Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-01-15

uIoP Inc contents OF his glass on the
floor.
There was a murder committed
up to the big house. You might have
passed it on the way down. Got two
stun critters on the pillars on each
side OF the big gate.'' !
Yes, passed it,
Ellson's wife, it seems, was walk
IN In the park t'othera night bout
ten o'clock, and she never come back
alive. Was struck down right in the
path near the house. Just one blow
she never spoke again"
Bless me, what a tragedy for a
quiet place like this!"
'Ye may well say SO. The folks
is wild. It'll go hard, I'm afraid,
with the school-teacher."
What had he to do with it?' and
the little man seemed to prick up his
ears, as if point of interest to him
had been reached.
well, they think he done it-a11d
everything points that way. Ye see,
the Ellisons had one child-a daugb-
ter"
"Ah!" The little man pushed his
glass aside, drew himself closer to
the table and looked at Mr.. Peter
with such a piercing expression that
the good landlord for a moment was
speechless.
swell, what about this daughter?
Why don't you go on, man?" ex-
claimed the stranger.
Mr.. Bowersox risked swallow
from his glass to fortify himself,
made wry face, and continued:
''The young gent what's been
school-teacher here for the past five
years was sweet on the young lady,
and them what knows says it was
returned Mrs. Ellison heard of it,,
and was mad enough, though her hus-
band never let on to the young man
that he knowed what was up, though,
of course, he couldn't help it. All
the town knowed. Well, young Bar
nett, which the same was the school
teachers name, was pervadin'
round the grounds that night. He
was seen to meet with Mrs. Ellison
by the watchman. There was hard
words between 'em, she accusin' the
young man of tryin' to steal her
daughter away. Just what happened
after that isn't known, but some
time alter cry was heard, and when
folks got on the scene they found
1,u 20
nett, cleanin' his hands on the
grass" The landlord was silent for
a moment, as if to give emphasis
to his words. He was astonished at
the cool way in which the little man
received his tragic recital.
''Well, that don't mean that the
young man was the murderer" said
the latter.
'Oh, it don't, Ell? Well, most Of
Us in this here neighborhood thinks
IL does. And do you know that he
had made arrangements to leave last
night, surptitious-ike, as they say,
and had sent his trunk off, instruct
in the man what carried it not to let
anyone know that the schoolmaster
was goin' to skip. All that looks
bad"
'Hum!" and the stranger for a
moment drummed on the table with
his stubby red fingers. "The young
man is certainly in an unpleasant
position. What does he say-what is
his side of the story?"
ooh, he denies that he had any
thing to do with the poor lady,
though Acknowledged that they had
words, and that she ordered him off
the grounds. On his way out he
heard this cry in the night, and,
runnin' back, found her dead or
dyin' on the ground"
"And what sort of reputation
does he bear in the neighborhood?"
ooh, fust-rate, as far as that goes,
though he never, patronized me
none," with rather rueful tone in
his voice. Fright smart, he seemed
to be. But, we see, the mother allus
was against him. Hadn't been for
her, he ght have got the gal. FL
lison, We see, was friendly like to
the last"
''Well, from what you tell me [
feel sure that young man had moth
ing to do with the crime," said the
stranger, decidedly. Perhaps it is
the work of some miscreant, who
took advantage Of his being in the
grounds that night to kill her. L
never heard of young man taking
such a step because the mother hap
pened to oppose his suit. 1t is not
common sense. Well, must be go
ing now," and he rose and laid a
piece of money on the table. "Oh,
never mind the change" as the land
lord was counting it out. ut was
worth something to hear such dra-
matte story"
Il hope you'll come again, sir"
"You might see me this evening,
but I can't tell. suppose you could
put me up for day or two
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.