Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-08-27

"Who?" asked.
"Ah, il I knowsd that wouldn't 1
tell?"
"Who's murdered, I meanP"
Lord ave mercy on as Your
brother, sir"
my orotherP John?"
"No, sir, not i'm. Master 'Enry, sir. "
"Henryw l cried out. 1 jumped up
and caught the man by the breast Of his
coat Henry Murdered?"
GAS sure as there's God In 'esven,
Mr.. Frank, and 'e's lyin under the cliff
on is face"
That was the way the news came to
me. So far as l can recollect, my hrst
fleeing was one OF violent anger against
poor Tom, who, as l imagined, was tell
ing some hideous falsehood. That Hen
~ could be dead was not possible. Any
body else might be dead, but not Hen
~. Hensy, my playmate ia my boYhood,
from whom l parted only that after
noon, alive and well-Henry dead? l
was almost ready TO kill Tom for saying
so, as il that would bring my brother
back TO life.
But after a few moments Of dizzy In
credulity steadied myself and con-
ironted the truth, and with II came a
wonderful glow and buOyancy OF
strength, 80 that became entirely I'M
conscious OF my body and seemed to be
all will and power. l motiOned Tom to
lead the way, and he went of at q 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. Il was John. At sight OF me he
uttered cry Of establishment l did
not then know why, forgetting that
had been a cripple five minutes before.
"Comsl GOMEZ was all / said, and he
turned and ran beside me. He asked
some questions, but l only shook my
head. Tom, before US, lodged along
between the trunks aud beneath the
bouEhs OF the trees. II was dark, but
/ saw all his movements distinctly and
could describe every one OF them at this
moment. Every sense was dilated and
intensified almost to the point Of suf-
feriug. And when we drew near the
fatal place believe 1 pushed on in i'd
vance Of the others aud was actually
the first to reach the body.
With the touch OF my hand upon 1t
came a change. The frantic, uncon-
scious energy which brought me 10 him
was transformed into no less unnatural
serenity aud self possession; it might
almost be called GOODNESS. My nerves
were steady, my perception clear, my
voice calm and authoritative, The 9TH
ers followed my directions and waited
upon my movements with involuntary
submission. After carefully noting the
position OF the body and assuring my
self that no life was left, l asked Tor a
knife, which Tom handed me, AMI cut
off the coat and undertaking, laying
bare the wound. IL 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 eff
fusion 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 al the elbow.
The face, when the leaves and clay
which adhered 10 il had been removed,
appeared calm In It's expression. lit
wax match from box that John car
ried and scrutinized it closely. The
match burned without fickering in the
still air. Ii was a handsome face-never
haudsomer than then-and dignity in
vested IL which was seldom seen In life.
Tom shrsnk appalled, at the aspect OF
those quiet features, and John broke
down and cried like a child. felt
neither appalled, nor inclined 10 weep. l
was conscious only OF stern determin-
alton 10 see justice done upon his assas-
sin.
Some trees had been felled near by
few DAYS before We selected some
stout stakes cut from their boughs,
placed the body on them and carried
I il slowly and with difficulty up the hill
TO the house and laid u on the sofa In
my library. Then l sent Tom for the
coroner aud wrote note TO mother,
| IL told her thar Henry had 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.
The strange serenity Of mind did not
abandon me, though l was fully aware
of its strangeness. During the past
week or two I had thought Of this man
as an enemy. 1 believed he had done a
great wrong, and circumstances had
brought the wrong home TO me 10 be
shared with his Immediate victim. l
had even admitted the fact that his
presence, il not his very existence, was
hostile to my happiness, and now, like
swift answer to that unSDoken
thought. he was dead, and his body lay
upon the same sofa where he had
lounged and smoked 80 short a while
ago. But felt as little fear as animos-
ity. An passions, both good and evil,
were absolutely still in me. 1 stood
and looked down at him for long time.
1t was 10 be, and 1, like him, was the
creature OF destiny.
I stood with my back toward the
door. heard 20 sound, but was sud
denly aware that l was not alone. l
,,-ra6 and thare stood Sinfire.