Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-07-01
CHAPTER XVII.

AI1AI l. NV IL.
The silk was wrapped firmly round the
head and shoulders of the body, but be-
meath trailed black dress; and with
fearful, sickening hesitation l took up
fold Of the fabric in my hand, as the po-
liceman, with the group of men and
Haynes Haviland, worked together at UNI
fastening the knot.
The gown was of silk, and attached by
a star of jet embroidery depended a sim
gle rag of faded gauze, having frayed
and charred appearance at the ends.
At this sight my heart tainted within
me. Could proof be more positive than
this? 1t was the dress which Paula had
worn that Sunday.
1T is her gown, | am sure of it,
Hayes Haviland was saying brokenly;
and then, as my eyes still fingered on the
poor shreds of tattered fnery, l started
at an exclamation of horror which Uncle
Nilfrid gave.
| looked up and followed the direction
of his gaze. There was no need to ask
what had called forth his exclamation.
l saw with my own eyes, which for
months had but to close their lids to be-
hold the same sight, repeated in every
dres dful detail.
The silken drapery had fallen back.
The shoulders were uncovered, and a
shapeless mass of broken velvet and
crushed feathers, which had once been a
picture hat, had expanded, when re-
leased from pressure, out of the rounded
bunch into which it had been purposely
nodded. 1t fell away with the falling of
the drapery, bringing with it a dainty
L /. - III,
forced inside the crown; and thus was re-
vealed hitherto unimagined horror.
The body was without head!
"Oh, for revenge cried Haynes-Havi-
land. Deadly, horrible revenge upon the
one who has done this thingw
AS he spoke the door opened. We had
thought it locked, but it seemed that we
had been mistaken. and on the threshold
stood the last man whom any among US
might have expected to see. 1t was Jer-
ONE, my uncles X-secretary-Jerome, of
whose very existence l had grown OBJ
livous.
'They tell me-" he said, in a curious,
constrained voice, that the dead body of
Miss Wynne has been found. l had to
come. She was the only human being on
earth for whom l cared. 1t can not be
that she is dead. Is it true? Sir Wilfrid,
l beg of you TO answer me-"
That we do not yet know" returned
my uncle sternly. You can not remain
here, Jerome. In good time you shall
hear ALL"
But Jerome, who in old days had been
humble to servility, now cut Sir Wilfrid
short.
Il tell you | have right to stay" he
said. ''She was my only friend. l loved
her. And can prove who did the muir
der"
For an ins ant we stood cycling him in
ineredulous establishment. And be took
advantage of the pause to rush to the
place where, upon the cleared platform
placed for lookers-on when a game of bill
lizards was being played, the body had
been laid down.
He fell on his knees beside It. limp,
despairing little figure, and raised a fold
of the draggled gown to his lips.
This was her dress" he groaned. "She
had it on that last day. | watched her as
she went out of the house"
What. you saw her on that day"
questioned Uncle Wilfrid, turning quickly
on him. Where were you?"
Il was at the cottage called The Nest.
Miss Wynne had asked Mrs. Annesley TO
invite me down over Sunday. You can
bear me out in that statement, Mr..
Haynes-Haviland."
YES" the other echoed; Il can bear
YOU ont in that
Il had long talk with her after lunch
con. She seemed in low spirits, and re-
marked that a presentiment of some evil
was upon her. She was restless, and
told me she was going for walk, and
wished 10 be alone. She held out her
hand to me. and said good-by, and | saw
the rings sparkling on it. See! there they
are now-hve rings. 1t is one more proof
Of identity"
Jerome pointed with a thin. tremulous
finger. And it was as he said. The
rings which Uncle Wilfrid and l had for
! long been accustomed to seeing on
Paula's left hand still sparkled on the
poor. hloated fingers. Even the circieS
of brilliants which had given her. and
which she had never sent back TO me af-
ter our parting. was there among the
| others.
Hope began to die ont in our hearts,
and a siekening weight of misery took
I It's lAdNt-
"Foally murderer cried Jerome. '''rhe
beautiful. gracious woman struck down
| in the blossom Of youth, Can't you see
/ il al as | do? l tell you. l speak as one
/ inspired with the gift of prophecy. This
is the week OF jealousy and revenge But
one hand on earth could have been rails
| ed 10 DO deed SO base-the hand OF the
/ woman who hated her, who robbed her Of
all she held PRECIOUS. who even robbed
me of my poor. rightful place-the hand
which hid itself under-this.@
With 4 Mild gesture he snatched from
/ the breast OF the dead woman something
which might have been concealed there,
| though as yet we had failed TO see II,
/ and held il out 70 my uncle and 70 me.
One quick glance was enough 10 tel
me what il was that with certain hide
Gus triumph he diSP.ayed-a torn portion
/ Of what had once t%en & delicate nittcE
OF pearl beads strung on threads OF gold