The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-08
EDGAR PERCY'S DEATH.
STORY OF Plot TO DEFRAUD IxSUB-
ASCE COMPANIES.

|
Portable practice Life had gone on smoothly
enough for him. with scarcely break worth
recording. He had no mournful memories OF
the mast. his affections had never been blight
ed. his youth he had spent in getting rich,
and now he was satisfied with his worldly ac-
cumulations. but in no haste 70 secure aid
| to dissipate them.
But the dead levels Of life get strangely
stirred now and then; and as DR.. Winter I'M
folded the paper. his eyes fell upon q para
graph headed: Sudden Death-Our readers
| will regret 10 hear of the sudden demise OF the
talented young artist, Edgar Percy. He was
! found dead in his apartment last evening.
| His disease was probably some organic ahec-
ton OF the heart. We are as yet unable 10
give further particulars.
Edgar Percy dead Why, it was only yes
terday afternoon that ! met him IN perfect
| health! :"
lie took up his hat and gloves with the in
! tention Of visiting Percy's lodging. and was
carelessly putting the letters away. when he
exclaimed: "Percy's hand Sealed with black,
too | wonder | did not notice 1t before.
Can il be possible that he writes to tell me Of
his own CeathF"
DR.. Winter sat down again. and opened the
sombre missiye 1t was dated the evening be-
|
was signed TO il. DIR. Winter read:
ny Dear Friend-'It is now time for US TO
! part-for me TO die. for you to live: and which
of us meets his best fate God only knows
! DO you remember those words of Socrates
! Doctor While YOU are reading this l
shall be cold enough and quiet enough,
| too. The veil will have been rent apart,
and the darkened glass withdrawn. You Will
| hear of my death. You will stand over me
| and wonder that one so young should recou
down 80 suddenly. The world will raise up
| lifted hands of astOnishment, and then rush
on and forget us ere a single moon has waXed
and waned. And yet it is the fear of this same
cold. Indifferent world that cOmpels one 20
rush unbidden from its haunts. To you the
secret is revealed Remember, 1t is the secret
Of the dead, betray it not. | have taken a
subtle and deadly poison; so subtle that II
leaves no trace 10 betray It's presence-so
deadly that in one half hour shall be "A corpse
-onehalfhou Then the unveiling Of eternity
To you bequeath the task of finding out why
/ took my life in my own hands. and went
out of the world dreading its power. | might
tell you They say the deeds OF all men shall
one day be known. All. my God. l had
rather throw myself upon thy mercy, who
knowest my sins already. than 10 live 70 be at
the mercy of man. My lips shall never
frame the confession-my pen never write II.
Nv death alone ends all. With Inc the secret
dies. If lived. it must become known. You
dare not betray the trust of dead man:
Come and look at me after you have read
this. Farewell. EDGAR PERCY
DR.. Winters establishment was too vast 10
find an immediate utterance. He put the let
ter carefully in his pocket. and went forth to
obey the mans summons. Come and look at
me after you have read this" Aye, that be
would.
Standing over the dead In the darkened
parlor, the doctor learned all that the world
was ever to know of Edgar Percy's fitting.
The servant had taken him in some warm
water the evening before, and he had given
her letter TO post. Going to his room two
hours later to close the shutters, she found
him living on the sofa quiet enough, as he
himself had said. The room was in its
usual order He had evidently dropped of
without struggle. She did not know 10
whom the letter was addressed. as she could
read writing: but noticed that the seal was
black Mr.. Percy used that kind Of envelope
always.
That was all she had TO say, and the Doctor
told her she might 90 and leave him with the
dead.
Very pathetic was that dead face. A mourn
ful beauty yelled the chiseled features; a sad
smile wreathed the exquisite mouth. The pro-
file, turned slightly aside. gave the head
listening look Marvellous enough, doubtless.
We're the sounds now ringing IN those ears.
What was the mystery upon which those lips
ter upon which those eyes so feared 70 look
that they must need put on the veil Of death,
No answer-nO stirring Of those hps-nO
lifting ofthose heavy lids with death for COIN
weights
A tear fell upon the marble brow Of the
dead, the doctors hand fell carelessly upon
the damp locks.
Poor boy" he murmured.
But there came time when the sad beauty
of the face was hid away TO await the awful
change already commenced; when the sal
smile seemed like a sneer, wherewith the dead
mock their own decay, and Edgar Percy was
forgotten by all save one.
He had no clue az vet. Percy had been for
two years a resident Of the place. had been
successful rs an artist but had no relatives
that anyone knew. Ii was known that he
came from the county. but that was ALL Who
were his friends no one could tell. II seemed
he had none save those he had known IN
town. He was not IN debt. He lett behind
HIM sufficient to pay the expenses OF ms tuner
al. Among his effects orderly and common
place there was not q sign Of mystery ,nota scrap
of writing, not even an unfinished sketch u
point 10 a clue. One thing the Doctor felt
sure Of. Edgar Percy mentally or physically.
was the personation Of his own mystery. HIS
death destroyed its power, put an end 10 IT'S
threatenings, swallowed it up IN eternal obliy-
ion. II might be guilt. II might be misfortune,
II might be fate Whatever II was II con-
cerned the dead man alone. 1t lay between
him and the world God might pardon and
overlook il if il were sin; but the world. he
knew. never could.
But was it sim The world. We know. for
gives that easily enough when II il sanctfed
10y success. and beyond the reach Of the law
II it was something the world could not for
give what could It have been!
IL must not. however be supposed that
Winter thought Of nothing else than Edgar
- Sc mi
TO a memory, and having his hands upon the
enjoying them. and after puzzling his brain
on hundred possible solutions 10 the riddle.
he gave II up; so that when Edgar Percy had
been dead a year the thing was precisely
where 1t was when frst he read the suicides
letter.
Another year dimmed the memory Of the
tragedy the third etfaced it entirely from his
mind. 10 return only by fits and starts.
1t was during the close of the third year
that DR. Winter made the acquaintance Of a
young surgeon belonging to one of the prnci-
pal hospitals. Young William Dunning took
great fancy TO the niddle-aged. Jolly
practitioner, penchant reciprocated by the
Doctor. and when of duty the two were al
WAYS together.
One day DR.. Winter accompanied Cunning
70 the hospital, and went the rounds with
him. There were many sad sights there
means OF pain. and thin. pallid faces, on
which Deaths signet was plainly stamped
Dunning stopped at one of the pallets. on
which was stretched the slender form Of