Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-08-12
CHAPTER XIf.-CoNr1SUED.

CHAPTER XIE-CONTISUED.
What is it, Mag9 Why did you open
that door? Let Hbe closed forever!
Lock it! Lose the. key! Why do you
/, stand there, womaus staring at the bedP
What do you see? Speak,"
eDo you see nothing, Marse Herbel't3
Didn't you see nothinS?"
Nothing but the Died and the furni-
ture in the room, and those dark spots
of blood-what did You see, Aunt Mag? ?"
Lying across the bed in his night
robe. the body of ySur uncle; the shirt
and the bed were ceeered with blood;
the bloody sheath knife was sticking in
his breast, and he looked at me with
such sad eyes, and raised his right
hand and pointed to the picture and the
Q picture instantly swung its face to the
wall" 9
Turn it back, Mag! turn it back!
Great God. it's mine; Mag, do you lie to
me?"
why should /, marster? Idoubt not
you will see it turn again"
Not l. Lock the door, Magi Lock
the door: III take the hot Scotch to
my ROOM
Il thought said Mag, that you
would now occupy old marster's room"
What, me! Woman, you are crazy!"
They sometimes call me so, Marse
Herbert, but i am harmless"
Thank God for that. Well, Mag,
good night, and don't see any more vi
sions-Ha! Ha! A good joke; Aunt
Mag, a good Joke! We'll 4eave here, Mag,
L intendto buy a farm, and there you'll
see no visions"
Herbert, with the tray in his hand,
passed from the room, and up the stairs;
while Aunt Mag threw open the bed
room door. and sank into chair.
$50, murderer, CO." she muttered,
-''but there Will be visions wherever you
are, so long as Mag follows you, and
there will be hands to turn your picture
to the wall. Yes, there will be one to
fill you with fear, thwart you, and drag
you down, until Angus Bruce shall be
proved clear of Marse Johns murder,
and you, Marse Herbert, be brought to
justice-yes, you will find Mag harm
less to all but you, Herbert Lathrop, to
all but you. And Marse John, my dear
old marster, you was always good to
Mag. and your murderer shall never
call Clara, Hill wife,
Mag turned the face of Herbert's pic
ture back to the wall, and leaving the
library door unlocked and open, passed
through the hall and to her room.
Herbert Lathrop emptied the pitcher
OF the hot Scotch that night, and get
unquiet were his slumbers, and the next
morning, after placing an ad. with the
Wilmington Journal, he took passage
for Orion.
The ad. was as follows:
Five thousand dollars reward will be
paid for the apprehension of Angus
Bruce, who. on the night of May 81,
1881 murdered my uncle, John Lloyd
Then followed description of Angus,
and the name of Iierbt-. was attached
to the proclamation.
Arrived at Orion, Herbert speedily
preached the matter of the purchase of
Kendall, and Squire Hill concurring in
his views the purchase was that week
completed, and Kendall with some so
negroes was in possession of Herbert
Lathrop.
Abner Hill, by reason of Herbert's
consulting him in regard to the pur-
chase of Kendall. and of his compliance
with his views. felt marked change
in the views that he had entertained of
that parsonage, and informed Herbert
thatlhe was ready at all times, when he
desiRed to consult him in regard to the
plantations management, to advise
him.
He advised the retention of Fred
Reynolds, the former overseer, and
within n few weeks time Herbert was
installed at Kendall.
To Fannie the change was not an I'M
welcome one, as she would have gladly
welcomed any that would have removed
her from the scene of the tragedy that
left. her an orphan, and particularly
change that brought her so near the
family of Abner Hill, at whose resi-
dence she now elected to spend the
greater part of her time.
Clara had not regained her wonted Vi
vacity of mind. and little resembled the
glowing picture of health that she did
that day when she rode her pony to the
wharf and placed her letter to Fannie
IN the hand of Angus. Her younger
brother was great consolation to her.
and TO him she made known the fact
that she was to have wed Mr. LLOYD out
Of regard for her fathers wishes, and
while her heart was in the keeping of