Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-03-27

Zesult was that Susan Ellen had not
finished the windows.
But it was so warm" she wound
up with another burst of tears, II did
not think it would matter to leave out
one sash, and meant to clean 1t and
put 1t in today"
/ understood now why 1t was that
Cousin Susan was so powerfully af
fected by the death of a great uncle
whom she had never seen tin yester-
day. She thought if she had not left
out that window sash the murderer
could not have gained entrance.
Aunt Samyra employed the finest de
tectives to clear up the mystery. but it
remained mystery still
Alicia" said my aunt about six
months after the murder what is
your theory on this subjeet?p
81 have none" answered. unless
1t was case of suicide"
''Impossibie" she calculated.
'What sort of mood was he in when
he bade you good night?"
Every bright and cheerful"
How long was it after he left you
before you retired?"
81 hadn't retired at all. but was put
ting up my hair in curl papers when
heard the pistol shot and went after
you"
''Then you heard the report of tile
pistol shortly after he bade you good
night?"
al did"
And you say he was in a bright,
cheerful frame of mlnd?"
"Yes; he went of with laugh about
being in the top story, saying lie could
get better view of the comet. which
was then attracting the attention of
every one, as he would be so much
nearer to it,
At the end of this conversation was
as much in the dark as had been Mt
the beginning.
But one thing had been borne in up.
that was the change in Susan Ellen.
Ever since that memorable night she
had been n different girl and seemed
only the shadow of her former self.
attributed this state of things TO n
morbid, oversensitive conscience which
would persist in attaching great blame
to herself for having left out that win
dow sash. One phase of her character
however, was at loss to account
for, and that was the sudden and un.
accountable aversion she had taken to
Aunt Samyra's poor old yellow cat.
Formerly, remembered. she had
been the cats greatest champion and
many n time had shared meal with
pussy, but now she actually shivered
If the animal happened to brush
against her.
But it was many years before 1 dis
covered the cause of that aversion
Aunt Samyra was dead; pussy had
died and been buried by me with many
tears under the cypress tree in the
back yard; Susan Ellen had married
Mr.. Wentworth, the young man who
had been her escort to the concert the
night of Uncle Ralphs death; the old
home had been broken up. and was
drifting about the world in an aimless
way.
Susan Ellen had invited me to spend
a week with her, and as her husband
was away on business we had ample
opportunity for the exchange of long
condolences about old times.
One night as we sat by the fire the
subject happened to turn on Aunt
Samyra's old yellow cat. asked her
why it was that she took such n sud.
den and unaccountabIe aversion TO that
poor animal.
at Is something l have often want
ed to tell you" she answered. but
somehow always shrank from doing So
AT first was afraid. and afterward
just kept putting it Off because knew
l ought to have told it at first You
remember the night Uncle Ralph was
killed."
''I certainly do"
''Well, that evening went to n con
cert with Mr.. Wentworth. We got
home about 10:3O ana stood talking AT
the front gate few minutes. lie mean.
while calling my attention TO the com.
eft. l felt guilty standing at the gate
for Aunt Samyra had often told me not
to do so, and involuntarily I glanced
toward the house. expecting TO see her
polling her heHd out of the window.
looking at me. Instead two curious
objects in Uncle RaIph's window
caught my eye.
You remember IT was such n bright
moonlight thai one could see very dis
tinctly. Yon remember also about my
washing the windows. The bottom
sash was in. but hoisied on n piece OF
broom handle so rs to take the place of