The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1870-03-31

spoken to one"
"Then it is an enigma" he replied.
sThe only solution Team offer you is
that you have been mistaken for
some one else"
"Bon Dieu!" | exclaimed. You
have undoubtedly hit the mark.
have been mistaken and know for
whom. Have you not seen man in
this town bearing striking resem-
bIance to meT'
"No," was the answer.
"well, my friend, I have. The mo-
ment when / saw him, felt uncom-
Portable. had presentiment ofevil.
/ You will oblige me by letting me
have your bill. shall go to Paris to-
| night. IfI stop here another day, my
life, which l left England TO fortify,
will be snuffed like a.cahdle."
The hotel keeper seeing matterscome
to a point that affected his interests,
endeavored to laugh down my doubts.
He argued that the ball had received
in my hat might have been destined
for bird that it had been shot by
some wretched marksman, who had
mistaken my hat for crow.
THAT may all be very WE'LL" an
swered; but suffer me 10 tell you that
your excuse only makes me more res
olute to leave this place; for of what
value is mans life in a district a.
bounding with spcrtsmeu who can
mistake hat for crow?"
A train left for Paris at 2:35. 1t was
an express, and I found it to be due at
eight o'clock. l dispatched my port
manteau by porter to the station,
and having twenty minutes before me
sat down to a slight repast of cold
fowl and Un ordmaire. The position
of my table enabled me to get view
of the street. As the porter strobe a.
way with my luggage, | observed q
man cross the road and accost him. In
reply to what was obviously a question,
the porter, with the gesticulations Of a
Frenchman, pointed with his thumb
to the hotel, and vigorously nodded
his head. The man crossed over again
to the pavement, came on until he
was opposite the window, and abrupt
ly turning on his heel, walked off in
the direction taken by the porter.
/ thought nothing of this. The
man, conjectured, probably wanted
the job / had given to the porter. H
was a common looking fellow, dress ed
in leather CATERS, a blouse, a slouched
cap, and belt. There was nothing
singular in his face. He was dark,
with black beard and m0ustache.-
He was familiar type of the middle
aged peasant of southern France.
Having discharged my bill, l walk
to the railway station. On one plat
form there was much tumult, q train
from Paris having just arrived. But
upon the platform against which stood
the train which was to bear me to the
north, counted only FIVE persons, ex-
elusive of porters.
But had little time for ohserva-
ton. The train would leave in three
minutes. / saw my pOrtmanteau
slowed away in the luggage van, pro-
cured myselfa first-class ticket, aud
took my seat.
The shriII whistle of the guard
sounded. The engine gave short,
and the line of carriages clanked to
their chains as they frightened to the
strain. Suddenly several voices cried
"Stop! stop! Now, then, quick I!
Which eIass-first? Let's see your
ticket. Right Here you are-jump
in !" The door of my carriage was OPP
ened, form bounded in, the door was
slammed, there was another shrill
whistle, and off went the train.
1 looked at my companion. He
was the man whom / had noticed
speak to the porter and stare in the
window of my hotel.
A thrill passed over me. My recent
escape had greatly shaken my nervous
system and the apparition of the man
whom l felt ought TO suspect, sent a
chill through my blood. AS peasant
which he was-not expressed only in
dress, but in mis- hands, which were
dirty, ro1gh and h0rny-whas did he
do in f1rst-class carriage? [ would
have given something to have exchan-
ged carriages. But there was no CONF
munication with the guard. Morever,
the train as | have told you was an ex-
press, and did not stop until run of
sixty-six miles had been accomplished.
We were now blowing away with
great rupidity.
The man sat screwed up in corner
away from me, immoveable. He APP
peared 10 be looking through the win
dow at the country as it whirled by ;
but there was an distracted expression
in his gaze which indicated that he
saw nothing. His arms were folded
upon his breast. Though he must have
been conscious of my scrutiny, he new
er turned his eyes upon me. His lips,
/ saw were tightly compressed and he
breathed slowly but deeply through
his nose, the nostrils of which diiated
to the steady respiration.
I began after little to regain my
epmposure. / struggled to laugh down
my fears. What, l thought had / to
fear from a man had never seen-whO
had never seen me! The thing was
preposterous. / extracted q paper
from my pocket and commenced to
read. / might have spoken to him
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