Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-09-09

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He tcds Unite in the face, hdflcss, his dress
dis0rttercd and his hand bloody
''WhoT' i asked.
"Ah, if knowed that, wouldn't tellF'
Who's murdered, mean?"
Lord ave mercy on us. Your broth
er, sir"
"My brother? john"
mo, sir. not i'm. Master 'Enry, sir!"
Henry" | cried out. jumped up
and caught the man by the breast Of his
coat Henry? Murdered?
las sure as there's a God in 'eaven,
Mr.. Frank, and 'es lynn under the cliff
on is face"
That was the way the news came to
Inc. So far as can recollect, my first
feeling was one of violent anger against
poor Tom, who. as imagined, was tell
ing some hideous falsehood. That Hen
ry could be dead was not possible. Any
body else might be dead, but not Henry.
Henry my playmate in boyhood, from
whom had parted only that afternoon.
alive and well-Henry dead2 / was al
most ready to kill Tom for saying so, as
If that would bring my brother back to
life
But after few moments of dizzy in
credulity steadied myself and confront
ed the truth. and with it came won
derful glow and buoyancy Of strength,
SO that became entirely unconscious of
my body and seemed to be all will and
power. | motioned Tom to lead the
way, and he went off at run with me
at his heels We crossed the lawn and
plunged down the slope into the wood.
Just as we turned to the right to reach
the cliff we met some one. Itwas John
AT sight of me he uttered cry of aston
ishment. did not then know why, for
getting that | had been a cripple five
minutes before.
Come! GOMEZ" was all l said, and he
turned and ran beside me. He asked
some questions, but | only shook my
head. Tom, before US, lodged along be-
tween the trunks and beneath the boughs
of the trees. 1t was dark, but saw all
his movements distinctly and could de-
scribe every one of them at this moment
Every sense was dilated and intensified
almost to the point of suffering. And
when we drew near the fatal place be-
ieve pushed on in advance of the 9TH
ers and was actually the first to reach
the body.
With the touch of my hand upon 1t
came change. The frantic, uncon-
scious energy which brought me to him
was transformedinto a no less unnatural
serenity and self possession; it might al
most be called GOODNESS. My nerves were
steady, my perception clear, my voice
calm and authoritative. The others fol-
lowed my directions and waited upon
my movements with involuntary SUBJ
mission. After carefully noting the
position of the body and assuring myself
that no life was left, | asked for knife,
which Tom handed me, and cut off the
coat and underclothing, laying bare the
wound. 1t was small and dark where
the bullet had entered. but in the breast
was a ragged hole half as large as the
palm of my hand. The effusion of blood,
however had not been great-death had
been too sudden.
The left side of the skull was slightly
crushed, evidently from the fall, and
the left arm was fractured at the elbow
| The face, when the leaves and clay
which adhered to it had been removed,
appeared calm in its expression. | lit a
wax match from a box that John car
ried and scrutinized it closely. The
match burned without Pickering in the
still air. 1t was handsome face-never
handsomer than then-and a dignity in
vested it which was seldom seen in life
Tom shrank, appalled, at the aspect of
those quiet features, and John broke
down and cried like child. l felt
neither appalled, nor inclined to weep /
was conscious only of stern determine
ton to see justice done upon his assassin
Some trees had been felled near by a
few days before. Weselected some stout
stakes cut from their boughs, placed the
body on them and carried it slowly and
with difficulty up the hill to the house
and laid it on the sofa in my library
Then l sent Tom for the coroner and
wrote note to mother, which John car
ried. 1t told her that Henry hid had bad
fall and babe her return at once. When
he had gone, was left alone with my
dead brother. 1t was about 4 o'clock,
and the dawn was already in the east.
That strange serenity of mind did not
abandon me, though | was fully aware
of its strangeness. During the past week
or two had thought of this man as an
enemy. l believed he had done great
wrong, and circumstances had brought
the wrong home to me to be shared with
his immediate victim. / had even ad-
mitted the thought that his presence. If
not his very existence, was hostile to my
happiness, and now, like swift answer
to that unspoken thought, he was dead,
and his body lay upon the same sofa
where he had lounged and smoked so
short while ago. But felt as little
fear as animosity. All passions, both
good and evil, We're absolutely still in
me. stood and looked down at him for
long time. 1t was to be, and l, like
him, was the creature of destiny.
| stood with my back toward the door.
/ heard no sound, but | was suddenly
aware that | was not alone. turned,
/ and there stood Sinfire