The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-01-20

ed for the church and family living
but had preferred going to South
Africa. and eventually, through the
death of an uncle, some money came tc
him, which, in addition to what ne had
made in the diamond fields, enabled
him to retire and live up to the honor
able aunt mean keep a carriage and
pair, and q butler, and have house q
cut above villa
In couple of months I was to b
married
One evening sat up late. thinking,
over the fire.
The season was October. the air was
q little chilly but not cold, so fire was
desirable but not necessary. The
blinds and curtains were not drawn, at
my desire, as the hunters moon was
shining and was nearly full, and / am
at all times fond of moonlight. When
one is in love and anticipating mar
rage one simply adores it. So had
told the servant not to close the shut
tiers and draw the blinds. The windows
were such as are called French-that is
to say, they opened to the ground, and
were windows and doors in one. They
commanded the terrace.
1t was my fathers habit every even
ing before retiring to smoke a pipe on
the terrace, and as l sat by the fire.
with the light turned down SO as to en-
! joy the moonlight. l could see him
walking up and down the terrace 1
could see him if chose; actually saw
his shadow. The moonlight fell through
the two long windows on the polished
oak floor and oriental rugs As sat
saw his shadow flung on the floor be-
fore window No. /, then couple of
seconds after on the floor before win
dow No. 2. Then ensued minute, as
he walked to the end Of the terrace,
then in reverse order came his shadow
in the light of No. 2, and then after a
momentary interval his shadow oh
scured the light from No. 1.
How long this went on I cannot tell.
Presently it stopped. did not partic-
ularly notice when. was thinking of
my presents
Some time after the butler came in
and asked if he should lock up the
house and shut the shutters. l an
swered: YES" as my father, I said,
lad done his pipe and come in. con-
c.uded he bad come in because no
longer saw his shadow, and / judged
from his invariable habit of always
coming indoors when he had done his
pipe.
Next morning came down to break
fast as usual, and waited for him.
please, miss" said the housemaid,
master left the lamp burning in the
study all night"
''Did hep said l. 1t was unusual; he
was so methodical in all he did
The tea would spoil unless he
came quickly. l rang for the butler.
"Will you call your master? He must
have oversight himself. Say there is
grilled partridge and it is getting cold,
and the tea will taste bitter"
Presently the butler returned.
''Please, miss, the master is not In
his room He has not been there all
night The bed is undisturbed The
hot water not taken in"
My father had disappeared.
Not a trace of him could we find
Suddenly, in the moonlight, he had
vanished. The last had seen of him
was his shadow cast on the drawing
room floor on the previous night. As
considered, could not say in which
direction l had seen his shadow pass
for the last time. / could not tell
within half an hour when had last
seen it could not, indeed, swear that
the shadow had seen was that of my
father, as l had not looked at him
through the window.
All that could say was that it was
his custom. about that time, every
night to walk the terrace, and that |
therefore probably he had walked It |
the night he disappeared, and his |
shadow 1t probably had been that |
had seen flung on the drawing-room |
floor.
Days, weeks passed, and not trace
Of my father was found. had not the
smallest doubt as to what had become
Of him, nor had my brother nor any of |
the neighborhood. 'The Bandit had
murdered him and made away with his
body for the sake Of the diamond.
OF course we took action the mo-
nent we were sure he had absolutely
vanished. The police watched 1.-The
Bandit" they searched his house,
where they did find SOME articles that
had belonged to my father, but which
he ex-butler protested he had pur-
oined whilst in our service. There
vas q handkerchief that had nv
ather's initials, a tie to which could
wear, and breastpin, but could not
Ne sure that he had worn these when
he disappeared.
My father did not dress for dinner
When we were alone SO that he may
AVE worn the tie and breastpin on
he last occasion we dined together. III
annot say; had not noticed what he
hen wore.
Nothing further to compromise the
nan was discovered, but that was not
vonderful-four days elapsed since the
fc q - - L 4 I