The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-08-13

look of everything; there was no fire in
the crate and the room was % dimly
lighted that at first did not see Lizzie.
Then became aware that she was lean.
ing back In the armchair with the child
lying In her lap; her eyes were closed
and her face was deadly pale. I cried
out her name, but she did not move.
With an underlined dread that seemed to
make my heart contract rushed across
the room to her; the floor heaved and
swayed with my weight; I flung myself
down by Lizzie's side and had seized her
hand when the chair overturned with q
crash, and she seemed to fall heavily into
my arms!
II awoke with a cry of terror. The
train had run nearly off some facing
thrown my fellow-traveler across my
knees. lifted him half up but he made
no effort to help himself. With difficulty
[ replaced him on the seat. The head
dropped back into the old position, and
as the light now fell on the face saw to
my horror that the man was dead!
81 fell back into my seat, gasping for
breath; but the next instant started
up and went to the farther side of the
carriage. 'DeadY said to myself, mo,
it's impossible, he cannot be dead; and
turning hurriedly toward the old gentle
man endeavOred to stammer out pos
sible hope that the fall had not hurt
him. 1t would not do; the words died
away on my lips. I felt the fact of his
death was but too true, and the folly of
asking a corpse if fall had hurt it
crossed my mind and gave me an absurd
inclination to laugh, though I never felt
less merry in my life.
Then a terrible curiosity drew me
back almost against my will to look
again at the lifeless man. The blue,
glazed eyes were wide open; the jaw
slightly dropped; the once ruddy color
had settled in patches of dark purple in
the checks. He was tall, stout man,
apparently about sixty-five, and must
have been handsome when alive; indeed,
the face would have been handsome still
but that the half-open mouth and sight
less stare gave him such CHASTITY ap-
pearance.
"The bad dream / had had, the sud-
rid certainty that had been travelling
all the way with a corpse utterly un-
nerved me, and vainly endeavored to
regain my composure. could only gaze
on the dead face before me with
vague feelings of wonder and distress.
swell, Charlie, did about the most
foolish thing l could have DONE" con-
tinued l. "a shrill whistle and the
stacking of the speed announced our ap-
proach to Highgate, and in another mo-
ment the lamps at the station flashed
their light in and out the carriage win
dow as we passed up to the platform.
With desperate feeling that, as, after
all, it was no business of mine, l might
as well try to escape heap of questions
that could not answer, l snatched up
the old mans yellow handkerchief,
flung it over his face, seized my travel
ing bag, and sprang out of the carriage.
| Il remember we'll the nervous dread
which came over me that the body would
be discovered before could give up my
ticket and get clear of the station. No
one stopped me, however. hailed a
cab, Jumped in, and in ten minutes more
was safely deposited at my door. There
| I dismissed the cabman with double
fare, and in another minute stood in my
own bright, cheerful sitting-room, with
my dear wife clinging to my arm.
Everybody was as unlike my dream
as possible. Lizzie looked rosy and
smiling; her baby was in his cradle fast
asleep; there was a bright fire in the
crate; the supper-table was laid, and our
neat little cook entered with tray on
which Lizzie seemed to have assembled
all the good things she could think of.
But, in spite of the comfort around me,
1 could not shake off feeling of dis
quietude, and l suppose this was visible
enough to pair of loving eyes like my
wife's, for she said: What is the mat
ter, dear? You look quite upset.
"Oh, Lizzie! burst out, l have had
such q horrid adventures! l must tell
you about it,
"Not yet returned she. Sit down
and take some supper first, and you shall
tell me afterward. However disagreea-
badly, since have got you safe home
again. my darling And thereupon she
gave me kiss, which had such reviv-
ing effect upon my spirits that allowed
myself to be seated at the table, and
there, under the combined influence of
nv kind little wife's cheerful face and .
good supper, began to recover myself
and proceeded to relate what had hap
pened.
"Lizzie only laughed at the dream
and told me not to be superstitious. but
looked grave and Mortified enough over
the account of the poor old man.
"When l had finished, my wife
looked 50 anxious and discomposed that
l began to regret having told her, but,
suddenly raising her head, she said ):
Dear Harry, ought you not to have
stayed and explained what had hap
pened? Might not people think that
that Her voice broke and her eyes
filled with tears.
"By Jove! Lizzie cried I, starting
up, you are right, of course! They
might think had hand in the poor fell
lows death. Why, how could be such
fool! must 60 at once and give in
formation at the police office
| put on my coat as was speaking,
but the happy thought came little too
late, for just as Lizzie was handing me
my hat there came tremendous peal at
the front door! My wife and looked at
each other. She turned very pale, and l
burst out laughing. That was not quite
the right thing to do, perhaps, under the
circumstances; but could not help feel
ing amused, as well as embarrassed, ut
the scrape my folly had got me into, and
l had not at the time the slightest idea of
the disagreeable consequences that were
to follow.
"Oheer up, little woman said I. 1T
| Is all r1ght. 0lQ not 90 IL, you KNOW.
Go to bed like q wise girl, and will come
back as soon as can and tell you the
sequel to my story
"Just then the cook opened the door
and said: 'Oh, if you please, 'um, there's
two policemen at the door, and they
says, 'um, they want to speak to master
"'Very WE'LL said l, I will 60 to
them. 1t is very possible shall be alb
sent some time, cook, SO take good care
of your mistress till come home;' and
giving Lizzie hasty kiss I walked out
and faced my unlimited visitors. Before
could speak q word one of them
touched me on the shoulder and said
You're wanted about that old gentleman
found murdered in fuss-class railway
carriage at 'ighgate station
"Yes,'I said; Il was just coming
down to the police station about it,
"sOhi was vOu?' said the man. in q