The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-07

2 IlulCdlSu, anu WeIlI Will
Charles. who had grown very grave. hung
back with Ralph, who seemed too much
dazcd to notice anything in heaven above
or on the earth beneath. The door opened
into an clubhouse, roughly paved with round
stones, where barrels, slaves and divers
lumber had been put away. There was
straw in the further end of 1t, out OF
which a yellow cat raised two cleaning
eyes, and then flew UP a ladder against
the wall, and Disappeared among the
rafters. In the middle of the floor, ly-
ing a little apart, were .,lree figures with
sheets over them. Instlnctively we felt
that we were in the presence OF death. 4
looked back at Charles and Ralph, who
were still standing outside in the falling
snow. Charles was bareheaded, but
Ralph was looking absently In front OF
him, seeming conscious OF nothing The
inspector made me q sign. He had raised
one OF the sheets, and now withdrew It
altogether My heart seemed to stand
still. 1t was Aurela! Aurclia changed
in the last great change of all. but still
Aurelia. The fixed artificial color In the
cheek consorted i'll With the bloodless
palor Of the rest Of the face. which was
set in a look of surprise and terror. She
was altered beyond what should have
been. She looked several years older. But
It was still Aurelia Those little. govod
hands, tightly clinched. were the same
which she had held to the library fire
MS we talked tho day before: even the
dress was the same. Alas! she had been
In too great a hurry to change 1t before
she left, or her thin shoes. Poor little
Aurela! And then-I don't know how
1t was, but In another moment Ralph was
kneeling by her, bending over her, tax
ing the stiffcned hands in his trembling
clasp, imploring the deaf ears to hear
III TN MIL n the Dllc lids TO
speak to him, which had done with hui
man speech Icould not bear 1t, and |
turned away and looked out through tho
open door at the snow falling. The IN
spector came and stood beside mel IN
the silence which followed we could hear
Charles speaking gently from time to
time; and when at last we both turned
toward them again. Ralph had flung him
self down on an old bench at the further
end of the ut-house. with his back turn
ed toward us, his arms resting on bar
rel. and his head bowed down upon them.
He neither spoke nor moved.
Charles left him and came toward US,
and he and the inspector spoke Tor
moment. and then thu latter dropped on
his knees beside the dead woman, and,
after looking carefully at Il dark stain
on ono of the wrists, turned back the
sleeve. Crushed deep into the round
white arm cleaned something bright. II
was an emerald bracelet which we both
knew. Charles cast q hasty glance at
Ralph but he had not moved, and ne
drew me beside him, so as to interpose
our two figures between him and the In
spector. The latter quietly turned down
the sleeve, and recomposed the arm.
II knew she would have them on her,
if she had them at all" he said. IN q
low voice 1--WE need look no further at
present. Not one will be missing. They
are all there" - IL,
He gazed long and earnestly Mt the
dead face, and then TO my horror nc q
suddenly unfastened the little hat. l
made nm involuntary movement as II to
| stop him, but Charles laid an iron grin
| upon me, and motioned to me to be Sill.
| The stenlthy hand quietly pushed back
! the fair curls upon the forehead, ana N
| another moment they fell still furthei
| back, showing few short locks OF darR
hair beneath them, which so completely
altered the dead face that 7 could hard.
" recognize 1t as belonging to the same
| person Tho inspector raised his head
| and looked significantly at Charles Their
! he quietly drew forward the yellow hall
| over the forehead again replaced the nat
and rose to his feet. Charles and
glanced apprehensvcly Mt Ralph, but NJ
had not stirred. AS we looked, a hurried
step came across the yard. hand raised
the latch Of the door, and some one en-
tered abruptly. 1t was Carr. For one
moment he stood In the doorway; for one
moment his eyes rested horror-struck or
the dead woman. then darted at us, from
us to the inspector, who was cooll1
watching him, nnd-he was gone! gone az
suddenly as he had come; gone swiftly
out again into tho falling snow, follow
ed by the wild barking of the dos.
Charles, who had had his back to the
door, turned in time to see him. ant
he made a rush Cor the door. but the IN,
spector flung himself in his way and helt
him forcibly. ),
"Let me go! Let mo get at him!
/ painted Charles, struggling furiously,
II shall do no such thing, sir It car
do no good, and might do harm He J.
armed and you are not; and he wouit
not be oyer-scrupulous II he were push
i ed. Besides what can you accuse hin
Of? Intent to rob? FOR he did not do IT
| II YOU rave lost anything. remember YOU
i have found 1t again, II you caught hin
| n hundred times. you have no hold OF
| him. ] know him Of old"
"You?"
eyes; I have known him by sight lonl
GHpEa%Nym Improper