The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-27

rangements were. | did not feel very well
after my bad night, and hoped there would
be driving party. We found knot Of
men in the hall gathered together discuss
ing something of evident Importance. AS
we appeared the men separated, and sew
eral came to meet us with the usual greet
ings. But l had seen enough to know there
was something very interesting and inn
portant going on, 50 | took young Bal
mains arm and led him down the steps on
to the terrace and asked him If there was
any startling news. He endeavored to
evade the que stion, but on my pressing him
he owned that there was"
The fact of the matter is he said, ''if
you really want to know, that something
has happened to one of our party. At
least. as he was staying in the house, /
suppose he was one of the party. An old
gentleman, a friend CT Sir George Wrag-
gles they arrived together yesterday; any
how, he has died suddenly"
'"rhe news didn't startle me in the least,
neither did ii shock me. Died. you say|
/ remarked. What did he die Off
" "Pon my word, l can't say replied
Mr.. Balmain. He didn't come down 10
breakfast. No one would have missed him
had not Sir George asked where he had
got to. And then one of the maids said
she had been knocking at his door for
half an hour, and couldn't get any an
swer. SO the butler went up and they
broke his door open, and found him dead
"'Cr murdered, l suggested.
'What makes you say that?' he replied.
No. he added, after pause. He WASH t
murdered, because his door was locked
on the inside, and his windows were shut
and fastened. But If you really want TO
know, l am told he committed suicide
81 felt overcome, but curiosity got the
better of me. l felt / must know every
thing. How did he kill himself? ! de-
manded.
a. The butler tells me he cut his throat
with a pair of scissors, he said, with a
shudder, and it's a most extraordinary
thing that he didn't rouse the whole house
for as he fell he knocked over glass
which is broken into bits. 1t must have
made a terrific noise. But then the next
room was empty, which. l suppose, &C.
counts for it.
That is ALL" added Mrs. Grimstone as
we sat without breaking silence. THE ne
cessary forms were gone through of
course, with due consideration to our feel
ings. The body was removed to the village
inn, where it was shown beyond doubt
that Mr.. Joseph-that was his name-had
accidentally cut himself with a sharp pair
of scissors while trimming his beard. This
was proved beyond question by the frag-
ments of white hair they found on the
floor, aud the scissors which were discoV-
cred still lying beside the body, and every
body was satisfied.
II could not bring myself to go to the
Chase for years after that night. But Just
after Ethel's marriage l was lonely and
was persuaded 10 go and stay with Lady
Glover for while. She is sort Of distant
connection on my mothers side, you know
II was on the second night of my visit
happened to be in the library aud CHANGED
on a book which was placed on the shelf
upside down. The gilt being reversed
caught my eye, and took the book out Of
it's place and turned IT, AS did so a piece
of paper fell out. II was the designation
] had picked up in Ethels room that awful
night l have IL still.
Then the question struck me with it's
fun force. How much OF that nighRE work
was reality, and how much OF II a dream?
Was il mere Imagination on my parts or
was it."
Second sight" prompted the Journalist
as Mrs. Grimstone hesitated.
Naturalization" suggested the doctor
"a curious coincidence" / remarked
Reality" muttered the Countess With a
sigh. Now LEI US 90 and get sofzio tea"
(rhe End.)