Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-28

u
uA 1t was all done so quickly could only
realize that we three were standing there
looking at each other with frightened eyes
and bsted breath, with the door firmly
closed between US and the b>rrible thing in
the back room.
end of On interval that seemed an hour to
me nv fsther opened the door, saying 'the
harms done now," and bade us enter
1t was as j supposed. They had placed .
bench against the wall, and on it lay the
dead body covered with q great piece of q
web of cloth my uncle made in his own
factory and gave to my father. The out
lines Of the body could be seen through the
cloth The men who bore the body in stood
near the fireplace silent They looked from
one to the other when my father bade them
tell him what they knew of the matter.
Then John Garish, the tailor, spoke up:
"We found him lying in the edge of the
wood, I and Thomas Caperton and John
Paisley. I threw q stone at rabbit
Thinking hit it, 1 ran to the trees and fell
upon the BODY. l called to the others, and
when they looked they shouted, so we all
saw it Then your apprentice said we
should surely tell his master, since you are
q man of repute, and, being of one mind, We
fetched him here"
"You looked at him well-you are sure he
as stranger"
"We never saw him before"
"Was there no one near-did you meet
anyone near the wood, or see anyone
near?"
NV heart seemed to stand still. 1t was
the clump Of trees, and Hannah had walked
away from them. Then the terrible threat
that the stranger made rang in my ears 1
looked at Hannah who stood spell-bound,
looking f1edly at John Garish.
''There was no one near"
drew a long breath, and Hannah tainted
dead away.
A crowd came later and bore the body
Ewsy-the Justice and Gideon Perkins,
John Garish, Caperton, Paisley and others.
They bore the body on door, with slides
crossed under it, to an old shop that was
used by the quarrymen for tool house. In
cold weather 1 often warmed myself there
I followed them to the tool house, then hur-
Tied home. Soon mother went to bed, first
looking in the little room set apart for me
over the kitchen. 1 was wide awake, but 1
feigned sleep. said nothing, but was
thinking of the murdered man, and of
Hannah. The house was very quiet The
L
heard a whisper; then Hannah's hand was
laid lightly over my lips
"'Tis land your mother. Be silent,
Allan" 1 sat up in bed. There was a fine
pencil of light running up to the ceiling.
There was light in the kitchen; the floor
was thin, and heard voices below me. My
mother sat on nv bed; Hannah stood up.
NV father was talking in low tones Then
smother voice answered him, and Gideon
T1-l-;,e1 -oio 10,
louder. could hear my father distinctly
saving:
"a gossip's tongue is worse than a fe yer.
warn you, Gideon Perkins, since you in
Tist in thrusting your sons long tongue into
this matter, that if there were not another
Moxham in the world I'll hold him account
able for mixing me or mine in this murder"
My sister moaned; my mother put
out hand; felt her pulling Hannah's
81 do not care all the world heard me-
Take the papers YOU have found on the
body. 1t will go hard with me, but will
defend nv daughters good name"
''The heat you display will 60 seriously
against you," Mr.. Perkins answered. "A1l
said was that nv son met your daughter in
Boston with Young man named Moxham-
and here we have the name on letters found
on the body. Make much or little of it."
Ny mother struck light; my sister Han
nah was standing with clasped hands high
fbove her head. When the light showed
her to me she fell forward on nv bed. The
voices rose in anger, while nv mother bent
low and strove to coax Hannah to go to her
own room, but Hannah said in a very reso-
lutte tone that she would lie where she was
When the Justice and Gideon Perkins went
away my iather came upstairs, and my
mother returned to her own room, putting
out the light 1 heard my father and
nl0.her talking a long time. Hannah
seemed to be asleep. At last L too fell
asleep.
was reused by my sister Hannah. Her
lips were at my ear.
'Rise, Allan. Do not speak. Follow
me"
1 rose, felt for my shoes and erept softly
down stairs. She waited until put my
shoes on, then taking my hand we walked |
cut into the dark together.
'Where are we going?" I asked.
''To the old tool house." she replied |
calmly. l shivered. ] was terrified. |
Hannah walked rapidly The time seemed |
incredibly short when we stood in front of
the tool house. Hannah left me at the door |
and entered alone. In a little while she |
struck light. l stood irresolutely at the |
door, then walked in and stood beside her. |
The dead man was lying on broad bench. |
A coarse cloth was thrown over the body. |
My sister walked resolutely up to the bench, |
holding the rush light in her hand, and |
slowly removed the cloth from the dead |
mans face. She held her head aside, and |
stole look at the face sidewaya shall |
never forget the changing expression that |
came over my sisters face as she looked |
down on the face of the dead. Her lips |
parted. L heard her saying to herself, |
q lis not like at all"
Like who, Hannah?"
Come, Allan, let us hasten back"
She spoke almost cheerily as she extin-
guished the light, and closing the door we |
walked home and went to bed without eI-
changing word.
1 slept soundly the next morning. and
when l rose my father cautioned me not to
make q noise lest might disturb Hannah,
who was still sound asleep.
Early that same morning Gideon Perkins
raped on the door. He looked at me as |
Itood feeding the chickens when he came
up and asked if nv father was in. looked |
straight at him as L replied:
KNOCK and find out" 1 could have
struck hlm, nv hatred was so great When
he entered I followed him into the house
and stood listening. NY father did not
hear me or was wholly Indifferent.
81 have come upon a very grave bust
ness, as you doubtless apprehend, e" said Mr..
Perkins.
''Do you come as Marshal of Levden or
ss a neighbour" demanded my father.
"As an officer OF the Commonwealth. 1t
will be necessary to call in your daughter"
Hannah was summoned into the room.
She looked very bright aud rosy. She was
not disconnected in the least by the Mar
shaPs serious looks as he asked: "At what
hour on last Monday were you in the clump
halo