The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-10-13

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tions, loving and hating with q degree
of intensity fo,nign to the American
born, it was easy to detect that Alice
Marvel had French blood in her veins.
Her father had chosen his bride in
Paris and continued his residence IL
that city until Alice was 15. Then be
returned to America with his family,
which included Walter, who was two
years older than his sister, and immedi-
ately thereafter settled in Lee. ThEs
Alice was row in her twenty-fffth year.
Startled from her meditations by tie
abrupt entrance CT her friend, Alice
stared at her moment in silence aud
then suddenly exclaimed:
Is be deao?''
"Is who dead?' asked Virginia,
amazed at the question.
"Ycur uncle, Mr.. Lewis replied
Alice, at which Virginia was so Devil
dered that she stood speechless. Know
ing that the fact Of her urcle's death
had been so recently discovered and also
that Alice had not left her own room,
how she had become aware Of the true
state of affairs 1t occurred to her that
perhaps, after all, tie maidseryant had
informed Alice, but in that case it
should have been known also BY Mrs
Marvel, whereas that lady had acted in
a way which precluded the supposition
that the news had reached her ears
Recovering somewhat from the first eff
fects of her surprise, she asked:
.'How did you know that he is deee?''
Alice started at this question, and
then, as though awakening from
dream, replied:
81 don't know what I have been
saying. I think ] was dreaming when
you came in and-ard-and I must
have continued aloud what was passing
through my mind.
"Your dream, then, is wonderfully
near the truth, for my uncle was found
dead this morning, and he has undoubt-
edly been murdered.
Murdered! Ely God, this is fright
full" With a convulsive tremor, which
passed over her whole frame, Alice lay
back and buried her face in her pillow.
Virginia gazed at her, not knowing how
to construe her agitation. A moment
later Alice, with one bound, leaped
from the bed and, rushing up to Vir-
ginia, exclaimed excitedly:
"You say he was murdered. How Go
sou know it? Who can prove it? Did
any one see it2 Who did it? Who did it,
I say? Tell me-
'Hush! Do you know what you are
saying? If any one heard you, it would
be suspected"-
"What would be suspected? What is
suspected? Tell me! Imust know! 1
will know! I''-
'sSilencel Are you still in dream?
You must stop this wild language. Stop
It'll Stop it instantly" Taking Alice IL
the shoulders, she shook her, and -
her words and manner Virginia at
length subdued somewhat the intensity
Of her friends excitement. Then occur
red the inevitable reaction. Alice threw
herself on the bed ard abandoned her
self to wild paroxysm CT tears. Vir-
ginia endea7ored to calm and soothe
her, but for long tine her attentions
only aggravated the hysterical sobbing.
After awhile, however, she became
more quiet, and Virginia sought an ex-
planation.
"Now, Alice, said she, "you must
tell ne how you knew that my uncle is
dead.''
s'Hush! Icannot tell you csnsot
cannot
sBut you must. Evidently you know
something about this, and you mast
tell me. %
It is impossible"
''Can you not trust ne: Cone. Al:cs,
you must be reasonable. We are vast
ing time that is most precious. Do you
know who is or will be suspected OF
this crimc?"
"Do you know? Then tell ne!'' SAID
Alice in feverish anxiety.
Listen. There are two detectives
"Wbat! Already" interrupted A!;ce
in terrified voice. "Ard ycu say they
suspect some one?'
Alice, you. too, suspect sorc one.
| Who is it? # you and the detectives sCs-
pect the same man, will help to shield
him. You know that
"Him? Whom Go you mean:" Now
it seefae6 ',at Alice was puzzled.
do I mean? Who was it that
quarreied with my uncle? Who was i.
that threatened to kill him?''
My God, you mean my brothe1..'
Alice sank in u chair and sat staring
like enc in q trance Finally, ~ a great
effort, size aroused herself and soened
to regain her self possession.
Virginia. you must think me CIT of
Ey mind to have acted as have, but !
have had terrible night. In my dreams
I have seen your uncle murdered III ::
thousand fantastic ways. Therefore it
is not strange that when you startled
ne 7 should have addressed you as I
did. It was q tremendous shock to have