The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-04-23
A SISTERS VENGEANCE.

1t was between the lights on gloomy
December afternoon. l was the sole oc-
cupant of the smoking room of a"Liter-
airy and Artist Club which faces the
Thames. | flung fresh coal on the
gloomy embers, and stirred them till
they sent up "A blaze of light that drove
the ghosts out of the shadowy corners,
and then picked up paper haphaZard
from the table, to dawdle over il till the
waiter lighted the gas or some human
being wandered in to keep me company.
1t was an American paper. Some visi-
tor to the club had left it behind him,
accidentally. turned the pages listless-
ly, until suddenly my attention was ar
rested by paragraph headed "ExtraOr-
binary Crime" 1t was the story of the
robbery of Il body OF lady from its
grave. The whole affair was shrouded
in mystery. On the 18th of the month
there died in m American city the beau
tIful wife of an Englishman travelling
for pleasure. In the same paper which
contained this paragraph found under
the following: "On the 18th inst, in
this city, Drusilla, the beloved wife of
Blissett Emerton, of London, England,
aged twenty-four" In due course the
poor lady was buried, and during the
night the church yard was entered and
the coffin casried away. No
motive is suggested in this
American paper for the crime. The
husband is interviewed at his hotel He
is inconsOlable for the loss of his beau
tiful young wife-mad with mingled
rage and horror at the dissertation of her
remains. He tells his story TO the re-
porter. He had only been married few
months. They were travelling for pleas
ure in America. His poor wife caught
a cold a fortnight since, returning from
the theater. He had medical advice, but
the cold increased and Inflammation of
the lungs set in, and soon all was over
He buries his head in his hands and
weeps, and the reporter leaves him alone
with his sacred sorrow. The account in
the paper | was reading by the freight
concludes thus: up to the present no
clue to this mysterious affair has been
obtained" l glanced at the date of the
paper, and flung it down in disgust 1t
was two years old. / had grown inter-
ested in the affair, and here il was two
years old already and probably forgot
ten. Where should l find out how it
ended? The shadows had grown darker
and darker; the fitful flare of the fire
had died down into dull red glow, and
the riverside lamps were being lit.
flung myself back into the easy chair,
half closed my eyes. Suddenly / was
aware that was not alone in the room
From the darkest corner there rose
long black figure. II glided slowly
towards me. l had placed the paper
where had found it, on the table, by
my side. The figure seemed to be look
ing for something. 1t passed Its hands
over the tables and peered down among
the papers. Presently it came to the Ia
bic at my elbow. In the gloom. as | sat
in the deep arm. chair, I believe was
almost invisible. The figure came right
up to me, and, reaching out its hand,
passed it over my table. Presently it
seized something, and glided away with
1t to the window, on which the lamps
without flung a flicker of light Then /
saw that 1t was man, and that in his
hand he held the American paper in
which had just read the account of
mysterious crime. He glanced at it,
and muttered something that sounded
like, "How careless of mep' then folded
the paper, thrust it into his breast pock-
ct, and walked out of the room. Hardly
had the door closed behind him when
the attendant came in with his lights
"Who is that gentleman who has Just
gone out 80 / said.
Don't know his name, sir. Amt
seen him here often"
l remembered that at this club every
member had to sign his name in daily
book kept in the hall for that purpose. |
l ran down stairs, and looked at the |
open leaf to see if that would afford me
any clue. The first name that caught |
my eye was that of Blissett Emerton
No wonder the figure / had seen in |
the darkness had been so anxious To find |
that paper. l saw at once what had hap
pened. He had been in the room read |
ing, fancyIng himself alone He had |
laid the paper down thoughtlessly and |
dropped off to sleep. / had not noticed |
him in the gloom, and he was quite una
ware of my presence.
One thing more did before left.
/ turned over the members address |
book, and looked under the Els There |
found the name of "Biissett Emer-
ton" and against it mo. Blank |
Court, Temple"
Soon afterwards / found time to dine 1
at the club, and there met an old friend /
of mine, a barrister, whom I had not |
seen for year, who after dinner invited |
me to come to his chambers for an hour |
Still in your old diggings, then" |
said.
ooh no" he answered. "I'ye moved /
since 1 saw You last into another set
I've got capital chambers at No z Blank /
Court" l asked him at once it he knew
Mr.. Emerton.
"Only by sight" he answered. ale t
has chambers on the same floor, and we
pass on the landing. We never speak"
l stayed longer than meant TO, and il 1
was striking ten as we came ont on the I
landing. The outer door of Mr. Emer-
tons chamber was ajar. As We passed
the inner door opened, and man rush
ed out with scared white face. Il was
Blissett Emerton.