The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1881-04-15

landlOri, 81 tont know tor sure,
but | think she is a bride. aud that
they are iheir wedding tour"
"A brider rOared the revelers ;
bring her here. Fetch them both
here, for We want TO drink TO the
bride aud talk To the husband
Our friends in the blue room
trenble,l; they feared an assault
on them would be made. But the
same voice prevailed over the din,
and it was evidently that OF It su.
pcrior officer.
Tue night wore on. Leon and
his bride had almost forgntten
their English neighbor, when they
heard a strange sound in his room.
1t was that Of the fall of some
heavy body. Mingled with this
there was peculiar, crashing,
grating sound, followed by a stiiied
cry. Silence. Then there were
two or three muttered oaths, and
silence again.
The young couple shuddcred.
What could it meant Leon tried
to reassure his trembling CON.
panion, but he was interrupted by
II cautious opening Of the next
door, 1t was softly closed again,
aud then slow and apparently care.
tul footsteps were heard in the hall.
They were lost in the distance.
They ceased. Again all was still.
Soon tue young bride was sleep.
ing calmly. But not so Leon. De.
spite himself tho sinister face OF
the Englislmun's nephew returned
to his recollection. There was ha.
tired, he Thought, IN the glance cast
upon the uncle by the Young man
when he left him, aud then that
roll of bank notes in the valise.
Aud that dull, heavy sound, but
now like the fall of Il body upon
the hoor-t,ie cry-the curses.
Such was the tram OF thought that
ran through Icons mind.
Mechanically he fixed his eyes
upon the door which commuuica.
ted with the Enelishman's room.
There was a little space between
the bottom of the door and the
flooring. By the dim light falling
from the partially turned down gas
he could see something forcing its
way under the door.
"What can it ber thought
Leon. "Is it a knilef No, for it
has divided into two parts. And
now it divides again-and yet
again. What can it be! 1t is
some liqGid.p
The thing slowly crawled toward
u little blue slipper. 1t encircled
its heel. 1t stained its front. II
was liquid. 1t was a liquid OF
strange and uumistakable color
the color of blood.
For a long time Leon lay and
gazed upon the stained slipper aud
tie reddish stream which encirsled
it. He pictured to himself the
corpse lying in the next room; its
discovery the following morning; /;
the door opening directly into the
room of which the bolts were on
his side; the blood.stained slipper.
He attempted to rise and hide the
slipper; as he did so his wife
awoke aud started with alright as
she felt his ICY hand.
"What is the matterW she cried.
Leon explained to her the terri.
Die situation in which they were
placed. He arose and attempted
to remove the tell.tale stains from
the slipper, but it was useless.
Day was breaking. Already the
servants were moving around the
hotel. Ina few hours the crime
would be discovered and the off.
GERS of the law would be upon
them.
"Alas p said Leon, tour only
hope is this: At eight o'clock the
train leaves for Paris. II the Eng.
lishmau's body is not discovered
before that time we are safe. We
will take the train and lose onr.
selves in the gpeat city. There we
shall be safe"
His weeping bride flung herself
upon his bosom. She felt almost
as though she committed the deed.
| But there yet reniainedtwo NOR
tai hours before the train lett. AT
each step in the corridor they
trembled with alright. They made
their preparations for departure
Le0n's bride wished to burn the
bloody slipper, bat he restrained
her and concealed it on his person.
Seven o'clock sounded. The ho.
tel was alive again with bustling
servants. Leon forced his wife to
take cup of coffee, although she
declared that her parched lips re.
fused to swallow. They then de
scended to the waiting room, and
Leon demanded bis bill. The host
presented it, and begged his par
don for the noise of the previous
evening. Leon assured him that
they had passed very quiet night,
"Wen, Pm glad OF it," said the
host; "however, your neighbor Oh
your left lidu't disturb you much,
IN be bound. He's sleeping like a
dead man yet.
Icon sbuddered. His wife grasp
ed his arm convulsively.
"He's an Eaglish milord,' con
tinued the host. We've got an