The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-11-17
Mr.. Tupper was about to pass the
trinket to the squire, when, as be closed


TTrgsnSc scos throaau, Off her guard.
it, something attracted his attention,
and scrutinilng it more carefully he
dropped it into his pocket and asked:
Miss Lewis, I think you said that
this belongs to you:
Yes, sir, though ] have not had it
for some time .
sAhl. HOW was that?''
st had concluded that it was lost,
but now see that my uncle must have
had it. .
How can you be sure that this is
yours? Has it your name or any other
mark by which you would know it?
No; there is no name ON it, but ]
know that it is mine, for, as you see, it
is of peculiar pattern. I have been.
told that my mother had it made spe-
cially for my picture, and it has been
IN my possession. except lately, for as
long as I can remember.
Mr, Upper pondered q second, but
said no more on this subject at that
time. Nor did he pursue the point
about the piece Of paper directly, but
determined to approach that by another
method.
Now, then, Miss Lewis, we will go
back to the meeting across the river, if
you please. Did you meet Mr.. Marvel?
But stop--you have already admitted IS
much. Tell us whether you left him on
the other side or whether he crossed
over with you. -
We separated before rowed back to
the farm. y
Then you left him across the 1iyer?'
Yes, sir. y
'sDid be say where he meant to go?"
To Epping. "
This seemed doubtful to Mr.. Barnes
in the face of the fact that he had found
Marvel at Portsmouth, out then he re-.
membered that Joseph Harrison had tes-
titled to meeting Marvel at Epping on
the morning after the murder. Mr.
Upper continued:
did he say where he would go after
that?''
HE did not lay out route and fur
nish me with a comrlete plan Of his
movements for the future. He did,
however, mention that he would return
to Epping, from which place he had
come that night. :"
Do you think that ne proceeded to
that place Immediately after leaving
you?''
Virginia was very cautious, now that
Che subject involved information about
her lover.
rsHow should I be able to reply def
nitely:" said she.
.sDo you know, then, whether he
crossed the river and visited the house
after parting with your"
st should say not, as took the boat. .
tDo you mean to say that you Gid
not see him after you left him at the
maple tree?''
81 mean to say that I have not seen
him since then"
'sThen, why should be have crossed
the river?"
"What makes you think that he did
so?''
ST do not think; I know. -
"You cannot know unless you saw
him, and that is impossible. .
is'Miss Lewis, there was snow on the
| -.,.o,,,5 ord ~o+ only, do l-roxu fror,
his footprints that he visited the farm,
but that he actually went to the very
door by which you had re-entered. OF
course cannot know that he went IN,
for unfortunately there isno snow with
in, as without. .
Virginia was silent, and despite her
strong control of her features it was
evident that she was troubled.
''Now, then," SAID the lawyer, coz
tinuing, 'sthe question arises, Why did
Mr.. Marvel visit your house at that
late hour? You say he did not see you.
Could it be that he sought your uncle,
hoping to effect reconciliation? IN
derstand that the only obstacle to your
union was his opposition, was it not::''
.sThat Mr.. Marvel should have sought
my uncle at that hour is preposterops
You say that he did come to the house,
which 7 doubt. but even though he did
not succeed in seeing ne, is it not mere
probable that it was his object to Go
so?''
eff SO, how is it that he I'D not Sue
ceed?''
81 retired as scon ss reached home
and did not hear any one enter after
me. That is why l doubt your theory
for I am q light sleeper. .
Mr.. Trpper now executed 5oio
move. Taking the paper which Mr.
Barnes had found in the parlor of tie
farmhouse. he folded it go that only @ the