The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-19

Startled from her meditations by the
abrupt. entrance Of her friend, Alice
stared at her a moment in silence and
then suddenly exclaimed:
lis he dead?"
'Is who dead?' asked Virginia,
amazed at the question.
"Your uncle, Mr.. Lewis" replied
Alice, at which Virginia was so bewil-
dered that she stood speechless. Know
ing that the fact Of her uncle's death
had been so recently discovered and also
that Alice had not left her own room,
Virginia was at loss to understand
how she had become aware Of the true
state of affairs. It occurred to her that
perhaps, after all, the maidservant had
informed Alice, but in that case it
should have been known also by Mrs.
Marvel, whereas that lady had acted in
q 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 dead?"
Alice started at this question, and
then, as though awakening from q
dream, replied:
II don't know what I have been
saying. I think I was dreaming when
you came in and-and-and / 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-
eddy been murdered.
Murdered My God, this is fright
fulW 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-
GINA, exclaimed excitedly:
"You say he was murdered. How do
you know it? Who can prove it? Did
any one see it? Who did it2 Who did it,
I say? Tell me-
'Hushl Do you know what you are
saying? If any one heard you, it would
be suspected"-
"What would be Suspected What is
suspected? Tell mel Unjust knowi
will knowl p
"Silencel Are you still in dream?
You must stop this wild language. Stop
It'll Stop it instantlyw Taking Alice by
the shoulders, she shook her, and by
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 and abandoned her.
self to wild paroxysm Of tears. Vir-
ginia endeavored to calm and soothe
her, but for long time her attentions
only aggravated the hysterical sobbing
After awhile, however, she became
more quiet, and Virginia sought an ex-
PLANTATION.
NOW, Alice" said she, "you must
tell me how you knew that my uncle is
dead"
"Hushl I cannot tell you. cannot.
I cannot"
but you must. Evidently you know
something about this, and you must
tell me-"
1T is impossible"
"Can you not trust me? Come. Alice,
you must be reasonable. We are vast,
ing time that is most precious Do you
know who is or will be suspected of
this crime?"
"Do you know? Then tell mel" said
Alice in feverish anxiety.
'Listen. There are two detectives"-
"Whatl Already?" interrupted Alice
in terrified voice. "And you say they
suspect some one"
"Alice, you, too, suspect some one.
Who is it2 If you and the detectives sus-
pect the same man, ! will help to shield
him. You know that"
Him? Whom do you mean?" Now
it seemed that Alice was puzzled.
"Whom do I mean? Who was it that
quarreled with my uncle? Who was il
that threatened to kill him?"
My God, you mean my brotherH'
Alice sank in chair and sat staring
like one in trance. Finally, by q great
effort, she aroused herself and seemed
to regain her self possession.
Virginia, you must think me out Of
my mind to have acted as have, but ]
have had terrible night. In my dreams
/ have seen your uncle murdered in q
thousand fantastic ways. Therefore il
is not strange that when you startled
me l should have addressed you as
did 1t was q tremendous shock to have
you announce that all which my imag.
nation had pictured was really true
Undoubtedly, Alice, but it is a
strange coincidence that you should
have had such dreams. What were you
thinking of when you retired that my
uncle should have been so conspicuously
in your thoughts?''
II was thinking Of him. But I will
tell you the truth at once"
'Stop moment. Twill listen to youl
story after awhile. It is Of vital impor.
lance that no more time should be lost
in warning Walter Of the danger which
threatens him.
eyes, but how will you do it? Dc
you know where he is?'
He is in Portsmouth by this time,
hope. He will expect letter from me
tomorrow morning. I came out to post
it, but I am certain that I am watched
by the detectives. l did not dare to &C
to our office for fear that they would
discover just what do not want them
to know. The only way left is to send
tho letter to New Market and mail il
there. How can We do that?"
Alice had entirely composed herself
and while her friend spoke was rapidly
dressing She replied:
II know the very one to trust, for OF
course it must be tried friend, as the
bearer of the letter will discover the ad.
dress. Will Everly is tho man for this
emergency Walter, you remember,
saved him once when he was nearly
drowned, and since then believe he has
been ready to sacrifice his lifo for my
brother at any moment"
will is the man that had in my