The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-01-01

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soon found the WORD Oh Ine Tluule,
first in a column headed mysterious
Death of Mr.. Deering Of Denham,"
followed by all particulars, and an
account of the strange artist, who
had been sketching in Denham woods.
and had, according to the evidence
Of the hotel l-eeper at Earlshall, re-
ceived a letter with the Deering crest
the day previous to the fatal event.
In another column was an account
of robbery and murder in railway
carriage between York and London.
On reaching an intermediate station,
one of the carriages of the up-train
was found open and empty, the door
swingingto and fro, while the cushion
beside it was .smeared as if something
bleeding had knocked against it. The
carpet was displaced, and some SOW
ereigns and loose silver scattered
about.
On search being made, the body of
a middle-aged man, we'll dressed, and
apparently in good circumstances,
was found lying beside the rails some
miles back, his head and face shat
tered, his pockets turned inside out,
and at little distance lay an Amer
lean revolver. His purse was gone,
but valuable watch was still in his
pocket, and an old envelope, with an
American stamp, addressed IN. Lam
bert, Rue de L'Eveque, Paris" was
the only clew to his identity.
After reading these chastity details,
Lady Gethin spent an anxious and
miserable time until Glynn appeared.
He had sent hasty line to Elsie to
say he was trying to clear away an
accumulation of business in order to
be with her on Wednesday,.
II suppose my father will come
with him? 1t is strange he does not
mention him. Nor has my father
written for several days." said Elsie.
"Oh, Hugh will explain everything
when he comes" replied Lady Gethin.
Lady Gethin contrived to impress
Elsie with the idea that Glynn would
not arrive till late Il the evening, and
so managed to secure short inter-
view with him before he went to
break his sad news to the orphan.
He looked i'll and worn.
"Oh, Hugh! what an awful busi-
ness" exclaimed Lady Gethin.
"A profound tragedy" he returned.
"To you I may venture to confess my
belief that Lambert first shot Deer
ing and then blew his own brains out,
1t was the day after Deering's muir
der Lambert destroyed himself. I
have been expecting every day to find
that he has been identified in some
way with the artist who spent cou-
pie of days sketching at Denham.
Of course the watch and ring, and the
mans figure generally, were enough
for me. I knew who he was fast
enough. l attended the examination
and gave my evidence frankly. Moth
ing was said about Deering. Now let
me 60 to Elsie! I both long and
dread to see her"
Lady Gethin led him up stairs to
their private sitting room, and said:
elsie, dear, here is Hugh sooner
than we expected him." and discreet
ly closed the door. ~., -.
Glynn paused just within it, and
gave himself one moment of delight
full contemplation, as Elsie sprang
forward to greet him. She wore
dress CT soft cray, and deep rose,
with it's green leaves, at her throat.
The evening sun lit up the golden
sheen of her hair; she had color in
her cheek; the light of joy in her
eyes, and he had come to darken all.
"Oh, you have come at last" she
cried, forgetting for oEe brief mo-
ment even her father.
my Elsie, my love, my life!" he
exclaimed, clasping her closely to
him, while his heart throbbed with
sympathy and sorrow. At the sound
of his voice she drew back and looked
intently in his face. "Ah! you have
brought bad news. My father-he is
ill?-he is dead?" A short, breath
less pause between each question!
He is" returned Glynn, solemnly
gathering her to his heart. HE is
at peace, End l must be husband and
father both to you, my darling"
"Oh, no, no! not dead" she cried
piteously. Il may see him once more.
He will speak to me again. Take me
to him, dear Hugh!" Breaking away
from him: Let US go at once"
"It would be Of no avail, dearest
you could not even recognize him"
How! why! Why did you not
send for me when he was ill.,"
But he was not i'll, darling! He
was killed on the railway; he must
have leant against the door of the car
riage, and it probably flew open. He
fell, and it is supposed was instan-
taneously killed"
Shall I never, never see him
again? 1t is too cruel!" She wrung
her hands and looked despairingly
round her: then with sharp cry
threw herself into his arms, and an
agony of tears came to her relief.
With infinite care and tenderness
Glynn soothed the poignancy of her
first grief, and soon persuaded her
she could show no better respect for
the dear dead than by fulfilling en-
gagements to which he had agreed.
Some months later, therefore, very
quiet wedding took place at Lady
Gethin's residence. Glynn's clerical
cousin from Clapham and the faith
! full Mrs. Kellett were the only guests.