The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-04-15
PA, FRIDAY, APRIL Is. 1881

AN'tA Va tiNoNlAls 4 llbliO Otit NOltC IlN-
vailed over the others, and cried:
"What sort of woman is she
"Wcll gentleman" replied the host, 81
don't know for sure, but | think she is n
BRIDE and that they're on their wedding
tour"
"a bride!" roared the reveers; ''bring
her in Fetch 'em both here; we want
TO drink to the bride and talk to the
husband"
Our friends in the blueroom trembed;
they feared an assault would be made.
But the same voice prevailed over the
din, and it was evidently that of su
perior officer He lectured them on their
lack of courtesy, and there was compar
atiyc quiet for awhile. But from the
muled laughter that broke out from
time to time, Leon and his bride had
an idea they were still the topic
Suddenly there was roar from the
left hand room. "Garsougw shouted the
Englishman, "gimme another bottle O.
port
The port was brought, and the Eng
lishman grew quiet Finally the officers
having drank all they could carry, and
some of them more, departed, having
joined in parting toast to the bride.
Quiet at last rcigned over the hotel.
The night was clear, the moon was shin
ing brightly. Leon and his bride look
ed out from the window and inhaled the
fragrance born from the flowers below.
suddenly Icons gaze fell upon man
who was sauntcring amidst the shrub
berry. He walked with his head bent
down,a cigar in his mouth, and his hands
thrust into his pockets. AS he turned
the moonlight fell upon h3 face. 1t
was the Engishman's dissolute ncph-
cw.
The night wore on. Leon and his
bride had almost forgotten their English
ncighbor, when they heard strange
sound in his room. It was that of the
fall of some heavy body. Mingled with
this there was n peculiar crashing, graf
ing sound followed by a stihcd cry.
Silence. Then there We're Two or thrcc
mutlored oaths, and silence again.
The young couple shUddeled what
could it mean? Loontricato roassure his
trembling companion, but he was inter
rupted By the cautious opening of the
next door. It was softly closed again,
and then slow and apparently careful
footsteps were heard in the hall. They
were lost in the distance. They ceased
Again ali was still.
Soon the young bride was sleeping
calmly. But not so Leon. Despite him.
self, the sinister face of the Englishman',
nephew returned to his recollection
There was hatred, he thought, in the
glance cast upon the uncle by the cyoung
man when he left him, and then the rol
of bank notes in the valise. And that
dull, heavy sound but now, like the fall
of body upon the tloor--the cry-tht
curses. Such was the train of thought
that ran through Icons mind.
Mechanically he fixed his eyes upon
the door which communicated with The
Englshman's room. There was LITTLE
space between the bottom of the dool
and the flooring. BY the dim light fall
ing from the partially turncd-down gas
he could see something forcing its way
under the door. 1t seemed, at first, like
a knife blade, for the edge was thin, ant
reflected back the light. 1t moved slow
ly toward u little blue satin slipper
which had been thrown carclessly nea
the door.
"What can it be- thought Leon. 81
it a knife? No, for it is divided into TIVE
parts. And now it divides again-an,
yet again What can it be? 1t is SOM
liquid
The thing slowly crawled toward tn
little blue slipper. 1t cncircled its heel
1t stained its front. 1t was liquid. !
was liquid of strange and unmistakabl
color--thc color OF blood.
For long time Leon lay and gaze
upon the stained slipper and the reddis
stream which cncirclel it. lie picture
to himself the corpse lying in tn
next room; its discovery the followin
morning; the door opening into the rool
of which the bolts were on his side; tn
blood stained slipper. These thing
, passed through his mind. and col
: sweat started out upon him. lie attemp
ed to rise, and hide the slipper; rs Il
, did so, his wife awollc, and started wit
alright as she felt his icy hand.
"NNhat is the matter?' she cried.
Leon explained the terrible situatio
in which they were placed, lie aro,
, and attempted to remove the tell-ta
, stains from the slipper, but it w
, useless.
Day was breaking Already the Sc
wants were moving around the hotel
> a few hours the crime would be disco
, ered,and the officers of the law would |
I upon them.
"Aas," said Leon, ''our only hope
: this At eight o'clock the train leav
for Paris. If the Euglishnans body
, not discovered before that time we a
q safe. We will take the train, and 10
/ ourselves in the great city. There Y
v shall be safe,
y, His weeping bride flung herself upC
his bosom She felt almost rs thous
she had committed the deed,
!. But there yet remained two mort
hours before the train left. At ea
, step in the corridor they both trembl
! with alright. They made their prep;
i atons for departure, Icons bride wis
y, ed to burn the bloody slipper, but he II
y trained her, and concealed the slipper
i his person,
Seven o'clock sounded, The hotel W
II again alive with bustling servants. lie
n forced his wife to take n cup of coffee,
,e though she declared that her parch
throat refused to swallow, They tn
,r descended to the waiting room, and lie
IN demanded his bill The host present
Il it, aud begged his pardon for the no
Il. of the previous evening. Leon assul
", him that they had passed very gu
night,
IL "Well, Tam glad of it" said the no
re "howeyer yourneighbor on the left did
IL disturb you much, I'll be bound, II
of sleeping like dead man yet"
er Leon shuddered, His wife grasped
of arm conyulsively,
N "IIe's an English MILFORD contnl