The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-21

!.
She came into the office with an inspired
look on her old and haggard face.
HE has como back at last. at lastl'
she said
Judge Marcellus swung around IN his
swivel chair from bis books and sprang
forward with o tstretched hands.
.Nv dear Miss Doten." he cried. SIS IL
,ossble that Egbert Iangford has re-
turned after all these years? Do sit down
and tell me all about it,
Tho stately old lady sat prim and upright
m the very edge Of the chair.
He has come back. abe repeated. Alice
herself brought me the news from the
villa pe. They are at work renovating the
aid house: the servants are already there.
And now, Judge Josiah Marcellus. remem-
her your promise
The Judge fumbled uneasily with his
papers.
Il know he replied. Il did promise;
mt after all. Miss Doten, Is 1t we'll? Egg
fert Is an old man. old and broken, re-
turning home. after lifetime abroad,
to die,
And YOU yourself pardon mo, have
but few more years to live. Why not
Let the end be peace?
you are happy in the devotion Of your
ADOPTED daughter. Alice; her approaching
marriage to young Dudley Ray gives you
An agreeable interest. Why not. then, let
the dead rest in his grave' You have
only suspcion-there is no proof
Il love Alice interposed Miss Doten,
pftIy. Il would do anything for her I
think God sent her to me in such . strange.
unexpected way as . consolation. I hope
to and peace with her and Dudley
But first and her voice strengthened
a her face grew stern. but frst-but
oru-do you think the dead would rest
U I failed to avenge himf Onoe for all.
Ara YOU eotnS to desert me-to turn me
over to . stranger
Tho Judge touched button on bis desk.
Immediately q middle aged man. seooky
Of form, stoid Of face, entered, and, hav-
ine bowed deferentially to the Lady and In
ouiringly to his master, stood At aeten-
ton.
SIT down, cronktte.' said tho judge In
bis most formal manner. This. - you
know, il my esteemed client and dear
friend, Miss Dotsn. She comes on most
important and intimate matter, DO which
you must give your best ende.@ors.
Years ago Mis- Doten was tho Ahaanoed
wife Of John LAngford Of LAngford Hills.
up on tho Sound. She lived then, - she
docs now, . mile distant from tho estate
with John lived his younger brother.
Eebert, the warmest affection, APPARENTLY.
existing between them, though John bad
Inherited . great fortune and Egosrt only
Z pittance from their father. After Tho
engagement was announced Mn. Law
rence, an aunt, who kept house for the
young men, gave . ball In fts houoF.
In the carly morning both John and
Eebert were about The grounds giving
the attentions Of host 10 their departing
guests, but when al were gone John had
disappeared. Search was made. and bis
dead body was found in drying room
At tho rear. bullet through tho heart
Nearby was revolver. which wss
identified a. belonging to groom named
Manter, lately discharged for some fault
Manter's corpse and an upset boat which
he used were picked up on the river the
next day.
There was never any question chat
he was the murderer, Egbert inherited
his brothers estate. entered into its poses-
sion. and went abroad, you might almost
say to parts unknown. whence no has
never returned until now. No one doubted,
I say, except-
Let me telll' Miss Doten interrupted,
eagerly, fercely. 1T was the night after.
I was still there with Mrs. Lawrence. await
ing the funeral, too weak, indeed. to go
home; too griefstioken to sleep.
Tho body was laid in the great ball
and sat watching. mourning,
by the bier. The lights were low. the house
Gilent, silent as death, until heard the stairs
creak family, and then a little louder
i looked up. Egbert was descending.
IN his long night robe and bare feet, his hand
stretched before him, his eyes staring
walking in his sleep.
my pocket piece, he was muttering;
my silver dollar of 1890; where is it? If l
dropped tiff 1t should be found
His face was ghastly with dread. with
lgony; his lips were bloody. the sweat shone
On his forehead as he passed me by unheed-
ng. Something cold touched my hand
i was the face Of my beloved. as if he had
'hrunk away. as if he had shivered--"
There, there, my dear" interposed the !
Iudge you must remember that the law /
1as no concern with the mystical. Here is
he point. Cronkite:
Years passed; one day Miss Doten was
risiting Mrs. Lawrence at the old house
where she still lived. Miss Doten
'hancei to pass through that same drying |
-oom, in the rear of the house. Men we're
En- gageI in laying new floor of concrete
Glanced" exclsim Miss Doten.
At all events, she passed through at the I
,rccise moment when they were digging at /
he spot on which John Langford's body .
Mad lain. A shovelful Of earth was cast at :
Ter feet and out from it rolled something
lat round. discolored.
She picked it up and examined it pri-
'ately 1t was Egbert's pocket piece, which
lad remained hidden in crack Of the pave
nent
Il see Cronkite reflected. Miss Doten
believes that Egbert murdered John. and
'he wants the crime fixed upon him?
There is ground for moral certainty,
admit, but positively no proof. The
groom, Manter. may have left the coin
tere To avert suspicion. Egbert may have
ost i, days before.
Egbert's sleepwalkiny may have been
nj the une Sc of grief; his words but the
'ervcrsty OF dreams. But, conceding his