Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-03

i
Hit, in wild alright. as she hurried to
the open window from which hung the
rent and spotted curtain. The window
opened upon the upper porch, from
which steps led down into the shrub
berries. Miss Hit. followed by all the
domestics, hastily passed through it,
and looked in turns around. half-fear-
ing to discover the body of the muir
dcred body of the victim bride. She
found the window sill. the floor of the
porch and the steps leading down to
the strawberries, all thickly-spottcd With
blood! The strawberries themselves
were beaten and tramplcd down. and Il
furrow ran through them from the foot
Of tho stairs toward the waters edge.
us though some inanimate body had
been dragged along! and. oh. worse
than all. hanging on the thorn bushes
on either side. were shrNls of muslin.
as if torn. in passing. from some wo-
mans dress! Fearing to pursue this
should be blasted by some sight Of even
greater horror. the appalled, woman hur-
ried. as fast rs age and fat would per-
nit her. up tho porch stairs again. call
ing wildly on the name of AStrca. and
calling in vain. On reaching the cham
Der. She rushed through Ill it's signs of
crime. to the back door. connecting it
with the lady's dressing room: but this
she found was fastened on the same
side: this scarcely surprised her ut the
time. she so quickly unlocked it and
passed through, hurrying on toward the
gcntleman'S dressing room. whose door
was also fastened on this side Quickly
shooting back the bolt. she rushed into
the presence of Col. Greville. who was
quietly in the act of receiving Il fresh
pocket handkerchief from the hands OF
his valet. He turned in some Surpr.si,
to meet the horror-stricken countcnance
Of the old lady, exclaiming
What is the matter. Miss Hit: Are
any Of the maids In hySterics:'
"Oh. Colonel Greville! Oh. Fulkc!
Where is Astrca?" gasped Miss Hit.
"Astrea! my Wife! what about AS
trea?" exclaimed Colonel Grevillr. in
sudden alarm. striding toward the com
nunicating door of their apartments.
/ "Stop. Fulke Greville! she is not
there. us YOU must know too we'll.
ask YOU where she is? Cain. where is
thy sister? Murder whore is thy-vic
thy sister! Murderer. where is thy vic
/ tim?'
Miss Hit! murderer? Are you mad.
or what is tho meaning of all this"
cried the colonel. sweeping her from his
path and striding through I'LL the suite
Of rooms until he stood, the center of Il
group Of affrighted servants. in the
midst Of the defaced and blood-staincd
chamber.
In the name of Heaven. what is all
this? My wife. where is my wife," eX-
claimed the shocked and terrified hus-
band. as With face white as one OF
1>l.
tokens of guilt.
where? we ask YOU where. murder
CT. hypocrite. monster! that you are!
where have You hidden her dead
hody:" ShrieErd Miss Hit. frantic with
rage. grief and despair
But without needing her Wild appeal
the frenZied man rushed past the group
of panic stricken servants and through
the ragged and CORY window out upon
the porch. where the trail of blood met
his appalled, gaze! Following this. he
rushed down the steps and through the
beaten strawberries and along the lcafy
| furrOW. toward the waters edge.
Meanwhile Miss Hit, through plunged
in the deepest despair. recovered self
control sufficient to take upon her the
| direction Of affairs and give her orders
| With sufficient clearness.
'He ought not to be suffered to leave
| the island. John. do you hurry down to
| the beach. take the boat and go across
the water tc Hurnstop. Major Burns is
a justice Of the peace; tell him what has
happened hare and ask him TO come
over Immediately, and bring as many
conStableS as he may think necessary!
Hurry
John flew to do her bidding. Aud
then she She turned to another man
servant
James. call the coachman and the
gardener. and take them with you, and
make a thorough search for the body
through the island. Hasten
| James rushed out to execute these or
derS.
Mandy, you must remain in this room
with me. for I shall stay here to watch
that nothing is changed until the mag
lstrate arrives
Mandy Immediately left the group Of
aWe-strickcn servants and went and
stood behind the chair of her mistress.
"And now, Monsieur" she said, adj
dressing the French cook. you will
please to take all these people away
with you and keep them in order until
the arrival of the magistrate
|
ence by a succession Of boS's. and beck.
Cned his attendants to follow him
from the ROOM
When Miss Hit was left alone with
Mandy in the fatal chamber. she leaned
back in her chair and closed her eyes.
as if to shut out the scene Of blood
around her.
Monsieur lc Chef had no trouble in
keeping the servants in order; they
crcpt down to the lower regions of the
house. where they remained in panic
stricken silence. or spoke to each othc,
only in terrified whispers.
The coachman and the gardener. with
their assistants, were beating the bush
es in every direction. searching for the
body of the murdered bride. or some in.
dicaton Of its fate. Col. Grevillc in all
agony Of grief. was flying about the isl
and on the same quest.
Things were in this condition when
Major Purns. accompanied by another
magistrate, who happened to be staying
at his house and also by pair Of collI
ty constablcs. arrived upon the scene OF
action.