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Article Jasper's Folly. ← Page 9 of 11 Article Jasper's Folly. Page 9 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Jasper's Folly.
and for days hovered between reason and insanity . Happily tor mc , she recovered , but bev natural gaiety of heart never returned to brighten our desolate hearth . Travel's , too , was greatly overcome , and at the funeral hc quite lost thc control of his feelings and broke down . He shortly afterwards left us , and said that he intended ao-ain to travel in the East . 1 have only received one letter from him ,
and it bore a foreign postmark . The contents were brief auel werc to thc effect thafc his olel restlessness hael returned , and had compelled him to wander from placo to place . A few days after fhe receipt of this letter my wife strangely disappeared . 1 had been away for a week or so , ' on a visit to some friends in the North , and on my return home by coach I received the startling news that my
wife had left , the Hall . Her maid was the last of the household to see her . My wife had dined alone , and had complained afterwards of nob feeling well . It was an oppressive nig ht and a thunderstorm had raged for a few hours . Ellen , the maid , having attended to her lady ' s requirements , was dismissed for the nig ht . About eight next morning she had gone to her mistress ' s bedroom to discharge her usual
dnties . To her alarm she found tlie room untenanted . JNotlnng appeared to be disturbed , but my wife ' s morning costume , which Ellen had p laced out over nig ht ready for use was missing . Inspection of the wardrobe also disclosed the fact that my wife ' s summer hat and cloak were also gone , but her valuable jewels were intact . No onc bad seen her leave the Hall , nor had she left a
single line of explanation as to her strange conduct . This second blow , following so soon after thc other , plunged me into the lowest , depths of despair . I became seriously ill , and was e - piite unable to direct any enquiries . However , an old friend of mine who had recently returned from abroad , and to whom I wrote , came to thc Hall , and at once set to work to solve the mystery . For weeks he laboured
incessantly , but alas ! without success . When I recovered my health , the dear fellow told me of the efforts that he had made on my behalf . I feel grateful to him . Months have passed ,. but no tidings of my wife have come to hand . Can she be dead r Was her spirit with me yester night ? To-day is the anniversary of her strange disappearance . I commenced this fragment last evening .
Feeling unaccountably fatigued I ceased my task and retired to rest , but alas ! not to sleep . Insomnia , from which I have suffered for many- weary months , held possession of me . I tried to shake it off , but in vain . My limbs and body appeared to be destitute of feeling , but my brain was perfectly active . My sense of hearing was alert , and I became aware that , there was a something in the room—There
was no light burning and therefore I could not discern anything . A belief in the supernatural has never formed part of my nature , bufc at that moment scepticism * on the subject for the time left me , My nervous system , much shattered by sorrow , could not bear the strain , and a faintiiess gradually stole over inc . I essayed to rise to ring for Jonson , my servant , but in vain . Ere consciousness forsook mc I swear that I heard mv dear wife ' s voice . —The words were
' Husband , dear husband , come to me ! ' When my senses returned , the morning lig ht was stealing through the casement I felt weak and ill , but my limbs had regained their normal condition . I arose and drawing back the curtains of the window I gazed upon the charming landscape , from which the mist was slowly rising and presaging a glorious day . To-nig ht 1 am expecting to see my friend . Will he bring me good news ! My pen lie's idle ! I . will resume it to-morrow . "
CHAPTER IV . " Poor Mortimer , " sig hed the worthy justice , as he p laced fhe unfinished MS . on the table ; " that morrow never came . Doctor , do you believe in presentiments Y " " Certainly not , " promptly replied Daley . •' Men ol' medical
science never do . Our late friend ' s trials and the want of sleep had acted on a naturally highly-sensitive ami romantic imagination . The fact that yesterday was the anniversary of his wife ' s disappearance , and ' that his mind and pen were engaged in composing yonder work , conjured up thc whole thing . "
"That is to say , Doctor , " observed the justice , "the feelings described by him , and Ihe statement that he heard the voice of his wife , were pure hallucinations . " " Exactly so . However , I will tell vou this—that the symptoms
mentioned by him arc frequently the forerunners of dementia . The fancied hearing of uncanny sounds aud voices is a common symptom in certain phases of mental disease . Mr . Aldboremgh , " continued Ihc medico , " were you the bearer of good or bad tidings to our pool friend . "
* ' No , I was not ; but , I had made a discovery which 1 thought of sufficient importance to warrant my seeing him . 1 wrote a few days ago to the effect that I should reach home hist , night—1 live some ten miles from here . He expected me at ten . As I have told you , my intention was frustrated by the . fearful storm that suddenl y
arose , j am a good horseman , but my steed , like thc old Squire s Firefly , cannot , be trusted to carry one with safety in the face of a thunderstorm . " " Mav I solicit your confidence as to the purport of the discovery Y "
said the justice . " Not at present , sir . " somewhat evasively answered the other , and his manner became reserved . ' * I will await fhe result , of the inquiry on last night ' s sad work . " At this juncture a knock was heard . ** Conic in ! " said Mr . Courtley . The door opened , and Bryant entered ,
Jasper's Folly.
" Sorry to intrude , gentlemen , " said he , respectfully , as he stood twirling his Iiat between his fingers restlessl y , " bufc 1 have a serious matter to communicate . " "Bearing on the supposed murder ? " -queried thc justice , eagerly . '" Yes , sir , '" whispered the eilHcer . as he quietly closed the door . * 'If my suspicions are correct , the murderer is in the house at , this moment . "
This statement startled his hearers considerably . " Who is it ? " demanded Mr . Courtley . "Jonson , the valet , " returned the ollicer , emphatically . He then , in guarded tones , spoke as follows : "Upon searching the library a short time ago I picked up this button , which hears tbe Mortimer crest , and , as yon sec , there i . s a piece uf cloth adhering- to fche shank . It bears the appearance as if it hael been violently torn from a
garment . 1 therefore , gentlemen , came to the conclusion that Mr . Mortimer had been attacked by one of his own household , and , in the struggle that ensued , the squire had wrenched off one of the buttons of the waistcoat of his assailant . M y suspicions at once fell upon the valet . 1 may tell yon , gentlemen , I thought at the time when he was being questioned as to his master ' s movements and habits he was far too read y with his answers . If you recollect he volunteered statements . "
" 1 hat is so , " assented the justice : "but his omcern and grief were so marked . " " Play-acting , sir -. nothing more , " e-oolly returned the ollicer . ' * He had thought out the whole bag of tricks , rehearsed the part , and mummed it well . "
' But how abont the marks of the mudd y hob-nailed boots on the terrace , and their traces on flic gravel patli Y " queried tho doctor . " Only a blind , sir , " was the reply . " He had put them on for
the purpose of raising a false scent . At the spot where the footprints ceased he had taken the large boots off , which he had procured for the purpose as he has small feet , and returned to the house in his stockings . The rain soon washed these faint marks away . I hope to find thc boots ; they are iu thc house , I am sure . "
" This is a very serious charge to make , Bryant , " said Mr . Conrtley . " I know that you professional men are gifted with greater acumen than ordinary individuals , but the finding of that button is a very slender clue to go upon . " You have not heard all , sir , " respectfull y said the man . " Allow me to proceed . I went to Jonson ' s room , and found it
empty . Had he been there I should have made some excuse for intruding . * I searched the place and found another link in the chain of evidence . Stuffed between the bed clothes and the mattress I found a waistcoat with one of the buttons missing . Hero it is , " and the speaker triumphantly produced from one of his capacious pockets the garment in question .
The Justice and his companions examined it curiously . There was not the sli ghtest doubt but that the detached button had originally formed part of the waistcoat . The result was , the Justice issued his warrant for the arrest of the valet on suspicion . The man must have been a most consummate actor . He
protested , cried , knelt , and called upon God to prove his innocence . He was little more than a youth , and the spectators present at Ids arrest werc greatly moved hy his apparent , distress . The onl y person who remained callous and unconcerned was the c . \ -Bowstreet oflicer , whose face wore a grim smile .
Mr . Conrtley , unofficially , interviewed tbe members of the late Mr . Mortimer ' s household , and everyone spoke in the highest terms of commendation of the suspected man . He had ori g inall y been a page at fho Hull , and by good conduct'had graduall y worked his way up ( o the position of confidential servant to the Squire . His fellow servants all declared their belief in his innocence .
Thc olel butler was loud in his praise of his subordinate , and said that he had gone carefull y through a list of the plate and other valuables , and nothing was missing . He had never heard of any fault-finding , as the late Mr . Mortimer , he said , " was the most even-tempered and indulgent of masters . " What motive , ho urged , was there for the crime—neither revenge nor o-ain . on
„ For the purposes of this story it i . s sufficient to relate that the coroner ' s jury unanimously brought in a verdict " That Mr . Mortimer was murdered by some person or persons unknown . " They exonerated Jonson from all complicity in the matter . However , the valet was brought before the local justices , and subsequently committed for trial .
Mr . Aldborough , who had been greatl y impressed by Jonson ' s bearing , and , for other reasons which he would not disclose , engaged clever counsel on the prisoner ' s behalf , and in the end the man was honourably acquitted , the chief plea set up for the defence briefl y being that the actual murderer had secreted himself in the house , had cut the wires , removed the button from the waistcoat , placed it iu the library where if , was found—and secreted the garment under the valet ' s bed , with a view to throw suspicion upon him .
Thc verdict gratified all in ( he village except Bryant , the constable , and a few of- his cronies , who believed that Jonson had cheated thc gallows . The ex-valet shortly after thc trial , and at thc suggestion of his patron , Mr . Aldborough , left the locality and took service in London .
Years passed , the . effects of the Hall had been dispersed , and it graduall y fell into decay . A distant relative on the female line of the murdered man 'inherited the property , but thc place bora such a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Jasper's Folly.
and for days hovered between reason and insanity . Happily tor mc , she recovered , but bev natural gaiety of heart never returned to brighten our desolate hearth . Travel's , too , was greatly overcome , and at the funeral hc quite lost thc control of his feelings and broke down . He shortly afterwards left us , and said that he intended ao-ain to travel in the East . 1 have only received one letter from him ,
and it bore a foreign postmark . The contents were brief auel werc to thc effect thafc his olel restlessness hael returned , and had compelled him to wander from placo to place . A few days after fhe receipt of this letter my wife strangely disappeared . 1 had been away for a week or so , ' on a visit to some friends in the North , and on my return home by coach I received the startling news that my
wife had left , the Hall . Her maid was the last of the household to see her . My wife had dined alone , and had complained afterwards of nob feeling well . It was an oppressive nig ht and a thunderstorm had raged for a few hours . Ellen , the maid , having attended to her lady ' s requirements , was dismissed for the nig ht . About eight next morning she had gone to her mistress ' s bedroom to discharge her usual
dnties . To her alarm she found tlie room untenanted . JNotlnng appeared to be disturbed , but my wife ' s morning costume , which Ellen had p laced out over nig ht ready for use was missing . Inspection of the wardrobe also disclosed the fact that my wife ' s summer hat and cloak were also gone , but her valuable jewels were intact . No onc bad seen her leave the Hall , nor had she left a
single line of explanation as to her strange conduct . This second blow , following so soon after thc other , plunged me into the lowest , depths of despair . I became seriously ill , and was e - piite unable to direct any enquiries . However , an old friend of mine who had recently returned from abroad , and to whom I wrote , came to thc Hall , and at once set to work to solve the mystery . For weeks he laboured
incessantly , but alas ! without success . When I recovered my health , the dear fellow told me of the efforts that he had made on my behalf . I feel grateful to him . Months have passed ,. but no tidings of my wife have come to hand . Can she be dead r Was her spirit with me yester night ? To-day is the anniversary of her strange disappearance . I commenced this fragment last evening .
Feeling unaccountably fatigued I ceased my task and retired to rest , but alas ! not to sleep . Insomnia , from which I have suffered for many- weary months , held possession of me . I tried to shake it off , but in vain . My limbs and body appeared to be destitute of feeling , but my brain was perfectly active . My sense of hearing was alert , and I became aware that , there was a something in the room—There
was no light burning and therefore I could not discern anything . A belief in the supernatural has never formed part of my nature , bufc at that moment scepticism * on the subject for the time left me , My nervous system , much shattered by sorrow , could not bear the strain , and a faintiiess gradually stole over inc . I essayed to rise to ring for Jonson , my servant , but in vain . Ere consciousness forsook mc I swear that I heard mv dear wife ' s voice . —The words were
' Husband , dear husband , come to me ! ' When my senses returned , the morning lig ht was stealing through the casement I felt weak and ill , but my limbs had regained their normal condition . I arose and drawing back the curtains of the window I gazed upon the charming landscape , from which the mist was slowly rising and presaging a glorious day . To-nig ht 1 am expecting to see my friend . Will he bring me good news ! My pen lie's idle ! I . will resume it to-morrow . "
CHAPTER IV . " Poor Mortimer , " sig hed the worthy justice , as he p laced fhe unfinished MS . on the table ; " that morrow never came . Doctor , do you believe in presentiments Y " " Certainly not , " promptly replied Daley . •' Men ol' medical
science never do . Our late friend ' s trials and the want of sleep had acted on a naturally highly-sensitive ami romantic imagination . The fact that yesterday was the anniversary of his wife ' s disappearance , and ' that his mind and pen were engaged in composing yonder work , conjured up thc whole thing . "
"That is to say , Doctor , " observed the justice , "the feelings described by him , and Ihe statement that he heard the voice of his wife , were pure hallucinations . " " Exactly so . However , I will tell vou this—that the symptoms
mentioned by him arc frequently the forerunners of dementia . The fancied hearing of uncanny sounds aud voices is a common symptom in certain phases of mental disease . Mr . Aldboremgh , " continued Ihc medico , " were you the bearer of good or bad tidings to our pool friend . "
* ' No , I was not ; but , I had made a discovery which 1 thought of sufficient importance to warrant my seeing him . 1 wrote a few days ago to the effect that I should reach home hist , night—1 live some ten miles from here . He expected me at ten . As I have told you , my intention was frustrated by the . fearful storm that suddenl y
arose , j am a good horseman , but my steed , like thc old Squire s Firefly , cannot , be trusted to carry one with safety in the face of a thunderstorm . " " Mav I solicit your confidence as to the purport of the discovery Y "
said the justice . " Not at present , sir . " somewhat evasively answered the other , and his manner became reserved . ' * I will await fhe result , of the inquiry on last night ' s sad work . " At this juncture a knock was heard . ** Conic in ! " said Mr . Courtley . The door opened , and Bryant entered ,
Jasper's Folly.
" Sorry to intrude , gentlemen , " said he , respectfully , as he stood twirling his Iiat between his fingers restlessl y , " bufc 1 have a serious matter to communicate . " "Bearing on the supposed murder ? " -queried thc justice , eagerly . '" Yes , sir , '" whispered the eilHcer . as he quietly closed the door . * 'If my suspicions are correct , the murderer is in the house at , this moment . "
This statement startled his hearers considerably . " Who is it ? " demanded Mr . Courtley . "Jonson , the valet , " returned the ollicer , emphatically . He then , in guarded tones , spoke as follows : "Upon searching the library a short time ago I picked up this button , which hears tbe Mortimer crest , and , as yon sec , there i . s a piece uf cloth adhering- to fche shank . It bears the appearance as if it hael been violently torn from a
garment . 1 therefore , gentlemen , came to the conclusion that Mr . Mortimer had been attacked by one of his own household , and , in the struggle that ensued , the squire had wrenched off one of the buttons of the waistcoat of his assailant . M y suspicions at once fell upon the valet . 1 may tell yon , gentlemen , I thought at the time when he was being questioned as to his master ' s movements and habits he was far too read y with his answers . If you recollect he volunteered statements . "
" 1 hat is so , " assented the justice : "but his omcern and grief were so marked . " " Play-acting , sir -. nothing more , " e-oolly returned the ollicer . ' * He had thought out the whole bag of tricks , rehearsed the part , and mummed it well . "
' But how abont the marks of the mudd y hob-nailed boots on the terrace , and their traces on flic gravel patli Y " queried tho doctor . " Only a blind , sir , " was the reply . " He had put them on for
the purpose of raising a false scent . At the spot where the footprints ceased he had taken the large boots off , which he had procured for the purpose as he has small feet , and returned to the house in his stockings . The rain soon washed these faint marks away . I hope to find thc boots ; they are iu thc house , I am sure . "
" This is a very serious charge to make , Bryant , " said Mr . Conrtley . " I know that you professional men are gifted with greater acumen than ordinary individuals , but the finding of that button is a very slender clue to go upon . " You have not heard all , sir , " respectfull y said the man . " Allow me to proceed . I went to Jonson ' s room , and found it
empty . Had he been there I should have made some excuse for intruding . * I searched the place and found another link in the chain of evidence . Stuffed between the bed clothes and the mattress I found a waistcoat with one of the buttons missing . Hero it is , " and the speaker triumphantly produced from one of his capacious pockets the garment in question .
The Justice and his companions examined it curiously . There was not the sli ghtest doubt but that the detached button had originally formed part of the waistcoat . The result was , the Justice issued his warrant for the arrest of the valet on suspicion . The man must have been a most consummate actor . He
protested , cried , knelt , and called upon God to prove his innocence . He was little more than a youth , and the spectators present at Ids arrest werc greatly moved hy his apparent , distress . The onl y person who remained callous and unconcerned was the c . \ -Bowstreet oflicer , whose face wore a grim smile .
Mr . Conrtley , unofficially , interviewed tbe members of the late Mr . Mortimer ' s household , and everyone spoke in the highest terms of commendation of the suspected man . He had ori g inall y been a page at fho Hull , and by good conduct'had graduall y worked his way up ( o the position of confidential servant to the Squire . His fellow servants all declared their belief in his innocence .
Thc olel butler was loud in his praise of his subordinate , and said that he had gone carefull y through a list of the plate and other valuables , and nothing was missing . He had never heard of any fault-finding , as the late Mr . Mortimer , he said , " was the most even-tempered and indulgent of masters . " What motive , ho urged , was there for the crime—neither revenge nor o-ain . on
„ For the purposes of this story it i . s sufficient to relate that the coroner ' s jury unanimously brought in a verdict " That Mr . Mortimer was murdered by some person or persons unknown . " They exonerated Jonson from all complicity in the matter . However , the valet was brought before the local justices , and subsequently committed for trial .
Mr . Aldborough , who had been greatl y impressed by Jonson ' s bearing , and , for other reasons which he would not disclose , engaged clever counsel on the prisoner ' s behalf , and in the end the man was honourably acquitted , the chief plea set up for the defence briefl y being that the actual murderer had secreted himself in the house , had cut the wires , removed the button from the waistcoat , placed it iu the library where if , was found—and secreted the garment under the valet ' s bed , with a view to throw suspicion upon him .
Thc verdict gratified all in ( he village except Bryant , the constable , and a few of- his cronies , who believed that Jonson had cheated thc gallows . The ex-valet shortly after thc trial , and at thc suggestion of his patron , Mr . Aldborough , left the locality and took service in London .
Years passed , the . effects of the Hall had been dispersed , and it graduall y fell into decay . A distant relative on the female line of the murdered man 'inherited the property , but thc place bora such a