Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-07-25

low VOICE, anu The CulnaCa VI enO Hoo.
ter past the hour fell unheeded on her
ear. He certainly loved her very much;
she thought he did ages ago. although
he spoke to her so rarely and paid her
but little attention, and tonight
The drawing-room clock rang out
duoble chime, $780, into frown as
she paced the tiled floor with impatient
footsteps, regretting she had come so
punctually to the rendezvous. She tried
to keep calm, and waited on. But in
vain, for the three-quarters struck, and
still she was alone. When the chimes
pealed out again the white-robed maid
en- mournfully counted seven; her heart
sank, and her indignation rose. He
had implored her to meet him, and then
had forgotten all about it! What a
horrible slight!
Slowly she wound her way to the
drawing-room, feeling terribly hurt at
her lovers hardness in joining her, and
resolved to give him the cold shoulder
for the rest of the evening. The sound
Of the gongs assembled the party TO
dinner, and Nellie was utterly mystified
and perplexed on findipS that Jack had
not even made his appearance at
table.
Never had meal seemed longer and
more tedious, but the end came at last,
| and then all was hurry and hustle.
Dances began early in the country, and
guests arrive punctually. No one but
the disappointed Nellie had yet missed
the young barrister, and her pride and
anger forbade her making any inQuir-
les. She felt a great deal too hurt to
say a word about him to anyone. One
by one the carriages rolled up the drive
and deposited their occupants at the
door: and the musicians got through
the greater part of the programme. AS
the evening wore on Nellie's resentment
changed to anxiety on overhearing her
father making inquiries for burden.
Her anxiety became positive fear on
learning that he was nowhere to be
found, and that no one had seen him.
1t had been arranged to have the
good old-fashioned Sir Roger De Cow
erley as midnight drew near, so that
everyone present-young and old
should dance the New Year in together.
| Colonel Hawtree-a near neighbor-
had instituted himself master of cere-
monies, and was beating up recruits for
| the dance from the smoking and billiard
rooms. mercilessly hunting out several
unwilling couples from coy corners in
the conservatory, who evidently pre-
ferred to see in the New Year after
their own fashion. He urgently called
for burden, and agreed with the squire
and some young men who were also
asking after the absentee to go TO the
Elizabthan chamber in search Of the
truant. They jokingly declared that
clever men were VIGOROUSLY absent
minded; and that burden, instead of
getting into his evening suit must have
crept to bed, and was probably deep in
the arms Of Morpheus.
But what a different discovery wait
ed them on entering the bedroom! The
| bed had not been disturbed, but the
whole apartment was in the widest
disorder-tables and chairs overturned
and thrown about the floor, while on
everything was blood. The onlookers
stood silent and awe-struck, sick with
horror at the thought Of the furious
assault on the occupant Of the lonely
chamber, for it was perfectly clear to
all that poor burden had made vio-
lent and desperate struggle for life, but
had fallen victim to foul butchery.
At every step round the blood
stained room they were prepared to
come across a still more CHASTITY sight
the remains of burden. They peer
ed into every nook and corner, flung
apart the doors of the old fashioned
wardrobe, opened wide the cupboards,
but nothing was to be found.
Where was the body?
The squire strenuously denied the
existence of trap door or secret hid
ing place, and urged his guests to leave
the room just as they had found it,
for the detectives from Norwich to try
to find a clew to the mystery.
burden had ever been great favor
tie of the squires, and the old man was
completely upset by the horror OF the
event. With Colonel Hawtree's aid he
crept out of the polluted chamber into
his own sanctum further down the cor
ridor, and sank into low chair by the
fire. How bitterly he regretted put
ting the young man into that distant
room, so far from other members of
the house, for not the most agonizing
cry could pierce those thick walls!
How horrible it all is" moaned the
squire. "Oughtn't everyone to be sent
away. Hawtree Fancy dancing and
music with that CHASTITY thing over
head"
ooh. no. certainly not, squire. All
must 90 on as if nothing had happen
= NJ ono roust ersnect ANYTHING has