Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-28
UNDER THE MIDNIGHT LAMP,
FOUNDED ON FACT.

In the train, counting the hours thus gained as
miner does MS gold Upon this point, unf0r-
tunately. my little wife and do not agree: and
1t Is, think, the only point upon which we do
not. Eight hours Ia comfortless railway
compartment. rolled up In your plaid like a
snake In its blanket, instead of In your COM
spring mattress-no. she cannot be made to see
the propIiety Of the exchange nor win she
believe that sleep quite as we'll If lot dis
tur6ed, In the plaid as In the sheets.
The train was just OF as sprang In, and the
shock OF the start landed me In ms seat Beng
OF slow, placid nature, was In no hurry to
recover fri N the shock; and we were fairly Gil,
speeding away as only an English express can
speed, before looked round. 1 bad not the
carriage to myself. as had at first supposed;
lady ot cupied the further end; and at the
OF her veil being down. saw that her eyes,
unnaturally large and Intense in their expires
sfoD. were fixed upon me. at all times prefer
carriage TO myself. and II companion
must have. let 1t be gentleman not lady;
lut there was no hep for 1t; the lady was
there. and moreover, she was looking at NE.
prevent my making myself as comfortable az
circumstances will allow" Slowly and deIib
trately, therefore, removed my hat, substi
tutiBg for it cloth cap. which drew well
down over my ears: then l folded my arms
ana composed myself to sleep. But In vain:
the eye of my fellow passenger haunted me; /
saw them as distinctly as IL my own were open.
Was she watching me still? Involuntary
looked up and round, and my look met hers.
full, burning G, intense, with far more OF mean.
Ing In IL than l could at all fathom. It. was
getung decidedly unpleasant, and was grow
Ing decidedly uncomfortable; try as might,
could not keep my eyes closed: hers were on
ne. and meet them must.
In her attitude. too, as well as In her look
mere was something strange and mysterious.
Huddled up In the corner, she seemed to be
holding hing close pressed to her, beneath
Ine long loose mourning cape, bending low
over IL In crouch1ng posture. Once or twice
her eyes still fixed upon mine, I saw her
SILVER; but for that slight convulsive move
men she sat perfectly still and motlonless.
OF an opportunity to break the ominous silence.
II she would but speak, make some common
place remark, the spell might be broken.
Il am not cod
commonplace remark enough. but the
spell wsS not broken. The mystery that Law
in her eyes lay also In her voice.
What should l try next? 1 looked au my
watch-11:3O: our train speeding on at furious
rate, no chance Of a stoppage for some time to
come, and the full w1de-Open gaze of nv
motionless companion not for one moment re-
tainly. II changed my position, faced the
window instead Of her, she must remove her
eyes from my face at last. But there was a
sort of fascination about her and her look
which 1 preferred meeting to Sinking, know
Ing 1t was on me all the time
There was nothing for 1t, then, but to give
up all hope Of sleep, and make the best of my
position and companion, whom now observed
more closely. That she was lady there could
be little doubt; there was that in her dress and
appearance that was unmistakable. That she
was pretty, there could be little doubt either:
those great dark, intensely dark eyes, the thick
Coils Of warm FURNISHED hair, the small pale
features, seen dimly beneath the veil; yes, she
was Young, pretty. lady, and IN trouble SO
far got, but no further. Bow came she to be
travelling alone at that time of night, and with
that look on her face? What could 1t be that
she was holding pressed so closely to her. and
yet so carefully kept out Of sight? From the
size and uncertain outline, 1 should have
guessed 1t to be child; but, then, there was
not the faintest motion, nor could she have
ton. think that something Of curiosity IN lst
have been betrayed In my look, for her own
darkened and deepened into perfect agony OF
doubt and fear.
Ashamed. withdrew my gaze at once, and
drawing out my note book, was about to AXE
memorandum, when, with sudden forward
movement, she fell at my feet, arresting my
DsLd by the agOniZed grasp of her own its
thrill.
Don't netray me. Don't give me up to him.
don't! am so irightened!"
1t was but whisper, breathed out rather
than spoken. yet it shuddered through me like
asr yoanno. a,u.rs s,,o.,
] am so tired"
Ana letting the hand which still held. pressed
closely to her, the mysterious burdea mat mad
so raised my curiosity drop heavily to her sid.
there Jay at Ler feet and Niue a little dead
baby, tiny creature evidently not many 9 ks
od.
Then the woman threw up her vel. and, with
drawing her eyes for the first time from
mine, cIasped her hands before her. her figure
thrown slightly back, and looked down upon
IL: A pretty picture; the poor young mother,
dress; the wee baby. cleaning so white in It's
death and baby robe against the heavy crane
skirt On which 1t lay-a pretty picture certainly
IoI railway carriage. and lighted by Its dim
dead !" was my involuntary exclamation.
she stretched her clasped hands downward
toward "a 1t With desparing GESTURE speaking
1T was not his look that killed 1t, but my
love He hated ii, my baby. my first-born: for
al all me the love | gave him. he hated it; ana that
SO close. so close, till it was dead on, my
baby, my baby."
The outstretched hands had reached IL now
and raised it from the floor to the scat, folding
IL around until the enclosing arms and the
down-bent face hid 1t once more out of sight,
Was ever luckless traveller more awkWardly
placed?-the dead child; the PROSTATE woman
the scene, public railway carriage; the hour
midnight. am OF blunt nature. Mrs Mer,
ton often scolds me for my blunt straightfor-
ward speeches; but then she has such pretty
way OF beating about the bush, which it would
be as absurd for me to initiate as it was for the
as IS to mimic the tricks OF his masters lapdoy
must go straight TO the point as soon as ever
i see It. did so now.
-" 1917 JOu " oO tidSculuS dlOQc, ana
with dead child? Are you going homer
The question seemed to rouse her once more
10 perfect frenzy Of fear. She turned to me
as before, cliDging to my hand with small iloI
myers, and the old heart broken CRY:
Don't betray me; don't give me up to him,
HIS look would have killed my baby: n would
XIII NE II had to meet IL. She ia safe for 7
Kllled 1er, and she is dead; and he hates me
and nave no home,-no home."
was In perfect maze OF doubt. Could the
pretty SOFT young creature at my feet be indeed
a murderess? and could 1t be her husband OF
whom she seemed In such abject terror? NV
blood boiled; felt ready to defend her against
dozen husbands: but how?
1t was midnight now; we could not be far
frt m London; the guard might be popping his
head In at any moment Jumped to sudden
cor clus1oD.
Were you going to any friend In London 81
IL know nobody In London
THE poor little thing Is either mad or her
husband Is BRUTE" was my mental exclams-
tion.
.'Then you must come home with me to nv
wife; she will see after you"
An upward glance OF Wild, agonized supplica.
"she won't betray me, or-take baby from
me?" And once more the wee dead thing was
lifted up into the arms that seemed almost too
lrall 10 hold II, and hidden away beneath the
long mourning cape.
took her home. Mary received her With a
nroad iock OF amaze that made me smile, but
that found no expression in words When.
taking her aside, / told her all knew. abe
wruDg her hands In sheer sympathizinp pity.
Murdered her own baby-her first. born
oh, how sad, how dreadful And involunfa
rtly she glanced toward the door that hid from