The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-17

with it across the room to his treasure
store. | cannot help, with my dramatic
instincts, watching him eagerly; and it is
as good as play to see his surprise and
wonder when, opening the cabinet, he
takes forth the earring he picked up in
the railway carriage, and finds that he
has the fellow to it in his other hand.
Yes; there they are, clearly the pair
two birds claws, each holding a revolv-
ing wheel. "Now look at the portrait
again" | say, when he had stood for a
minute regarding me with blank amaze
ment. 81 don't say that you will, be-
cause it is mere speculation, but do you
not see in the portrait of Miss Naughton
something to remind you of the young
lady, your mysterious travelling compan-
ion?" He is examining the photograph
again. "Well, it is very absurd, but
really, now you put it to me, there might
be something of the same look in it,
and" He ponders. "Was it she, then
Rose-after all, that 1 in a measure was
reminded of that night? On my honor l
seem to think it must have been.'' Then,
turning to me, he asks: "But what is
the meaning of all this? Why do you
want to know whether / can see any re-
semblance in this photograph to that
girl, and where, above all, did you get
this other earring from? Explain your
self, for heavens saker'
because, as l say" l replied, Z" it
seems to me just possible that, if there be
such thing as ghostly influence, or
spiritualism, or clairyoyance, or what
ever one may choose to call such mystic
ries-because, say, if such things exist,
you may have received the warning to
leave your seat as you did through the
mysterious influence of Miss Naughton
herself, for she was in that railway train
that same night, and those earrings be-
longed to her"
Again the wonder in his face would
have been amusing had it not been
mingled with an expression of pain.
" Incredible, preposterousr' he said at
length. "You say Miss Naughton is a
friend of your wife's?'
eyes; and I will explain how came
upon the fact forthwith. Yesterday, as
my wife was dressing, she asked me to
fetch her brooch from the drawer in
the dressing-case. On opening it the
first thing which caught my eye, among
a lot of little trinkets, was that earring,
and moments examination showed it
to be the counterpart of the one you had
so mysteriously come by. The device
was not easily to be forgotten. You may
judge of my surprise, and how it led to
my telling her about your strange adj
venture. Then we went into the matter,
and she on her part told me how the ear
rings had belonged to school-fellow of
hers, Rose Naughton by name, who had
lately gone abroad; and how, two years
ago, she had been in a fearful railway
accident one evening, while on her way
from Peterborough to a ball at Gran
tham-how two of her party had been
killed while sitting beside her; how she
escaped by miracle, uninjured, and
how, amongst the trifiing events con-
nected with the terrible circumstances,
she,had lost one of her ear-rings-one of
pair which had been given her that
night by the man to whom she was en-
gagged, and who was himself killed"
My friends face, with a strange per-
versity, seemed for a moment to lose its
panied expression as uttered these last
words. | resumed: "When Miss Naugh-
ton went abroad she gave my wife her
photograph-that on the easel-and
among other souvenirs that odd earring;
for it appears the tragical accident
brought about one good result for her
it cut short an engagement entirely dis
tasteful to her, and into which she had
been forced-well, / didn't hear exactly
how; at any rate, she never loved the
man-disliked him, in fact, my
wife says, and had no compunc-
ton, about giving the earring to
my wife, who was struck with the quaint
ness of the device. You will readily UNI
derstand how this story instantly asso-
ciated itself with you in my mind. A
comparison of dates and other circum-
stances left no doubt. | was bound to
come and tell you; and hope, my dear
fellow, you will acquit me now of idle
intrusion upon your affairs. / assure
you that had not the faintest idea that
you knew Miss Naughton by name. l
thought you might have seen her, as !
believe you did; for assuredly her pres
ence-either in the flesh or in the spirit,
whichever it was-saved your life. My
friend, full of amazement, held out his
hand, and, in shaking mine warmly,
evinced more feeling than | had ever
given him credit for.
"Of course, of course, old man. he
said, 81 know you didn't mean any
thing; only l was taken by surprise, as
well | might be, for was tremendously
fond of Rose Naughton once-am SO
still, for the matter of that-and the
sight of her face rather took me aback.
We were half engaged once, only her
old mother broke it off; and | was angry
and hasty, and-and l dropped them,
and have been sorry ever since; and
then l was too proud, and, in short, have
made an ass of myself. Do you know
where she is now? Do you know where
she is gomez"
"No; but l can find out" 81 wish
you would; for after all you tell me,
have a strong inclination to follow her,
and try my luck again-try if fortune
will turn her wheel for my benefit
"Most certainly do so; you would be
flying in her face if you did not; for
really this is the most astounding thing,
on the whole, that ever happened to a
fellow. There must have been some
mysterious agency at work when you
were thrown so close tOoether that nipht