Sharp County record., 1896-11-20
sister of Agnes Bruce? You're crazyl
NN-Iv bn Ei1la1 nv unclpi

. ll' NOIihCH IL Olll II ~ 10 ~ NV
"Ah, the 10th of October is here,
Now, it is night, and we will walk in
at the chapel door; there is the priest
in his white robes, and there is Clara
leaning on her fathers arm. How
beautiful she is here is Fannie on my
arm. What! Clarence and my cousin
first? That's well. Why, now they
are man and wife, and Clara and
stand before the altar.
"Who is that! Who is that! What
Black Beard? Seize the murderer Of
John Loyd What, me! Helpl help!"
And from the bed leaped Herbert again,
his eyes staring and his whole frame
quaking.
Thank God! Thank GodI it's day
light. Not for the world would | close
my eyes again. | must send Mag to
Smithville; I cant stand this, Ye
gods, l am whittier than these walls.
What! eight o'clock? Had I walked at
the usual time, would have been spared
half of that horrid dream. Why, I can
hardly stand, and | am wringing wet.
Aunt Mag! Aunt Mag! keep your idle
thoughts at home"
When Herbert entered the dining
room Fannie was seated at the table.
Good morning, Fannie"
Good morning, cousin; why, how liko
ghost you look. Are you ill?"
81 am not well, Fannie, and rested
poorly. am going to Wilmington to-
day to see DR.. Davis; do you wish to
go?"
"No, Herbert, ] don't wish to see the
place soon, and yet have spent many
happy hours there, when my dear
father was alive, What very fend
one must be to murder q defenseless
old man. Why, father never would
have dreamed that he stood in danger
from Angus Bruce"
His infatuation for Miss Hill made
him desperate" said Herbert, "Ie
could not bear that other than him
self should possess her hand"
At one o'clock Herbert was in Will
mington. The principal theme Of con-
versation there seemed to be Blac';
Beard and his exploits, among the
latest being the Beaufort and Balti-
more episodes.
The Mary Lockett, on incoming ves-
sci with funds to buy cotton, had been
overhauled Is miles from the inlet, and
after seven of her crew had been slain,
the pirates plundered her, securing O
large amount Of money, and although
no man answering the description Of
Black Beard was eeen among those
who boarded and plundered her, the
pirates vessel was two-mast schooner,
and it was generally conceded that
Black Beard was her master,
The Sydney X. Jones, another cotton
carrying craft, three weeks overdue, II
was claimed had been plundered by the
pirates, and with her entire crew sent
to the bottom of the ocean.
1t wae argued that the days Of Black
Beard must be drawing to close, un-
less he at once abandon the Carolina
coast.
His crew, il was estimated, numbered
100 men, and was said to be composed of
fugItiycs from justice, cX-conyicts and
runaway slaves,
A steamer was fitted out In the harbor
which would soon leave In quest Of the
| pirates.
Herbert visited the old home of his
| uncle, which had not been entered since
he had taken Fannie to Kcndall the
furniture and the belongings of the
house had not been removed, and every
thing seemed familiar.
lie went up TO his old room, there
stood the h0f-cmpty bottle Of brandy,
from which he had drank that night,
He turned glass, and drank It down,
then he passed into his cousins room;
there suspended from the wall hung d
painting Of his uncle; he glanced at II
but once, aud left the room; next he
passed down the stairway, and at the
bottom hcsitNted-
"Why should ! 90 there? pshawl
I'm nervous, Why should not2 am n
cowardP"
He walked TO the library door and en-
tcred-thc door of his unclc's room
stood open,
"rhcre stands the bcdstead as itstood
that night whcn-when | killed my
uncle, The bloody sheet blankets and
mattress have been removed, There's
where Angus stood, right opposite my
uncle; there ] stole in behind aud
struck the blow, AhI what's that
blood blood on the carpet yet? llarkl
that scrcOmI u was in the bathroom
there Is nothing there, ] am u very fool
! must leave the house before | lose
my head, What's that?-n portrait,
and with lts face reversed, Mlnel mime
ppIlIDl flhnW,1u pnnuthl,..