Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-05-27

of his title. little turmoils arose between
the brothers, and seemed to embitter
them exceedingly.
Reginald, tie second son, had an ugly,
morose disposition, that was peculiarly
exasperating, and whenever the oppor-
tunity occurred he delighted in getting
Fitzroy into disgrace with the young
baronet.
"These young men had a very pretty
cousin, in whose society they each took
extreme pleasure Her name was Con-
stance Leonore Glendenning. 1t was soon
discovered that the affections of the
young girl were centered upon Sir Ar
thur, and this knowledge was immedi-
. ately followed by 4 betrotial.
Reginald, being someNiat disappsint-
ed that he could not win the prize, un-
dertook to report several little interviews
of 4 purely innocent and accidental ma
ture that rFitzroy had with this lady to
his brother, casting q very sinister light
upon them, and assuring Arthur that
Fitxroy was endeavoring to supplant him
in her favor.
'"Hhis artful story infuriated the young
nobieman. and caused 2 very bitter inter
view. Fitzroy Indignantly denied every
thought of interference, declaring the
truth, that his love for Constance was
merely cousinly This Sir Arthur refus-
ed to believe, and they parted in anger,
Fitzroy exclaiming in a moment Of un-
guarded passion as he left him:
every well, think SO if it suits you;
but, mark me, you shall yet repent your
unjust accusations, and, as l live, shall
| never repeat this insult
"Closing the door as he spoke, he step
| ped into the hall and stood face to face
with Antoine Duval, the valet of his
brother Reginald, and from the conscious
| look he gave him, Fitzroy knew that he
| had either purposely listened or acci-
dentally heard the unfortunate remark.
'The brothers did not meet again that
| day, but early the next, Fitzroy was
| awakened by an unusual tumult. To his
horror he was told that Sir Arthur had
disappeared during the night. His bed
had been occupied as usual, but he had
probably been murdered. or very badly
wounded, as while no traces of his body
could be found, evidences of a contest
| were on every side.
| "Blood was upon the bed and floor
| the window seat was covered with it, as
though he had been dragged through it,
and then by means of rope let down to
| the ground below. From the grass to an
ornamental lake not far distant were
| irregular patches of the same human
gore. Beyond that, nothing was ever
discovered! That lake was thoroughly
dragged for the body; the grave by the
side of it was searched, not a spot being
| left in which a corpse could be buried
to no effect.
"But, while stupefed with grief over
his brothers loss, our poor friend was
made aware that the finger of suspicion
pointed to him with singularly fatal evil
dences of guilt.
"a dagger with his name engraved
upon the handle was found by the bed
side, on the foor,-its blade still wet with
blood. Beneath the window seat, caught
upon a nail, was a fragment of cloth
which, upon search being made, fitted
| exactly into a rent in a dressing gown
| of his. that was found hanging in his
own closet.
''All he could conclude was that some
unknown enemy had struck the fatal
blew, and after stealing these articles
from his private rooms, had left the
dagger purposely upon tine floor, and re-
turned the torn and bloody gown to the
closet, in order to fasten suspicion upon
him, and thus shield themselves.
ITO make long story short, in due
| time the trial took place, and Sir kegI-
nald Glendenning, who had succeeded to
the title, testified to the bitter feeling
that had existed between the brothers.
He also identified the dagger and dress
ing gown as belonging to the prisoner.
Antoine Duval testified as fully to the
threatening language used to the de-
ceased on the day previous to the mur-
der by his brother.
'The' trial was quite lengthy, but re-
suited in his acquittal and discharge
from custody. But although freed by
law, the popular opinion remained un-
changed, and, unable to endure the cold,
averted looks of his former friends, he
left his home and embarked for America
under an assumed name.
Arriving in New York, the strain OF
grief that he had undergone SO told upon
his nervous system that he was laid
upon a bed of severe illness. Then i,
was that your father sought him out and
nursed him so tenderly. After his re.
covery, he resolved to devote himself te
business, and thus forget his troubles
| and misfortunes.
Go De continued.l
|