The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-04-24
THE PoRTRAIT's WARNING.
CONCLUDED.

thing does happen to him."
go, nc" she said at first; s'I am
frightened for you tooT' 5
Germ me-" returned; SO there will
be no danger; at least, none of any
special kind"
In the end she consented; and
when the appointed time came, Mr..
Mainwaring and I were speeding out
of London in q first-class carriage,
and swiftly leaving the city, fast
breaking into lines of light, behind
US. BE was in good spirits, con-
graduating himself upon having me
for fellow-traveler; but it was with
difficulty that I could answer him in
the same spirit, for the memory of the
fatal appearance made me nervous,
and filed me with gloomy forebod-
ings. '
It was fine night, and the rapid
motion, as we whirled along, had an
exhilarating effect, even upon me,
depressed as l. was. Every small
station that we passed, making a
stage in our journey, gave me sense
of relief; my companion had got so
far on his way in safety. and might
continue so to the. end. It was
strange, seeing that any accident
would probably be of an utterly
overwhelming nature, that I had no
fear of my own acco unit; but the
strong possibility of danger for my
friend precluded all idea Of it for my
self.
We were passing through q deep
cutting, so deep that it shut out all
sight of the sky, when the carriage
in which we were seated began to
oscillate fearfully. Suddenly the
engine gave three short sharp
whistles-I knew what was coming,
saw Mainwaring throw himself kneel-
ing on the floor of the carriage-t
came crash, O deafening noise, and
knew no more. '.7-
When I awoke to consciousness,
was lying on the side of the en-
bankment, completely jammed into
the ruins of the carriage-I heard
shrieks and groans on all sides, and
men were rushing about with Ian
terms among the debris of the train.
1 was bruised, I felt, from head to
foot, but, as I found while I was get
ting out of the splintered timber, no
bones were broken; and I turned to
assist those who were in worse
plight than myself.
1 moved to do this and secure a
lantern, when my foot caught against
something, and q guard coming up
at the time said, "You've had q mar
row escape, sir; but I see here's
another poor fellow dead"
There was no need for him to
lower his lantern to the still face. I
knew what he had to show me. /
had seen it seven days before, in q
London drawing-room.
MI. Malnwaring was lying at my
feet, and his face was covered with
blood, from frightful cut across the
temples.
The warning of the portrait had
again come true.
[ had been terribly shaken, and
/ was very ill for weeks after the acci-
dent; and poor Mainwaring had long
been buried, when received note
from Ellen. I had not heard any
thing Of them. and had written once or
twice, thinking it strange that none
Of them had written, and I seized the
black-edged envelope eagerly. TIE
note was very short, and ran as fol-
lows:
"The portrait told the truth. You
must Judge me as kindly as you can,
but we can never marry. My fathers
grave lies between us.
''ELLEN MAINWARING."
l was still very weak, and had not
been out since was laid up; but
within an hour from the time of re.
ceiving the letter, / stood in the
drawing-room in Gordon square, and
had not been there many minutes,
when Ellen entered. Her black dress
startled me for moment, and then
l said. holding out the note:
Il do not forget your great sor-
row, Ellen, but am to believe this?'