The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-27
CHAPTER u


which the sight q NV ssH name upon cur
family grave at H9<aSsss caused me. my
first thought wss * Cora
She was waiting sor re on the gravel
+ path some little 6ss,s1cs away. deter
mined to go to her $; once and make some
excuse for not showing her my mothers
grave.
NV brain was in whirl. Even after the
first shock Of horror aud surprise had passed
away could hardly realize that l was not
dreaming.
But there before me was the inscription.
It could not mean any one else but myself.
was the only child Of William and Jane
Smith. and my name was William Hengist
Smith. /
At first imagined that some story Of nv
death had reached England. and some one
had placed my name upon the tombstone as
a memorial. But the words land is here
inferred" made that theory untenable.
was alive, alive and looking at the place
where my lifeless body was supposed to be
resting.
Some one. therefore, must have been
buried who was supposed to be me.
But who had supposed such thing, and
who was the dead man who had my name
upon his coffin lid!
With my mind full of this strange and
awful mystery l mechanically made my
way through the tombs until came to the
place where Cora, my wife, was patiently
waiting for me.
"Weil, have you found it. dearp she
said.
| had not been able to make up my mind
what | should say to her. l was too con-
fused. too excited to invent plausible story,
aud SO | told deliberate lie.
''No. my dear" I said. II must have
mistaken the part of the ground. Let's 60
AWAY now'and come on brighter day. the
sight of al, these tombs has upset and de-
pressed me"
don't think in her heart of hearts Cora
had ever rehshed the idea of visit TO the
cemetery, and she very readily fell in with
my views
The drive back TO the hotel was long
one, but l scarcely spoke word. Cora say
that was thoughtful aud depressed. She |
fancied it was the cemetery whicl bad up |
set me, and she tried to lead mythoughts to |
other subjects.
But all her effor g we're In vain. | replied !
to her only in monosyllshles. Do what | |
would | could think but of one thing, the |
fact that /, William Hengist Smith was
buried in the family grave at Highgate.
The idea haunted Inc.
We had arranged TO go to the theater that
evening aud We went; but saw aud under
stood very little of the piece. looked at
the stage mechanically, but right through
the painted scenery there rose up before me
q monument to the dead and upon 1t, in
great black letters in bold relief stood out
the name of William HengiSt Smith.
slept very little that night. l lay with |
wide-op eued eyes, and let my mind grope |
bhndly IN the darkness for some clew to the
great mystery.
Ideteflnind that at all risks and hazards I
would investigate tie matter. | absolutely
declined TO be buried alive.
On the following morning | told Cora
that | had some important business which
would take me to the city, and detain me
there fer the greater part Of the day, and
WENT to Somerset House in order to get
copy OF my death certificate.
filed IN the form, paid the fee, and after
q short time the book was brought to me-
To describe nv feelings as | saw my name
among the registered deaths would be i'm
possible.
Ny blood ran cold, my knees trembled; l
felt as if l should fall to the grouad.
Bat BY violent effort pulled myself to-
Details gwen.
had been found drowned. coroners
i1ggass mad been held upon my body
Ihs certificate OF my death, registered at
EO-srssc house. had been received from the
coruaer, ana 1 had been buried by his
gut1orIty. That was all the information.
] procured q copy of the certificate |
Ind thus armed with the dates | Went out
into the Strand, wondering what had bet
ter do next.
Lvas determined to fathom the mystery
ard know the truth.
wsnted some one to help me and yet |
sEss afraid 70 trust any one with my secret.
! did not want 10 identify myself too
cl-sely with the deceased gentleman
was naturally nervous seeing that | was
staying IN London with lady whom had
married.
According to the certificate, had been
dead about six years. 1t was four wears
ago since | married { lra
At the time Of my marriage, therefore.
had been dead two years.
Horrible as the whole business was could
hardly repress smile when / though Of |.
the extraordinary comDlicssi ton il which ] /
found myself involved
One thing was certain. I could walk
about now without fear sad nold ny head
high Sobody cJ1ld puniIh ne for bizamy,
bec22ss ! vas cssd b@t0rs l Contracted TIE
sec5I1 1azrTzzzs--eSd and bzrssd
s1 .sE ia from co0fo--sols. re-
Tras-- t's'ses- --sSs .2seTs[salr u re grave 81
ssagigsls- ! fs.t t1ss HERE 1Ss 81 10
ir'usa' II ic4s fo--D n KY sz-esascrs, stss Al
-.i3jf.Sis % ~ IL G2Isr lt@hs ec@ygt y Tie 4
ate ~ E-y tss-ssr sac -2pptssr-
The 1-rBs 1e2zg I - u 80 ssss WA zr1sr /
vtiSst Gzfel.taaoS1pss sny Jssy had oSss lcez- 1
ltiis1- : : c. fEss ! s-S-41 lave u a-zks I
2gfli l,lr8es r. I'D Z. spe2sEs Il tie lnq zsst
yparuaps r. slsks 4rgul-ass ~ Ire cQronsr's /
pfiies - .; gas tea9s-
caco'i rslls1 agssg s.ss myself. had a /
Sa.stsgs .ssr p-st ] might IN come way or ]
cf1isr Dstrzy Ezyssf, or Be accidentally I
rscc gr3zs1- ! so01ld have 70 give my name /
soc A1orsss-to furnish proof perhaps Of my
right % iuTest gate the matter, and this was
exactly what / didn't want to do. | could
hardly 20 70 an Office and say:
Il want 70 fnd out under what crcum-
stances Mr. William Hengist Smith died
and was buried. because / am Mr.. William
HeDgist Smith"
he mau who has something to conceal is !
always loath to start inquiries concerning
himself, and had a coed deal to conceal.
In this dilemma / determined TO 60 TO a
professional inquiry agant-to tell him moth
ing about myself, but offer him a substan-
tial sum for the information required. He
could make the inquiries, and that would
save me going 10 an official source.
/ went into a restaurant to get some
lunch, and asked for a Daily Telegraph.
looked down the advertisements OF the pri-
vate detectives. and selected firm whose
offices were in the Strand. To them |
went, and, giving no name, asked TO see the
principal.
Twas ushered into a small room, and a
tall thin, middle-aged man rose, bowed %
a Il.