The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-15

point neither the doctors nos the jury
had hesltated; the manner in which
the pistol wound had been inflicted
clearly poinEed to suicide; there was no
motive for murder p~erceptible, none
could DO supposed or imagined, nor
could the act have been committed
without the knowledge of Whyman, q
faithful aud devoted servant.
Was there mystery hereY Why had
the late lord, att moment when ne had
the prospect Of a happy marriage with
the girl he loved, and when his economy
and management were bearing fruit ON
the estates-why had he taken his litap
Was there some spectre Of the past
which he dreaded2 Surely not, for his
life had been blameless. Was there
aught in his future he feared so much
as to make him fee from its comingY
Such thoughts and questions continual
ly presented themselves before his sue,
cessor's mind; not that the latter cared
much, whether remorse or terror or
suffering had beset his brother and
driven him to a desperate end, but that
some vague idea continually haunted
him, that whatever 1t was that had cast
its shadow on the dead mans path and
exercised so terrible an effect, might
some day all unexpectedly cross his
own.
Even as he lay back in his chair en-.
loving his aiter-dinner cigar, and dwell,
ing on his promising future, such
| thoughts beset him, and to escape from
them he rose and entered the sitting
room. The flat was situated on the first
| floor OF one Of those grey, aolidly built
| houses erected two hundred years ago
In Hanover square. The apartment
boasted that spaciousness and loftiness
| unknown to modern mansions; ceilings
and cornices were deliberately orna-
mentedi the walls covered with oak
paneling, fortunately preserved from
the dissertation OF the paint brush, the
windows high, narrow, and deeply re-
oessed.
An atmosphere pervaded them such
as became their age aud associations.
Histories they surely had Of paramount
interest to those who figured in them,
but all forgotten now Generations
had entered and quilted life within
their ~precAhctsi the walls had heard
strange tales, had echoed with laughter
and song; tho windows, like great
staring eyes, had gazed on many a
changing scene. Ghosts may have, In
the dull watches OF the night, thronged
the wide passages, or glided through
those heavy doors with their deep
mountings Of tarnished brass,
The long aud narrow citing room
which Lord Redfrisrs entered was
lighted by standard lamps, clusters Of
candles aud by a bright fire blazing in
the broad grate beneath u noble Chin
ney.piecs OF white marble, time
stained and delicately carved with
wreaths of flowers upheld by corpulent
Cupids. and satyrs eterually leering at
scantily clad nymphs. Above, in o
massive gilt frame, hung q portrait OF
the eleventh earl, who had so royalty
wasted his substance in roisterous liv-
ing; facing him, on the opposite side
Of the wall, was his long-suffering wife.
Curtains OF faded brown velvet were
drawn across windows and doors; we'll
stocked book shelves filled recesses
made by the projecting fireplace; IN
escritoire black with age stood close by,
and beyond were cabinets rich in old
Italian carving, their tops supporting
terra Gotta statuettes and Belgian pot
tory, whose deep blue color and quaint
graceful shapes stood out against the
sombre background Of the paneling.
Notwithstanding the yellow light
streaming from the lamps and candles,
and the ruddy reflection from the fire,
the apartment had something gloomy
in its appearance that depressed ils
occupant. He sat down in q great high
backed armed chair beside the hearth,
and smoked and thought. Little traffic
passing through tho square no sound
disturbed the silence OF the early night,
save the melancholy chin Ing of tho
clock OF ST. Georges church, The world
might be asleep or dead for all signs It
gave OF life or waking.
Though the burning Goals threw out
the heat, Redfriars was conscious OF o
chill; there was something icy in tho
atmosphere. He strove to recall tho
sense OF satisfaction he had recently
felt, but deep depression crept over and
enveloped him as in q mist. What was
Its cause or its nature, he could not
state; it was underlined, vague, irresist-
ible. His mind promptly secuted all
ideas OF such subtle influences as are
said to be exercised on tho living by
the dead. He believed that once q
mar quilted existence humiliation en-
sued; there was no such q thing as soul,
spirit, or consciousness, only a handful
OF clay, aud nothing moro. Therefore,
neither fear nor thought OF an invisible
aud unknown world aud those who
dwelt therein arose in his mind; the
mood besetting him was due to physi-
cal causes-fatigue, indigestion or ovor-
wrought brain.
From reading the reports Of the In
quest held upon his brother he was
aware that 1t was in this room the sui.
eide had been committed. Perhaps
during the last hour Of his life the dead
man had sat in his high.back chair
meditating even as he who now filled 1t
meditated; but what was the subject OF
his thoughts? Redfriars would have
given much to know, for they would
have afforded q clue to the motive Of
the desperate deed.
UnConsciously he allowed the fire to
got low, 30 that the rudy blaze was no
longer reflected OH the time.stained oak
OF the walls. Tho position OF q lamp
caused his figure to caSt u blurred, hor-
rible shadow on tho high ceiling. A
feeling OF languor gradually possessed
him, aud with 1t that strange forebod-
ing Of an underlined i'll increased. All at
once II seemed as II u second person
was in the room, hiding In the shelter
Of tho cabinet behind him, and then
drawing noar with a stealthy aud Gid.
Ing step, intont on evil purposea
Then tho thought Of his brother,
whom ho had never loved even in the