Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-10-28
.7HBSIORYOFALOSI SOUL
BY
HUGH COLEMAN DAVIDSON,
Author OF THE Green Hills oy the
Sea, ""Nota MOmentto Spare"
"The Old Adam" sc.
coyyrfgat. 1904 on r. c. DaUidsoA,
CONTINUED.
CHAPTER NNNIV.
,o,s TIKI MOUTH OF THE GRAVE"


ohvions II the person who had fallen In
had baen myself. yet 10 seemed 70 eX-
amnlifv the crooked course which
events bad actually taken.
Never thinking Of danger, George had
stepped backwards, the ground had
given away beneath him, and down he
had gore. Although little hurt, he was
much startled, the accident had been
90 sudden and unexpected. II was some
time before he could extricate himself
from the soil which had fallen In con
siderable quantities upon and around
him. As noisslessly as possible be
struggled 20 his feet, aud when he hao
done so, something which resem0led
bundle Of old clothes caught his eve.
IL lay partly exposed TO view on the
broken edge of the pit, a small portion
or it being still buried In the eartn.
Something stirred in il. George looked
more closely, and saw that It was
toad.
It was not such a very horrible sight,
and yet be could not help shuddering'
The toad, disturbed In its winter sleep,
began 70 crawl away, while be could DO
nothing but watch il. When 10 mad
disappeared under some leaves some
feeling prompted him TO turn over the
bundle which IL had just left, and Ia
the center of it be beheld a shirt with
blOOd-stained cuffs. The coat he recog-
nizsd as having belonged 70 me.
Just as the lightning showed me the
cornfeld ia which 1 covered after hid
ing the body, so one swift tasn OF
thought showed the truth about
that murder to George Nane as
he trembled among the beroeriS
bushes. For the first time be realized
the significance OF the long, narrow plt
lp which no stood nearly up shos.der
deep. Great drops Of perspiration had
started 10 his forehead, aud his limbs
shook as Ii all the strength had goue
out Of them. lie tried desperately TO
scramble out Of the grave, but failed,
for his arms would not support his
weight and she loose soil kept tumollug
On upon him.
Auat Priscilla. hearing his struggles,
cried out excitsdly:
Matthew, Matthew, come-Qulck!
That creature is here. am sure be Is
here. can hear him moving.
But Matthew answered from the
gate:
"No, thank you, Miss Priscilla. One
defendant 20 an action for trespass is all
that is wanted
With an impatient toss Of the head,
AuRt Priscilla began % push ner way
among the bushes, but stopped sudden
~. seeing the white, scared face Of
George Vane looking up az her from
the deep pit in which be stood. IL did
not irlghten her quite as much as 10
would have done IL she had not seen it In
the tower on the previous day, but 70
gave her severe shock nevertheless.
This time she had no doubt as TO its
reality.
In her CONSERVATION she was about to
retreat without utJering a single word,
when George called 20 her piteOusly.
he imUlored her not 20 tell anybody
that she had seen him. AT least, would
she keep his secret for few days. II
she would only do this she would earn
his undying gratitude,
Then it is you, George Vane" said
Aunt Priscilla. "YOu were not drown
edl But how on earth do you come 20
be herein the CrOnkvash garden
down n that hOle?'
pow?" entreated George. 81 will tell
you some day II you wish-but not now
Il can't now. IL is all so strange,
cant think very clearly about 10 my
self"
Cant think clearly yoursslil 1
should think not, or you Mould not be
grubbing down there. Aue that'-she
leaned forward 70 look az tie bundle Of
elothes-"what is thaJ?'
George clutched at it and tried 20
cover it with his handA But Aunt
Prisciua's keen eyes had already seen
the stains upon &c.
Blood" said she, stating upright
with a face OF horror, George Naue,
what does that meau2'
IL can't tell you" gasped George.
You must go away, p,ease-yOu must
i've me time 10 think. can't tell you
nvthinR yet. Iwaut % ac4rightIv,
NAV do something I shall te sorry for
afterwards II you won't give me time. "
Her expression relaxed a little, but
her voice was stern as she said:
"Have not you done anything which
VOC should be sorry for aireEdy?'
81 have mott give you ny word, l
have not AT least, nothing worse than
MIXING in the scufls 10 the market
place and aiterwards- Now please let
me keep my secret.
81 don't like SeCrets." said Aunt
Priscilla. "But perhaps If YOU were 20
tell me yours WIN do you keep 10
from me? / want 20 know the meaning
Of those clothes.
al can't tell you" declared George
again. "PoaSe, lTss Priscilla, don't
press me. Ald, 4 don't tel, anybody
YOU have seen N Believe me you
will be doing no hErn 90 a single soul
BY being silent fol a few days That is
all ask.
The lads siucefty was so unmistaka-
bic that no one Ould have doubted it,
Amt Priscilla dh not, and she could
not help being bowed by bis evident
distress. AT the same time 10 was not
without a struggh that she could con-
ouer Der curiosity. She still stared
very hard at him and she put q mum
Der of questions Ftiully framed for the
purpOse OF extracting Information about
this strange thinkVbicn he was so aDI-
ions 20 guard. 4 when she found
that he was quite armined as her
self, she eventu9 ented 90 leave
him. on the " lg that ne was
10 cOmmuD er IN = day or
two. and p she was not
10 tell az fence
Aunt hard-heart-
sd as sot bink. When
She was nd said:
t"I do Tstand your
conduct! - believe