Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-07-07

spoke spitefully respecting it, a natural
cause might be found in the circum-
stance that Fleetwood never honored her
| by such mark Of attention.
A couple of hours after breakfast, il
being then about half-past eleven O'Clock,
| Mile. Rosalie remarked that Mr.. Will
mot was later than he was on the pre-
ceding morning, and my wife concurred
but added that he must on no account
be disturbed. AS she looked toward me
for confirmation, | said that he had
given explicit instructions that no one
should go to his bedroom until he sum
mOned them. 1t was an evidence of the
wretched state of my nerves that |
should feel annoyed by Mile. Rosalies
simple repetition of my words, Until
he summoned them" She was busy
with piece of embroidery, which she
was making for Eunice.
Another hour passed without a sign
from my uncle, and. with the intention of
seeking Samuel Fleetwood, / left the
ladies, and proceeded in the direction of
my uncle's apartments. On the way |
entered my own bedroom for a clean
handkerchief, and | casually observed a
piece Of thin whipcord, the end of which
was hanging down from beneath the pill
low of the couch upon which l had
slept. 1t did not further attract my at
tention, and, without removing it, went
IN search of Fleetwood. He was not to
be found. l questioned the servants,
but not one of them had seen him.
knowing that he was suffering from
acute heart disease, and that my doctor
had said he had not long to live, 1 pro-
ceeded to his room, adjoining that of
my uncle, fearing that he might be i'll.
But Fleetwood was not in his room. His
bed had been made and the apartment
was in a clean and orderly condition. I
sought the chambermaid whose duty it
was to attend to the bedrooms, and as
eertained that she had attended as usual
to Fleetwood's room.
The bed had been slept in?" 1 in
quired.
Yes, sir" replied the chambermaid.
You are sure you have not seen him p
Il am sure, sir. l noticed that his
room was not as tidy as I've seen it
generally. Things seemed to be in con-
fusion"
l returned to Fleetwood's apartments,
between which and my uncle's, as l have
mentioned, was a communicating door.
placed my ear to this door and listened.
heard no sound. l softly tried the
door. 1t was locked; but whether it had
been locked from the inside or the out
side l could not tell. BY this time it was
l o'clock, and | began to feel uneasy.
went to my wife and consulted her.
She hardly knew what to advise. having
gathered from me how peremptory were
my uncle's instructions that he should
not be disturbed. But when another hour
had passed we decided that. in the
strange and unaccountable absence of
Samuel Fleetwood, we would make a
gentle effort to arouse him.
We stood together at the communicate
ing door, and softly called to him, and
presently called in louder tone. with
out receiving an answer. My wife tap
ped at the door, with no better result.
and then l shook it and called in a clear,
loud tone, Uncle! Uncler'
And still there was no response from
him.
Richard" said my wife, 81 am alarm
ed He is an old man, and
Something must be DONE" 1 said.
How it came about l know not, but
now there were other persons in the room
beside ourselves-Mr. Mortlock and Mile.
Resale.
THE door should be forced" said Mr..
Mortlock. Let me try
He put forth all his strength, and lit
orally smashed the door in. Even at this
dread juncture 1 noticed that Mile Ro-
sale looked at him in admiration Of his
strength.
We stepped into the room, expecting
and hoping that my uncle would leap
from his bed at the unseemly intrusion
and confront US. The form of my uncle
was upon the bed, encompassed by an
awful stiffness. We softly moved toward
it, and. bending forward, saw that he
was cold and dead!
Horror struck, we retreated; then in
stantly stepped forward again, my wife
only keeping in the background. l low
cred my ear to my uncle's mouth; it was
rigid and fixed. l placed my hand upon
his heart; it was pulseless.
''He is deadr' l said.
Mr.. Mortlock east Infatuated glances
at me. My wife was falling to the
ground as l caught her
Poor gentleman said Mile. Rosalie.
Poor old gentleman