kin' must be his only brother, Claude could see but little trouble in settling tn, affair quickly and easily, and could hardly comprehend why Claude had sent so far fol me when legal service could have been ob tained much nearer home. Meantime had moved my practice to Up ington. I had discovered that there was
 better field there, and at once availed n1ysel of what seemed to be a good opening. Strang | to say, Claude did not seem to approve of tn
 step. He did not openly express his disap proval still his manner spoke fully as plail | as words. Nevertheless, we still remained | friends. r
 l Claude was utterly changed from his forme 1 jovial self He had lost all his old jolly way | and seemed like man haunted by a fearfu memory. He was nervous and unsociable and his former twinkling eyes seemed fillet | with shifting, unsteady light The line upon his face grew deeper, and the white tha tinged his hair grew more perceptble. | Strangely enough, after my removal to Up
 ington my old friend did not ask me to cal upon him; but 1 did not wait for an invita- | tion. One day l called l found him in hi | favorite room, and instinctively looked fo | the lily. A cry burst from my lips as did so There in the corner stood the grewsom | flower, looking stranger and more unnatura | than when I first saw it. From a mixet black and white the cup of the flower ha. turned to dulE dead black, and the tongue which had been dull red, was crimson, as i colored by pure life blood. Months had pass | ed since 1 saw it last, still this was the sam | flower that had seen before -t2 A :orr.uliar feeling of fascination and hoi
 TOT seized me, and I advanced toward th
 lily. Claude Mortimer was there before me | He stood between the flower and me, his whol | frame a-tremble. Don't touch it!" he gasped hoarsely "I
 is accursedI'
 bring to choke down the feeling of horror i my breast. Ut is strange!' ~. With reluctance he stepped aside and allow | ed me to again inspect the flower, but all tn while he cautioned me not to touch it or t inhale too much odor from the flower Tn l same sweet yet sickening odor came from u | flower, but now it was many times stronge than before. Indeed, this odor was so stron that was soon compelled to seek chair feeling faint and dizzy
 II should think you would die, shut il here with that thing," cried "'rhe odor i | terribleln
 Not 50 very bad after you get accus