Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-03-08
IN PERIL.

l won't bore you with a long ac-
count of my early history, but just a
few words are necessary. Up to the
age of seventeen no girls life could
have been happier than mine. My
mother had died in my early child
hood, when l was too young to feel
her loss; and my dear father and I lad
for each other so strong an affection
that never learned to know it. /
cannot tell you how he tried to fill her
place to mellow thoughtful he was,
almost womanly in his tenderness
and care, SO that I might never feel
how great loss mine had been
But all too soon the end came; it
was the old sad story of speculation
hopes so alluring, schemes so plausible,
ending in results so disastrous; and
still almost a child, found myself an
orphan, and except for the pittance of
forty pounds a year saved from the
wreck of my fathers property, de-
pendent upon my own eyertions for a
livelihood. The talent for painting
which inherited had been most care
fully cultivated; but my uncle, who
took upon himself the care of my
future, thought very lightly of it, and
] agreed readily enough to his sug-
gestion that for the present should
take a situation as companion, caring
little then how my life should be ar
ranged. Such situation he had just
heard of, and all preliminaries being
quickly arranged it was settled that I
should start for my new home-in
Scotland-on certain Friday, leav
ing Euston by the midnight express.
At the last moment it was discov-
cred THAT my drawing materials had
not been packed, and had to take
them in the railway-carriage with me.
My fellow-trayele;s from Euston
were three ladies, who, understood,
were going as far as Edinburgh; but
at Rugby they alighted and left me, not
at all to my regret, alone. Not, how
ever, for long, for when the train was
almost in motion again the door was
hastily opened and man jumped in
only just in time.
Engrossed as 1 was with my own
thoughts, I had sort Of uneasy feel
ing that he was looking at me; AID
after struggling against the desire to
raise my eyes for some minutes, at
last looked up. L shall never forget the
effect of that look The man had, in
dress and general bearing, the appear
ance of a gentleman, and there was
nothing noticeable about him except
his eyes. They held mine with a
kind of dreadful fascination, and /
was utterly powerless to look away
Presently he left his seat by the
door and came up to the one opposite
mine at the other end of the carriage
not speaking, but still regarding me
with the same intent and yet wild
look--and, after few minutes, put
his hand into his pocket and brought
out to my intense horror, a small re-
volver Still he did not remove his
eyes from my face, though the express
sion of his own softened little, and a
sort of pitying, regretful look came
over it.
Presently he spoke; and you can
imagine my horror and despair when
knew that was alone in the carriage
the train travelling at the rate OF
more than forty miles an hour-with q
madman
"My dear young lady," he said, 81
regret that very sad necessity is Laid
upon me. 1 shall have to take youl
life p as coolly and calmly as he might
have said, q shall have to open the
window"
/ was too horror-stricken to speak
and he continued
az assure you that it shall be don'
as painlessly as possible-you know i
is very easy death-quite instan
taneous Just think hardly momen
of pain, and all trouble for you owe
foreyerr'
The prospect was hardly 50 consola
toryDto me as he appeared to think i
would be; indeed, l was almost para
I dyzed with terror but with some wilt
idea of gaining time, l managed t.
gasp out:
"But why-why must you kill me
What harm have ever done you o
any one? Inever saw you before r
"You have done me no harm.
regret deeply the necessity laid upol
me, but it is necessity"
"But how? Why?" / calculated
because of ny oath." he said
sternly. IL have sworn to kill ever.
woman I meet with hair the color o
yours, and / cannot break my vow
Besides, after all, it win bea kindness
Am not saving you from her fateg
and his look became 50 wild AM
fierce as he spoke, toying excited,