The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-02-24

uung them out OF the window into the dark,
after which he crept on his knees and looked
under the seats to see II anything else had
been left. He found nothing Pitabie as
his agony Of mind then was, he saw the ne
cessity for composing himself, and sat down
again, trying to reflect Had any OF the pas
sengers in the other carriages heard the7girl
shrek Had any one seen her fsllP If so,
he was a lost man. He would be arrested at
Birmingham, and in due time he would be
hanged or sentenced to penal servitude for
the better part of his life. How would his
story be believed? and, II it were believed,
how would it justify him ? The public out
cry against him would be all the greater as
he was clergyman, and now that he had
thrown the girls things out Of the carriage in
the first moment Of his panic the evidence Of
criminal intention would seem complete.
why did 1 throw the things out 2" faltered
MI Gloam, speaking TO himself, and then he
groaned again my God, what shall do7''
It was between bennington and Birmlng-
ham that the girl had fallen out Of the train.
As the express neared Birmingham the ten
sion of Jude Gloam's nerves was such as few
men ever experience. Within five minutes
he endured an amount of terror ana anguish
enough TO extend over a life time y ct be had
the craft to see that all hrs chances Of escap-
ing unsupported might depend upon his be
havior when the train stopped. He must
aliCht coolly; he must not run nor appear
anxious to get away he must control his
terror though his heart throbbed to bursting.
The train glided into the station the pOr-
ters ran along the platform opening doors
one Of them opened Er. Gloam's carriage.
''Any luggage, sir % yes, I have some
luggage" said Mr.. GIoam, and he stepped
out shaking in every limb. but apparently
sedate and calm, as It behooves a clergyman
to be. The next moment he was mixed up
with the throng Of people who were foraging
for their trunks and portmsnteaus.
No one paid any attention to him. He
heard no one talk about shrielzs having been
heard during the journey. The passengers
ali attended to their own business and left
him to his. Mr.. Gloam's business was to
collect a portmanteau, a box and a hamper
having done this, he-turnedt to ask porter to
call cab for him, but as he was about to
speak his words froze on his tongue, for he
saw standing beside him girl who was the
very image Of Miss Ayiss.
If the girl had looked at him she must have
noticed his confusion, but she was glancing
toward an elderly gentleman and lady who
were walking toward her.
'Here's her box, papa, but have not seen
her pass" said the girl to the elderly couple.
eve have looked into every carriage"
said the gentleman addressed as papa, "but
she hasn't come. suppose she missed the
train
"But how comes her box to be here ?''
''Wasn't there a change Of carriages some
where between this and London 90 suggested
the elderly lady. 81 think there's change
at Didcot. Perhaps she got out there, and
afterward entered the wrong train"
How very provoking =" exclaimed the
girl.
Il daresay we shall find a telegram wheu
we get home" said the elderly gentleman
'but we must ask the station master TO take
care Of Mary's box until she comes TO claim
it."
Mr.. Gloam had glanced az the box beside
which the girl stood. and he saw on it a card
with the name "ATi5s Mary Aviss." The
miserable man shrank as the father, mother
and sister Of the poor girl with whom he had
Travelled passed him. Then he helped the
porter to lift his portmanteau, and walked
with him 70 a cab. he had six mile drive
before ne could reach his parish of Rorleigh,
which was on the outskirts Of Birmingham.
However, the drive was accomplished in safe
ty, and that night was spent By Nj. Gloam
sleeuless in his new parsonage.
The body OF Miss Aviss was found dead
on the line early OF the following day, and
afterwaTd her travelling bag was discovered
twenty miles further down the line. But for
this discovery Of the bag the poor girls death
would have been attributed to accident as
it was, when il became demonstrated that
somebody must nave had share in her death,
nobody accused the Rev. Jude Gloam. Nor
was anybody else accused. The porter who
put Mr.. Gloam into the carriage at oxford
had not noticed that there was young lady
in the compartment, aud simply owing 10
this slight fact Of non-obscrvstion the story
of Mary Aviss's death was fated to remain
mystery.
1t became known in time, however, to one
man, to whom Mr.. Gloam communicated the
facts in writing some five years after they
had happened. BE ended his letter by say
ing: 81 have lived in n purgatory Of re-
morse and sorrow ever since that awful right.
and am thankful to think ] shall soon be rid
Of my load" He vas dying when he wrote
this of a decline brought on by oveTwork In
his parish and he left behind him the repu-
tation Of being the most earnest, Jealous
kindest, and also the saddest rector whom the
people Of ROrleigh had ever seen.