Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17

gone of on some wild excursion somewhere,
for Of late she's been in the habit of going
away for day or two without telling US.
At first none Of US dreamed that anything
had happened, until just before IL o'clock
Reuben Dixon's lad, who'd been out fishing,
came up. shouting that poor Miss Mary was
in the water under some bushes close to the
stile that leads into the Monks Wood. At
first We couldn't believe it-but with the
others I flew down post-haste, and there
she was, poor thing, under the surface.
with her dress caught in the bushes that
droop into the water. Her hat was gone,
and her hair unbound floated out. waving
with the current. We at once got boat,
and took her out but she was quite dead.
Four men from the village carried her up
here, and they've placed her in her own
room.
1.-THE police know about 1t, Of course?"
Yes. we told Jarvis, the constable. He's
sent telegram to Oundle, think"
And what doctor has seen her?'
doctor Govitt, from Peterborough. He's
here now"
'Ahl 1 must see him. He has examined
the body, 1 suppose?"
Il expect so. sir. He's been long time
in the room"
And how is 1t believed that the poor
young lady got into the water?" 1 asked.
anxious to obtain the local theory
Its believed that she either fell in or
was pushed in long way higher up; be-
cause half mile away, not far from the
lock, there's distinct marks in the long
grass showing that somebody went off the
path to the brink of the river. And close
by that spot they found her black silk
Shawl"
"She went out without a hat, them" 1
remarked. recollecting that when she had
met her husband in secret she had worn a
shawl. Could it be possible that she had
met him again, and that he had made
away with her? The theory seemed a sound
one in the present circumstances.
1T seemed 10 me, sir. that the very fact
OF her taking her shawl showed that she
did not intend to be out very long" the
butler said.
In the night in order to meet somebody"
] observed.
The old man shook his head sorrowfully,
saying:
Poor Miss Marys never been the same
since her husband died. sir. She was often
very strange in her manner. Between our
selves. l strongly suspect 1t to be a case
of deliberate suicide. She was utterly
broken down by the awful blow"
II don't see any motive for suicide ]
remarked. Then 1 asked, Has she ever
been known TO meet any one on the river
bank at night?'
Old Parkinson was usually an impene-
trable person. He fidgeted, and 1 saw
that my question was an awkward one fol
him to answer without telling a lie.
The truth will have to be discovered
about this, you know, l went on There
fore, II you have any knowledge likely t
assist us at the inquest it is your duty t.
explain"
well, SIR" he answered. after a shor
pause, ito tell the truth. in this last weel
or so there have been some funny rumor.
in the village"
About what?"
People say that she was watched b,
Drake, Lord Massingtons gamekeeper, who
saw her at o'clock in the morning walk
Ing arm in arm with an old gentleman.
heard the rumor down at the Golden Ball
but l wouldn't believe 1t. Why. Mr.. Cour
tenays only been dead month or two
The man Drake is a Dragging fellow, and
think most people discredited his state
ment"
We'll" / said, eft might possibly hav,
been true. 1t seems hardly conceivab,
that she should go wandering alone by tn,
river at night. She surely had some motiv,
in going there. Was she only seen by tn,
gamekeeper on one occasion?'
only once. But. of course, he soor
spread 1t about the village and it formed
for week a nice little titbit of gossip. A.
soon as l heard it took steps to deny it.
1t never reached the young lady's ears?'
'Oh. no. the old servant answered. I'VE
were careful to keep the scandal to our
She's had sufficient trouble in her life, poo
thing" And with tears In his gray ole
eyes he added: II have known her evel
since she was a child in her cradle. II.
awful that her end should come like this"
He was q most trustworthy and devoted
servant. having spent nearly forty years O
his life In the service of the family, unit
he had become almost part of it. His voic
Quivered with emotion when he spoke O
the dead daughter Of the house, but h,
knew that toward me 1t was not a ser