Mower County transcript., 1893-09-20

fearing to incur his masters displeasure
would not return. Her maid also would
of course go with her." "a
The family had listened to Eustace's
narrative thus far without interruption,
overwhelmed with sorrow and amaze
ment, but Mr.. Newton now exclaimed:
"Why. this is far beyond the most un-
scrupulous selfshness l ever imagined
could be found in one SO young"
"Ah. but Maud will far out1natch her,
fear. once thought her more gentle
and amiable than her sister. But the
bitter hate and vindictiveness she mani
tests are fearful. The loss to herself and
the impossibility Of reclaiming was all
she seemed to think of. Her fathers
danger and her mothers uncertain con-
dition hardly excited an emotion. AS
soon as Austin and l could interrupt
Maud's excited recital of her own mis-
fortunes alluded to the strange sounds
heard on entering.
'Pshaw! that's nothing,' said Maud,
mother has kept the house in an uproar
all night. kept myself out of the way,
assure you, and left father to take care
OF her as best he might. He deserves it
all and more for bringing this great
shame upon u.s.
"'Haves you seen your mother this
morning? asked, greatly surprised.
"'No, indeed. staid as long as could
endure her temper last night. If l had
followed Stella's example and left earlier,
l might have saved my own possessions
from her hands. Mother may learn of
Estella's dutiful conduct by some one
else. She has been exalted above me and
cited as an example for me to initiate
long enough. Now hope mother will
enjoy this new evidence of her favorite's
smartness, but I'll not take the first blast
of her rage, l assure you. She'll find that
|, too, can keep my own counsel as well
as Stella
"'Oh, Maud! This is shameful! Twill
at least seek your parents and try to help
them
"'Well, go, Don Quixote, and succor
the distressed. Success attend you.
hope you will enjoy it.
III threw open tho door, and again those
dismal sounds! paused moment,
when wild, unearthly shrek rang
through the house. caught Maud's
hand.
"'Go with me-
Il will not
'''Unnatural child! You shall! There
is some strange mystery here, and you
shall accompany us while we unravel it.
Come, Austin Our determined man.
ner and probably fear of being left be-
hind compelled her to go, but reluc-
family, and we passed through the splen-
did parlors into the gloomy family sitting
rOOm."
He paused a moment and covered his
face with his hands, while his audience
sat with pale faces, dreading the sequel.
"A fearful sight met our eyes, he
continued, would could forget it!
Mrs. LIE Barron sat in large easy chair
in the most fearful paroxysms. The old
butler and gardener and two women, one
of whom, think, was her dressing maid
and the other perhaps the cook, were
standing over her. All looked chilled
and exhausted. The window shutters
remained unopened, and the gas was still
burning. When we came near, we saw
that she was tied to the chair.
Indeed, sir, we could not help it.
She was furious and has been most of
the night. And that was the only way
we could manage her and be safe our
Selves
"*Have you called physician?
No; wecan't leave her, and we can't
make any of the other servants hear if
we called ever so loud
Stupid! Why not have rung the
bell till some one would hear?
1--WE think, sir, said the gardener,
with some hesitation, that there's no one
to hear in the house. "Rats leave sink
ing ship" and this ones going down
mighty fast, judge, and then, begging
your honor's pardon, we feel fearsome
bout going to the bell. There's some
thing strangelike bout master, and he's
close to the bell.' Austin and I sprang
to the recessed corner so dimly lighted.
Oh, Mr.. Newton, have, cowardlike,
left the worst to the last! In his chair,
his head resting on the marble pillar, was
LIE Rarron"-
"Not deadl" exclaimed Mr.. Newton,
his face bianching with horror-"and.
oh, do moi say by his own hand!'
"No-1 hope-I think not-Austin was
the first to rise above the terrible shock
and left at once for the nearest medical
aid l could learn nothing from the
poor frightened and exhausted servants,
but as near as I could gather from the
time the miserable man entered his
house yesterday it had been the scene of
the most disgraceful and sickening tr-
multi. Till late in the evening most of
the servants had been in Stella's en-
ploy, and I imagine, from hints dropped
from the gardener, what was passing in
the family room was a matter of s11r-