The North Cumberland Reformer. — 1890-08-28 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

JAMES WYNFORD." • The doctor's assistant read these lines twice, and then with some tact attracted the attention of his superior to them, who rose from his knees, also read Mr Wynford's parting words, and then quietly turned the note sheet, hoping that it would not thus attract Kathleen's attar t4lO- the unhappy girl's gaze had followed the doctor's movements, and in a moment had the note sheet in her hand, and was reading with wide, dilated eyes the sad farewell. "That man killed him !" she cried, frantically; "the man who came—where is he? Someone go and bring my father's murderer !" "My dear young lady," said the doctor soothingly, for he thought her grief had rendered her distracted, "calm yourself; no one, I am sure, injured your poor father; in some moment of mental disturbance I fear he has taken his own life." " Oh ! but you don't know !" answered Kathleen, flinging her arms upwards in uncontrollable distress; "a man came, I saw him, and what he said must have made my poor father kill himself—if he did kill himself—Oh! will no one find that man !" Those present exchanged many pitying glances, but did not speak. ' At this moment, 'however, another person appeared amid this painful scene, for it is strange how quickly ill news spreads. Just as one of the womenservants had despatched the groom in desperate haste for the doctor, the butcher from the nearest village had called on his round for orders, and, of course, heard that Mr Wynford had eh( t himself, and carried the sad story of the tragedy at Northbridge a quarter of an hour later to River House. Both Mrs Lee and Captain Dundee were naturally shocked, for it is so terrible to most of us to realise that a human soul must have been so tortures that death—" the king of terrors "—seemed the best relief. Dundas, especially, who had only seen Mr Wynford the day before, and been somewhat struck with his manner as being unlike his surroundings—the philosophic content of his bearing differing very essentially from the popularly supposed characteristics of a Yorkshire squire—felt both astonished and distressed. "I shall walk up and inquire if it be true," he told Mrs Lee. "Fancy the misery of that poor girl if it is, for she seemed so fond of her father." He accordingly proceeded to Northbridge, and when he reached the Hall, the open doors, the doctor's horse standing still panting in his chaise, seemed to indicate that something sudden and tragic had occurred. No one replied to his ring, and he therefore walked into the house, and attracted by the sound of voices, went towards the library, and just as he reached the door he heard Kathleen's voice , sPTIc.7! will 1 in. lonuod one ed impassionedd that man ?" enht:was saying; and • as Captain Dundas listened he walked into the room, and when Kathleen saw him she eagerly approached him. . "Will you go ?" she asked imploringly. "Look," she added, pointing with her trembling finger to the recumbent ' figure lying on the floor, the face now covered with a hand' kerchief, "that is my father! You saw him strong and well yesterday, and a rftan came this morning, and after he " went away, my father shot himself! That man should be brought—he cannot be far away—he has not been gone an hour. ' Her face was deadly pale, and her whole appearance betokened the very agony of grief, and Dundas felt intense pity for her rise in his heart. " I will do anything you ask me," he said, taking her hand. "Describe this man to me if you are able; he will no doubt easily be found." "He came to me in `" _,n," went on the poor girl vatting b- ' --,,i to her throat as nail chokir• face! "" was  hand  .;:her ; "