“True, I am most anxious to hear the conclusion.”
“Aire you? Wall, then, you shall. You must know that after the planter’s death the war between the Federals and the Confederates took place. The North and South went at it like hammer and tongs. Both the young Leavens were engaged throughout the terrible and sanguinary war. The Southerns had a hard time of it, but they fought for their homes like lions, and the odds were against them, and, despite their valour and heroism, they were whipped in the end. I guessed they would, but they were brave fellows, and deserved a better fate.”
“Oh, I know all about the war to which you refer.”
“No doubt. Well, I’m only mentioning it to account for the occupation of the two Leavens. One, the youngest, fell on the field of battle, the other is now a farmer in South Carolina. Ye must understand that he never knew the whole particulars concerning his sister’s sudden and, I may add, mysterious death.”
“Mysterious!” exclaimed Bourne, suddenly.
“Ya-as, it was a bit mysterious.”
“Was it?”
“Ya-as.”
“How so?”
“I’ll tell you. As I before observed, Silas Leaven settled in South Carolina. Shortly after his arrival there he began to reflect seriously upon the sudden death of his sister. It may appear strange that he should let so many years pass over without troubling himself to make any inquiries, but the fact is he didn’t suspect anything was amiss, and took it for granted that she had died of a broken heart. In South Carolina he met with some persons who hailed from Texas, who resided there when Mr. and Mrs. Wagstaff were there. Wall, they told Silas a lot of things about the young people, which greatly surprised him. They hinted at foul play, and said that the ill-fated Clara had been poisoned.”