The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-06-07

quiet for awhile. But from the muffied
laughter that broke out from time to time,
Leon and his bride had an idea that they
were still the topic.
Suddenly there was roar from the
left-hand room. Garsong - shouted
the Englishmau, gimme another bottle
of port
The port was brought and the English
man grew quiet. Finally the officers,
having drank all the y could carry, and
some Of them more, departed, after hav-
ing joined in parting toast to the bride
* =
Quiet ct last reig ned over the hotel.
The night was clear, the moon shining
brightly Leon and his bride looked out
from the window and inhaled the fra
GRANGE borne from the flowers in the gar
den below, Suddenly Icons gaze fell
upon man sauntering amidst the shrub
berry He walked with his head bent
down, cigar in his mouth, and bis hands
thrust into his pockets. As he turned the
moonlight fell upon his face. 1t was the
Englishman's dissoiute nephew
Tie night wore on, Leon and his bride
had almost forgotten their English neigh
bor, when they heard strange sound in
his room. It was that of the fall of some
heavy hody. Mingled with this there was
a peculiar crashing, grating sound, fol-
lowed by stifed cry. Silence Then
therf were two or three muttered oaths,
ana Silence again.
The young couple shuddered. What
eoull it mean2 Leon tried to reassure
his trembling companion, but he was in
t4rrrPt4d by the cautious opening of the
next dopr. 1t was softly closed again, and
then slbw and apparently careful foot
stems were heard in the hall. They were
lost in The distance. They ceased. Again
all was Still.
N9on the Young bride was sleeping
cAluily. Not 50 Leon. Despite himself
The 9irf,er face of the Englishman's
nelh4w .rcturued to his recollection
There Ya- haired, be thought, in the
glance cE1t upon the uncle by the young
man when he left him, and then that roll
ot hank.otes in the valise And that
dal'. h4a a,y sound but now, like the fall
ot q b31y upon the foor-the cry-the
curses Such was the train of thought
E9at ran through Looms mind.
Nac44aicaliv he fixed his eyes upon
the GnPF which communicated with the
Emil }mau'> room. There was a little
Spart lb@twecn the bottom Of the door and
ahe tlHIinr BY the dim light falling
.rom iA4 partially turned-down gas, he
dou,A 4d4 something forcing its way under
thedofr 1t seemed, at first, like knife
blaile fbr the edge was thin, and reflected
lacA !; light 1t moved slowly toward
q lit,ie bUe satin slipper, which had been
thrIHll |c4rvlessly near the door.
! " Lat can it be = thought Leon. 9 l.
i 4 ktEit: No, for it has divided into
tw4 parts. And now it divides again
anl y{t again. What can it be: 1t is
Fonat ll4uil."
T1d Thing slowly crawled toward the
liltle blne slipper. It encircled its heel.
II Ytaihed It's front. 1t was liquid. 1t
was liquid of strange and unmistakable
eolbr The color of blood
Fora long time Leon lay aud gazed
up{n tRe stained slipper and the reddish
,trt tanl which encirced it. He pictured
IT, |hiibSeif the corpse lying in the next
|ro4H lis discovery the next morning;
|th4 tqdr opening into the room, of which
Rho bblts were on his side; the blood
>'aneIl slipper These things passed
|thfourh him, and cold sweat started
|ont n3,n him. He attempted to rise, and
hide the slipper; as he did so, his wife
awokd and started with alright as she
f~t his icy hand.
= WI Hat Is the matter ~ she cried
1eio explained to her the terrible sit
uatioI in which they were placed. He
AROSE anil attempted to remove the tell
tale stains from the slipper, but it was
uSeleds
l)ak was breaking Already the SER
wants were moving around the hotel In
a few hours the crime would be discover
cd. ana the officers of the law would be
u bon them.
= Alas :" said Leon, " oar only hope is
tiiis At 5 o'clock the train leaves for
Paris Ii The Englishman's body is not
dl~coFcred before that time We are safe.
" viii take the train, and lose ourselves
ID TIE great city There we shall be
slM,P
IiiF weeping bride flung herself upon
bis bosom She felt almost as though
She lad committed the deed
But there yet remained two mortal
hpurF bciore the train left. AS each step
III the corridor they trembled with af
flight They made their preparations
fBr departure. Icons bride wished to
bnrn the bloody slipper, but he restrain
eH her, and concealed it on his person.
SeEen o'clock sounded. The hotel was
alive again with bustling servants. Leon
fPrc4d his wife to take cup of coffee,
although she declared that her parched
throht refused to swallow. They then
descended to the waiting-room, and Leon
demanded his bill The host presented
It, and begged bis pardon for the noise of
the previous evening. Leon assured him
that they had passed very quiet night.
~W ell, Tn glad of IT," said the host;
t however, your neighbor on the left
didn't disturb you much, I'll be bound.
He's sleeping like dead man yet"
LEON shuddered His wife grasped his
his arm convulsively.
8 Hes an English milord,'' continued
the host. We've 9 got another English
man here, too, who paid his bill and left
this morning. He gave me an English
bank-note. | hope it's good. Look at
ii. What do you think p
He showed Leon a bank-note. On
one corner of it there was a reddish stain.
{ 1t seems to be q good one" said
Leon, with forced calmness. " How long
before the train goes z"
-