Gratia's Trials — page 141: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

132 GRATIA’S TRIALS. ‘‘ Gratia,” she faltered, ‘‘do you know what they are saying down stairs ?” ‘‘No,” she replied, her lips smiling a soft welcome to the new-comer. — ‘That Uncle Ralph is dead.” ‘* Dead |” Gratia started back so suddenly that the toma nacced hair- brush fell to the floor, while the soft roses in her cheek blanched. ‘¢ And that he is murdered, Gratia !” ‘It is impossible !” said Gratia, gathering new courage from the sight of the little girl’s terror. ‘‘Come, let us go down and see for ourselves. Iwill put on my dress in an instant.” Mrs. Falconer’s hysterical screams, and Alberta’s voice en- deavoring to reassure her, reached their ears as they passed the door of her apartment; but, although they looked with silent dismay into each other's faces, neither spoke. In the hall below they met Scipio. ‘« Best go back, young ladies,” said the old man. ‘‘’Tain’t no place for de likes ob you here.” ‘Ts it true, Scipio?” cried Ida, breathlessly. ‘It’s all true, miss, dear,” said the old colored man. ‘‘ He’s dead, an’ I’s done los’ de bes’ massa ever nigger had. An dat ain't de worst ob it—he’s murdered, Miss Ida !” Ida burst into a cry of horror, but Gratia did not speak for a moment. ‘‘Let us go back, Ida,” she said at last, and Ida obeyed her. CHAPTER XXIV. SEEKING FOR A CLEW. ‘‘What is it, Gratia?” Ida asked, with tearful earnestness, early in the afternoon. ‘‘ What is a coroner's inquest ?” ‘‘I don’t quite know myself, dear; twelve men, I believe, | scomicbooks.com,