Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 24, Number 13, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 23 September 1893 — Page 3

WAKING'S PERIL.

ft Continued from Second Page. Hold the moraingr report, then, until 1 come to the office- I fear we have both first lieutenants to report absent to-day. You and I may have to go to town so get your breakfast early- \Ve will ride. I doubt if even an ambulance could get through. Tell me, Pierce, have you sgoken to Waring -. aboutr—about that matter we were discussing? Has he ever given you any idea thai he had received warning of any kind from, old Lascelles—or any of his friends?" "No, sir. I've had no chance to speak, to be sure, and, so far as I could observe, he and Mr. Lascelles seemed on very excellent terms only a few days ago." "Well, I wish I had rpoken myself, said Cram, and turned away.

That morning, with two first lieutenants absent without lea TO, the report of Light Battery "X" went into the adjutant's office just as its commander and his junior subaltern went out and silently mounted the dripping horses standing in front. The two orderlies, with their heads poked through the slit of their ponchos, briskly seated themselves in saddle, and then the colonel hurried forth just in time to hail: "Oh, Cram! one minute." And Cram reined about and rode to the side of the post commander, who stood under the shelter of the broad gallery. "I wouldn't say anything about this to anyone at headquarters except Reynolds. There's no one else on the staff to whom Waring would apply, is there?" "No one, sir. Reynolds is the only man 1 can think of." "Will you send an orderly back with word as soon as you know?" "Yes, sir, the moment I hear. And-d —shall I send you word from—there" —and Cram nodded northward, and then, in a lower tone, "as to Doyle?" "Oh, damn Doyle! I don't care if he never—" But here the commander of *-the post regained control of himself, and with parting wave of the hand turned back to his office.

Riding single file up the levee, for ,! the city road was one long pool, with the swollen river on their left, and the slanting torrents of rain obscuring all objects on the other hand, tho party made its way for several squares without exchanging a word. Presently the leading file came opposite the high wall of tho Lascelles placo. The green latticed gate stood open—an unusual thing—and both officers bent low over their pommels and gazed along tho dark, rain-swept alley to the pillared portico dimly seen beyond. Not a soul was in sight. The water was already on a level with the banquette, and would soon be mnning across and into the gate. A vagabond dog skulking about the placo gave vont to a mournful howl. A sudden thought struck the ^captain. He led the way down the ^'alopo and forded across to the north side, the others following. "Joyce," said he to his orderly, "dis* mount and go in thero and ring at tho door. Ask if Mr. Lascelles is home.

If not, ask if madame has any message she would liko to send to town, or If wo can bo of any servico."

The soldier was gone but a moment, and came hurrying back, a negro boy, holding a long fold of matting over his head to shed the rain, chasing at his hods. It svas Alphonse. "M'siou* not yet of return," said he, in 'labored translation of his negro French, "and madame remain ehoz Mmc. dilervilly. I am alone wi* my mudder, and she has fear." "Oh, it's all right. I fancy," said Cram, reassuringly. "Thoy were caught by the storm, and wisely stayed uptown. saw your gale open, BO tre stopiwd to inquire. We'll ricks o\«. to Mine. d'Horvilly's and osU for them. How came your gate open?" "Mo connate ptw I dunno. sare. It J\vns look' last night." "Why. th- ,"s odd." raid Cram. "Better bolt it w. or all the cattle aloug the levev itl be in then. iu can't •lock out the water, though. Who had tho key besides Mr. LasceU .s or madame?" "Nobody, sare but there is muddy foots all over the piasutu" "The devil! Pll have to look in for a moment*" A nod to Pierce brought him too from the saddle, and the officers handed their reins to the orderlies. Then together they entered the gate an I strode up the white shell walk, looking curiously about them through the dripping shrubbery. Again that dismal howl was raised, and Pierce, stopping with impatient exclamation, tore half a brick from the yielding border of the walk and sent it hurtling through the trees. With his tail between his legs. *he brute darted from behind a sheltering bush, scurried away around the corner of the house* glancing fearfully back, then, halting at safe distance, squatted on his haunches and lifted up his mournful voice again.

Whose dog is that?" demanded Cram. M'sleu' Philippe's he not now here. He is de brudder to monsieur.*

At tho steps the captain bent and closely examined them and the floor of the low veranda to which they led. Both were dfsfigtured by muddy footprints* Pierce vi-ould have gone still farther in the investigation, but his senior held up a warning hand, "Two men hare been hero," he muttered. They have tried the door and tried the blinds. Where did rou sleep last night, boyF* and with the words he turned suddenly on the negro.

Did yon hear no sonnd?" "Xo, sare. I sleep in my bed,— back. No, I hear noting,-~»ot _? And now the negro's face wad twitching, his eyes staring. Something in the soldier's stern voice told him that there was tragedy in the air.

If this door is locked, go around ind open it from within." said Cram, briefly. Then, as Alphoaae disappeared around the Berth side* he stepped back to the shell walk and followed one of its branches around

the other. An instant later Pierce heard him calL Hastening in his wake, the youngster came upon his captain standing under a window, one of whose blinds was hanging partly open, water standing in pools all around him.

Look here," was all he said, and pointed upward. The sill was above the level of their heads, but both could see that the sash was raised. All was darkness within.

Come with me," was Cram's next order, and the lieutenant followed. Alphonse was unlocking the front door, and now threw it open. Cram strode into the wide hall-way straight to a door of the east side. It was locked. "Open this, Alphonse." he said. ||§f "I have not the key. It is ever with M'sieu' Lascelles. It is his library."

Cram stepped back, gave one vigorous kick with a heavy riding-boot, and the frail door flew open with a crash. For a moment the darkness was such that no object could be distinguished within. The negro servant hung back, trembling from some indefinable dread. The captain, his hand on the ioor-knob, stepped quickly into the jloomy apartment, Pierce close at his heels. A broad, flat-topped desk stood In the center of the room. Some shelves and books were dimly visible against the wall. Some of the draw1ers of the desk were open, and there was a litter of papers on the desk, and others were strewn in the big rattan chair, some on the floor. Two studentlamps could be dimly distinguished, one on the big desk, another, on a little reading-table placed nop far from the south window, whose blinds, half open, admitted almost the only light that entered the room. With its head near this reading-table and faintly visible, a bamboo lounge stretched its length towards the southward windows, where all was darkness, and something vague and indistinguishable lay extended upon the lounge. Cram marched half-way across the floor, then stopped short, glanced down, stepped quickly to one side, shifting his heavily-booted foot as though to avoid some such muddy pool as those encountered without. "Take care," he whispered, and motioned waraingly to Pierce. "Come here and open these shutters, Alphonse," were the next words. But once again that prolonged dismal, mournful howl was heard under the south window, and the negro, seized with uncontrollable panic, turned back and clung trembling to the opposite wall. 11. aP'Send one of the men for the post surgeon at once, then come back here,"

8TIPFEXIKQ

said tho captain, and fierce hastened to the gate. As he returned, the west shutters were being thrown open. There was light when ho reentered the room, and this was what he saw On the China matting, running from underneath the sofa, fed by heavy drops from above, a dark wet stain. On the lounge, stretched at full length, a stiffening human shape, a yellow white, parchment-like face above the black clothing, a bluish, half-opened month whose yellow teeth showed savagely, a fallen chin and jaw, covered with the gray stubble of unshaved beard, and two staring, sightless, ghastly eyes, fixed and upturned as though in agonised appeal. Stonedead murdered, doubtless—all that was left of the little Frenchman, Lascelles.

HUMJUFF SHAPE.

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v. 11L *8r

All that day the storm raged in fury the levee road was blocked in places by the boughs torn from overhanging trees, and here, there and everywhere turned into a quagmire by the torrents that could find no adequate egress to the northward swamps. For over a mile above the barracks it looked like one vast canal, and by nine o'clock it was utterly impassable. No oars were running on the dilapidated road to the "half-way house," whatever they might be doing beyond- There was only one means of communication between the garrison and the town, and that on horseback along the crest of the levee, and people in the second* Ktory windows of the store wad dwelling houses along the other side of the way, driven aloft by the drenched condition of the ground floor, were surprised to ^e the number of times some Yankee soldier or oilier made the dismal trip. Cram, with a party of four, was perhaps the first* Before the dripping sentries of the old guard were relieved at nine o'clock every man and woman at the barracks was aware that tool murder had been done during the night* and that old Lascelles, slain by some unknown hand, slashed and backed in a dozen places, according to the stories afloat, lay In his gloomy old library up the levee road, with a flood a foot deep wiping out from about the hrwe all treoM of his assailants. Dr. Denalotr, In «xamining Ike body* found, just one deep, downward stab, entering above the

TERRE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL, SEPTEMBER 23, 1893.

upper rib and doubtless reaching the heart—a stab made by a long, straight, sharp, two-edged blade. He had been dead evidently some hours when discovered by Cram, who had now gone to town to warn the authorities, old Brax meantime having taken upon himself the responsibility of placing a guard at the house, with orders to keep Alphonse and his mother in and everybody else out.

It is hardly worth while to waste time oj$ the various theories advanced in the garrison as to the cause and means of the dreadful climax. That Doyle should be away from the post provoked neither comment nor speculation he was not connected in any way with the tragedy. But the fact that Mr. Waring was absent all night, coupled with the stories of his devotions to madame, was to several minds prima facie evidence that his was the bloody hand that wrought the deed— that he was mow a fugitive from justice, and Mme. Lascelles, beyond doubt, the guilty partner of his flight. Everybody knew by this time of their being together much of the morning: how could people help knowing, when Dryden had seen them? In his elegantly jocular way, Dryden was already condoling with Ferry on the probable loss of his Hatfield clothes, and comforting him with the assurance that they always gave a feller a new black suit to be hanged in, so he might get his duds back after all, only they must get Waring first. Jeff ers doubtless would have been besieged with questions but for Cram's foresight: his master had ordered him to accompany him to town.

In silence a second time the little party rocle away, passing the flooded homestead where lay the murdered man, then, farther on, gazing in mute curiosity at the closed shutters of the premises some infantry satirists had already christened "the dove-cot. What cared they for him or his objectionable helpmate? Still, they could not but note bow gloomy and deserted it all appeared, with two feet of water lapping the garden wall. Summoned by his master, Jeff ers knuckled his oilskin hat-brim ahd pointed out'the spot where Mr. Waring stood when he knocked the cabman into the mud, but. Jeff ers' tongue was tied and his cockney volubility gone. The tracks made by Cram's wagon up the slope were al ready washed out. Bending forward to dodge the blinding .storm, the party pushed along the embanlcment until &t last the avenues anu alleys to the right gave proof of better drainage. At Rampart street they separated, Pierce going on to report the tragedy to the police, Cram turning to his right and

following the broad thoroughfare another mile, until Jeff ers, indicating a big, old-fashioned, broad-galleried southern house standing in the midst of grounds once trim and handsome, but now showing signs of neglect and penury, simply said: "'Ere, sir." And here the party dismounted.

Cram entered the gate and pulled a clanging bell. The door was almost instantly opened by a colored girl, at whose side, with eager joyous face, was the pretty child he had seen so often playing about the Lascelles homestead, and the eager joyous look faded instantly away. "She t'ink it M'sieur Varecng who oomes to arrive," explained the smiling colored girl. "Aht It is Mme. d'Hervilly I wish to see," answered Cram, briefly. "Please take her my card." And, throwing off his dripping raia coat and tossing it to offers, who had followed, to the veranda, the captain stepped within the hall and held forth his hands to Nin Kin, begging her to come to him who was so good a friend of Mr. Waring. But she would not. The tears of disappointment were in the dark eyes as the little one turned and ran away. Cram could hear the gen tie. soothing tones of the mother striving to console her little one—the one widowed and the other orphaned by the tidings he bore. Even then he noted how musical, how full of rich melody, was that soft Creole voice. And then Mme. d'HervDly appeared, a stately, dignified, picturesque gentlewoman of perhaps fifty years. She greeted him with punctilious civility, bnt with manner as distant as her words were few. •I have come on a trying errand," he began, when she held up a slender, jeweled hand. "Pardon. Permettez Mme. Lascelles," she called, and before Cram eooM find words to interpose, a servant was speeding to summon the very woman he had hoped not to have to see. "Oh, madam," he murmured low, hurriedly, "1 deplore my,Ignorance* I cannot speak French. Try to understand me- Mr. Lascelles is home, dangerously stricken. fear the worst You must tell her." *Ome! Labas? est impossible."

It is true," he tmnt in, for the swish of s&ken skirt was heard down the long passage. "II est m«rt—mort," he whispered, mustering up what lit

tle French he 'knew and then cursing himself for an imbecile. "Mort! O ciel!" The words earner with a shriek of anguish from the lips of the elder woman and were echoed by a scream from beyond. In an instant, wild-eyed, horror-stricken, Emilie Lascelles had sprung up to her tottering mother's side. "When? What mean you?" she gasped. "Mme. Lascelles," he'saiily spoke, "I had hoped to spare you this, but it is too late now. Mr. Lascelles was found lying on the sofa in his library this morning. He had died hours before, during the night."

And then he had to spring and catch the fainting woman in his arms. She was still moaning and only semi-con-scious when the old family doctor and her brother, Pierre &'Hervilly, arrived. [lobe Continued Next Week.]

She Overreuciica derst'if.

Mme. de S., a Frenchwoman of high Bocial ambitions, wes «:ixious to become, acquainted with and to be known as the friend of persons high ia rank, and she left no stone unturned to further her interests in that direction. Returning from the country to Paris one day in a railway carriage, so the story runs, she fell into CC:J versation with a remarkably wc'l d.cssi.. but quiet and reserved man who sat on the seat opposite.

After awhile she chanced to mention im pressively that she had observed that the Countess Lemoine was a passenger in tb next carriage, and to her satisfaction she found that the gentleman to whom she lin-l been talking was intimately acquainted with her. Of the countess' establishment and circle of friends he told her a great many interesting particulars. So pleased was she with the talk on this subjectproving her acquaintance, she thought, to be a man of decidedly high position in Parisian society—that she ventured to make what was even for her a bold stroke, and asking him for his card politely requested his company at her next soiree.

The train arrived. Mme. de S. alighted on the same platform with the countess. She looked then to see the familiar recognition she expected between the lady of rank and her new friend. But what was her surprise when the countess, holding up her finger, beckoned unceremoniously to him and said, "John, see to the baggage!" Her distinguished friend was the countess' manservant.—Harper's Bazar.

A Tribute to a Wife.

The following comprehensive inscription recording the virtues of an ancient Countess of Westmoreland and written by'her husband was formerly to be seen in a large room at Budstone place in -the county of Sent, once a seat belonging to that noble family. It is a portrait more beautiful thai, any of the elegant productions of Kneller or Reynolds and would ornament with a peculiar grace a lady's dressing room, thus iospijiog the owner to emulate so exquisite a model.

Says the memorial in the quaint style of another century: "Shee feared God and knewe how to serve him: She assyned tymes for her devotions and kept them: Shee was a perfect Wife and trewe Frende: Shee joyed moste to oblidge those neerest and deerest to her: Shee was still the same ever kynde and never troublesome: Often preventynig my desires: Disputing none Proventilie monagingall that was myne: r^-Lyvinge in Appearance above myne estate while she advanced it: Shee was of a grete spirit sweettie tempered: of a sharp wit without offence of excellent speeche blest with silence of a brave Fashion to winne respect and to daunt Boldness pleesjnge to alio of her sex, entyre with Fewe, delytinge in the best ever avoyding all persons and places in their honor blemyshed, and was as free from doing ille as giving the occasion: Slice dyed as she lyved—well."

Submarine Cables of the World. There are 1,108 submarine cables in existence, of which 228 belong to private companies and 880 are owned or leased by governments. The total length is 161,895 miles, the former class having 144,748 miles and the latter 16,652 miles. Fifty-four of these cables belong to the state in France, the length being 8,979 miles, and Germany owns

cables, having a total length of

2,025 miles. There are 14 Anglo-French cables, 10 Anglo-Belgian, 8 Anglo-Dutch and 18 Anglo-German.—New York Evening Sun.

Our Public Schools

Are tne main-stay of our republic. In them are being cultivated the mind?, which are to be oar future law-makers and leaders in every walk in life. Uow essential it is that these minds should be united to strong, healthy bodies. So many children suffer from Impurities and poisons in the blood that it is a wonder that they ever grow up to be men and women. Many pnrents cannot find words strong enough to express their gratitude to Hood's Sarssparilla for its good effect upon their children. Scrofula, salt rheum and other diseases of the blood are effectually and permanently cured by this excellent medicine, and the whole being is given strength to resist attacks of disease.

A Mother's Letter Dear Mrs. Pinkham:Last winter I did not think my little ones would have a mother long. I suffered terribly with female troubles.

411could

keep nothing on my

stomach, and got so4poor' my riends hardlyknew me. I sufered with severe headaches, dizziness, faintness, backache, and 'the blues.*

Thanks to Lydia E* Pinkham's Vegetable Compound,

AH Atvggha* m& It. in Inu &. FunouK Mm Co* tn% tlvvr Pills, 25 CtXtM.

BOSTON, WASHINGTON,

ONHundred

23.100

picK£