Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-05-30
RED BERRIES AND WHITE.
A Christmas Tragedy.

Before ne could reply strange thing
happened. A dozen torches flashed weird
and multi-colored in the gloom, and
crowd OF masked gypsies surrounded the
constables.
The arrest had not really been made
for Reuben had made no reply, and the
! handouts were not ON when he was sud
denly whisked away by strong hands,
and was out of sight in moment.
1t was a picturesque sight, the group
OF rugged men in their masks amid the
snow-crested trees, and standing on the
snowy road. the flames of the torches
driven wildly hither and thither by the
wild blast, the Pickering flames making
strange mosaic work on the ground.
The police made rush, but they were
baffled
The gypsies put not finger on them,
but stood about in such way that it
was impossible for the moment to break
through the Gordon
And then the gallop of horses told its
own tale.
For the present, the desired prisoner
had made good his escape
One of the gypsies then approached the
chief of the police, respectfully.
MIR. Superintendent" he said, eve
have done no harm. We have only saved
an innocent man from an arrest for
which l know you would have been sorry
tomorrow. Come with us, sir, and we
wlI show you the proofs of the crime
and the criminal himself Tor one of
/ them). Do not delay, for he is dying
fast"
Cora had come running up as the po-
lice We're trying to force their way
through the throng of gypsies, and the
news of Carlos accident had been told
in moment, for she had Just met the
lad whom she had employed to watch the
house, where she knew the proofs of Reu-
ben's innocence lay hidden.
| The constables, alive to the fact that
immediate pursuit. of Reuben was ut
terly useless, followed the gypsies, who
led the way with their torches through
the woods towards the deserted house.
In the basement they found Carlo
broken and dying but still able to speak.
I'm done for, Mr.. Evelyn" he said, in
a muified voice, addressing the superin-
tendent. MAN can do me no further
harm, and so I'll make q clean breast of
it while I can. Take out your note
book, and write down what | say. 1t
was Ernest Walton who bribed me to
murder his cousin Richard. He had no
idea then that Reuben Cooper was the
real heir, and he thought that when Rich
ard was out of the way he would gain
all-mOney and estates and Miss Gladys,
! too, Then, when he overheard that Reu-
ben was really Reginald Fernleigh, he
Matched the plot to have him arrested for
the murder, and so get him out of the
way.
ut was an awful plot; but $4,000 is
a big bribe,, and | fell.
! Upstairs in a cupboard in the long
room on the first floor you will find the
clothes which l wore at the time when
the deed was committed. Be careful how
| you make your way along the rotten
| floor, or you will share the fate that is
mine. In the pocket of the coat you will
| find letter from Ernest Walton, which
will help to prove his guilt"
The man was unable to say more.
With murmured prayer for pardon, he
gazed helplessly around him, and died.
+ Within an hour Ernest Walton was
arrested at the old Manor. He had no
one to give him intimation of his APP
preaching doom; but he was prepared
for such an emergency.
| He was found dead in his cell the next
morning, unconfessing, perhaps unrepent-
ant; but his very suicide forged another
link in the chain of Reuben's innocence.
The latter was formally acknowledged
as the heir of Fernleigh within week
after the last CHASTITY tragedy had been
enacted. 1t was difficult time for PEG.
pie to offer congratulations; but by let
ter the Squire received countless good
wishes for the success and happiness of
! his long-lost son.
For a time at least the Manor. how
ever, would be distasteful to all. and,
after we'll rewarding the gypsies and
Others who had brought about the right
ing of the wrong, the Squire departed
abroad with Gladys and Reginald, and
there, in three months, they were pri-
vately married, almost at the same time
that John Casson led his Carrie to the
altar.
1t was rather prosaic explanation of
the mystery of the Hidden Bells which
was given by q fisherman.
He said that when he and mate were
working in big cave he came across
two OF the lost bells of Fernleigh, with
the cross beam so damned from side to
side that they rang out with wild dis
cordant music each time that the storm
wind drove the big waves into the
rugged opening.
Be this as it may, the idea does not
suit the rustic mind, and on the country
side they say that the only reason that
the bells have not rung out since that
awful Christmas, is because JOY and con-
tent have found their abode at Fernleigh
| Manor at last.
But holly and mistletoe have long been
banished from Yuletide festivities at the
old mansion.
RED Berries and White" would be too
sad a reminder of the tragedy at the
fancy ball.
THE END