THE NOVELIST"

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 38, 4 June 1881, Page 413

THE NOVELIST"

MANSLAUGHTER

CHAPTER IV,

KILLED BY REMORSE. Regardless of the rain, which descended in torrents and saturated him to the skin, the unfortunate Bantou started off, and ■walked wildly towards the country. Ever his thoughts had the same burden— "lt was my Uncle." When he had been walking two hours lie stopped and looked round. ' I was both a fool and a coward,' he cried. 'What need was there to hide the deed? It was an accident, and everyone would have known it as such. I was a fool. *'

upon poor old Planty had been stowed away. Some few had already been spent, but the bulk remained intact. These he took from the safety-place and hurried up to his dressing-room. Then he made a pile of the paper in the grate, and, applying a match, saw the whole heap gradually disappear under the fierce influence of the fire Tins was what he had returned to accomplish, and this done, his task, he thought, was complete. The ashes he spurned with his foot before throwing himself upon his bed. But now exhausted nature gave way, and, wet as he was, he fell almost immediately into a heavy sleep. At intervals in his perturbed slumber groans escaped him, while ever and anon, half-uttered sentences came murmuring through the open lips. A groan louder than its predecessors attracted the attention of his Avife, who had come up into the adjoining room. She at once

every one — and who could have suspected us I then 1 But they won't hang Jane. No, not this time; I was coward enough, hut that would be move cowardly still.' He resumed his walk presently, seeming never to weary, and always at intervals returning to the old theme, 'He was my uncle.' Mid-day was long past ere he appeared to wake to a consciousness of his position ; but then, it was not with any idea of going to the city that he began to retace his steps. ' That will be best,' he muttered, ' that will be best,' as he set his face resolutely in the direction of his home. The rain had made no attempt to clear off, but seemed to increase in destiny as the day advanced. The wind, however, lulled, and the piercing dullness of the atmosphere somewhat decreased. It was live o'clock before Banton reached his home, drenched as though he had absolutely been wading through water, footsore and be- ! draggled, but intent upon the one purpose that had brouglit him back to his own house. Going stealthily indoors, he made his way quietly to the place where the bank notes found

Oh, why have you not taken off this wretched clothing*? It is absolutely dripping.' He shook himself and opened his eyes ; but their gaze was not the expression of intelligence she was accustomed to. He glared wildly at ' her for one moment, then cried in nerced accents, ' No, you are not my uncle !' I ' Oh, heavens, it is brain fever !' She uttered the words in a horrified whisper, and the next moment rang a violent peal upon the bell. When the doctor came and saw the patient, the portentous gravity of his face sent an awesome chill to Mrs Banton's heart. He made a careful diagnosis of the case, and asked a perfect shoal of questions of the afflicted wife, but no amount of pressing could induce him to express a decided opinion. The constant repetition of the words, 'He was my uncle,' although it conveyed no definite idea to the mind of the doctor, yet gave to Mrs. Banton a sort of clue to the thoughts that were running through her husband's brain. The doctorpromised to send round a soothing draught, and added that he would return the first thing in the morning, unless he should be needed in the night, by reason of Banton becoming extremely restless; '

but he declined to say whether or not lie fallen into a fever. His own opinion was, how over, formed beyond possibility of question, was evidenced by the few words he uttered fohis own edification as he returned honiOAvards Tliose simple words were, ' Mad beyond a doubt, poor devil. ' To dwell upon so painfully distressing a scene would be but needless prolongation of a hopeless picture of misery. Kan ton never became violent, his madness seeming to resolve itself almost into idiocy ; "but his case was utterly hopeless. His sufferings terminated in the course of three or four years, and now both he and his wife lie side by side in. the churchyard of their parish church, for her system never recovered the shocks to which it had been subjected, and, about the same time as he breathed his last, she passed peacefully away, a victim to a terrible malady, the seeds of which had long been slowly germinating in her constitution. Her pale and delicate face had hinted many a day that consumption would claim her eventually as its own. Strangely enough, the projected railway was diverted almost at the last moment, so that the pulling down of ' Glossop Lodge' did not become a necessity, and it stands to this day. But who amongst its later inhabitants has ever guessed that it was once the scene of so horrible a tragedy, and that itis the only monument remaining to the three victims of the hideous event? [THE END.]

Then he started forward again, stepping with , hurried to his side, hut started hack in dismay hasty tread over ihe dripping ynmud, and; at the iigure of unutterahle wretchedness splashed through puddles and pools all equally ; which lav coiled upon (he lied, where the stains unheeded ;of the damp and muddy clothing had turned .Suddenly he burst into a laugh. 'The the fair while (1 uilt into a terribly untidy likemoney,'he cried ; 'the cursed money! That nes-< of its usual respectability, would have told tlie talc, and we should have 'Heavens, John !' she ctie'd, ' what on earth swung on the gallows— ay, hoih of us ! Man is fhi<l' Are you ill, dear:' and wife side hy side, a pretty sight for the Me groaned 'again, axl moved uneasily in his public to stare at ! Two murderers at once.' : sleep, hut it'jwn* not until she had half raised Againhe ceased in his walk, and once more j him from i\u; bed that he really awoke, a harsh jarring laugli broke from his lips. i 'John, doar, von are wet,;' oh so horribly 'I could have burnt the banknotes — burnt ,' wet,' she said. ' 'Do not sleep in this state.