The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-04-27
TIE Mystery
or a a5rio.


The stone house on the hill was the
principal residence OF HeyfordvilIe,
and It and its occupants were duly
reverenced BY the people. It had
passed down from one generation OF
Heyfords. from whom the town de-
rived its name. to another till II fell
into the hands of Lawrence Heyford,
q bachelor about thirty. He kept serv-
ants there and stayed there himself at
times Since he was man OF the
world. the neighbors wondered why he
stayed there at all. but be had little or
no intercourse with any Of them, and
there was no way of finding out why
he did so.
Some suspected that young woman
named Agnes Dow had something to
do with Heyford's visits to the stone
house. This, however, was because be
had once or twice been seen with her
and for no other reason. Miss Dow
was not especially handsome. but
there was something about her attrac-
tive to men. She had no friends among
women. Whether this was because she
did not care to be intimate with those
of her own sex or they did not care to
be intimate with her was a mooted
question among the men. The women
knew all about 1t, but either could not
or would not make any explanation.
One day Edwin Tower. who knew
Heyford, when passing through town
far removed from Heyfordville read in
newspaper OF a singular trial that
was going on. A men named Gesel
was being tried for the murder of one
Picton. Gesell bore evidence Of refine
ment. though he did not show 1t fl his
appearance or his clothing. There was
the best clrcnmstantial evidence that
he had committed the murder, though
the prosecutor for the state could not
find the slightest motive. The man
would tell nOfsging of bis antecedents.
and no information with regard to
them could be derived from others.
Towers curiosity was excited, and,
having time to kill he went to the
courtroom The prisoner was evidently
terribly depressed RE wore stubble
beard and d tramp's clothing. There
was something ii his appearance fa-
miliar to Tower. Tower was sure he
knew the man. but could not place
him.
Tower was obliged to leave for home
that evening. On reaching Heyfords
vile he went to the stone house on the
hill and asked II Mr.. Heyford was
there. He was not On the street
Tower met Agnes Dow. He asked her
II she knew Of the whereabouts of
Lawrence Heyford She drew down
her brows and the corners OF her
mouth in singular fashion. paling
slightly, and asked him why he ex-
pected to gain such information from
her. re apoIoglzcd and went on. For
awhile after that he was observed by
Ills friends to have something on his
mind.
When Heyford made bis next visit
81 the stone house he shut himself up
here for d long while Indeed. he Ind
Ean there some time before any one
hew Of bis arrival. He was seen out
Nee or twice. but 1t was winter, and |
e was much muffied After awhile he
nt away again.
Tower had kept in touch with the
snl Of Gesell and learned that be was
Qultted rather from the fact that the |
ain Of evidence against him was i'm
sfect than as to any doubt that he |
rs guilty. There are times when a |
Eson Will connect different happen
es without being conscious of any
aeon for doing so. Tower made such
connection in his own mind between
aree persons-Agnes Dow. Lawrence
eyford and GeselI. the murderer. For
Els life he could not get rid Of group
sng this trio IN some mystery.
Meanwhile the gap between Agnes
Dow and the women Of Heyfordsvllle (
grew broader. Then there were certain
whisperiHgs. The more intelligent
class Of people have but little lnowi-
edge OF the superstition Of the lower
classes. Where the idea emanated
from no one knew. but the children of
the place came to speak Of her to one
smother in whisper as witch. When
they met her on the street before pass
lng her they would Grass ID the other
eide. Young women OF her own age
simply avoided Der. Their mothers /