Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-21

novel. and buy penny paper instead. Can
any novel hold ont such promises as those?
Why. that alone he went on, arresting his stick
as the words: HORRIBLE DISCOVERY A lady
supposed 10 hare been murdered in a roil,rov
carriage. The murderer at lar9e"-"that alone
Is sufficient sensation for whole Journey A
three-yOlume romance lies hidden under those
few words. But the truth will out. Sooner or
later the British public will know all about It
Did you ever read De Quincy's Murder Con-
sidered as One Of the Fine Arts2'"
'tNOi" | answered. looking at him in wonder.
and feeling half amused, half surprised at being
so addressed by stranger.
II was quite a young fellow, quite when I
first read II" he went on, 'but it made such an
impression on me that took to studying MUIR
der from that day. Don't be alarmed. only
took to studying it. tell you; and when want
little relaxation for my mind study it now
There's nothing better calculated to take one
out Of ones self than to enter heart and soul
into downright, regular, atrOciOus murder
case. Bless you, there's not one taken place
these fifty years that 1 haven't followed with
absorbing interest and l know more about
them than Judge and jury and all the rest of
himself mayhap! Hal" he exclaimed, :'the
London papers. Now then, for further par
ticulars. And he turned to select some
newly placed upon the stall.
"Leonie What are you doing there? 1
thought had lost YOU Gomez" cried Edrar
speak, a. he dragged me toward the carriage
What could have come over him?
had abundant food for thought for some
time after this The subject of it-Edgar. 1t
was not his appearance only that was changed
1t was himself He was irritable. He looked
harassed. worried. ILL., The important post he
had accepted no doubt brought anxieties and
held responsibilities which weighed on him, and
as yet he had had no chance to explain the ma
tnre of them to me. But, in the meanwhile.
could he not put them from him for a little
space? Was it not rather hard on me that he
should be so taken up with them to-day-our
wedlng-day?"
BLESS me. bless mer' calculated our fellow
Traveller presently, laying down his paper and
turning his beanng cOuntenance full upon me-
II hope you have found the supposed murder
case real one, and as thrilling as you expect
ed sir?" | asked with interest.
i anticipate it will prove the best mental
distraction have had for years." he answered
einphaticav " AS your husband objects to
your reading in the train. young lady, I.will
tell you the facts as far as they have come to
light. On Saturday, when the late train from
the North arrived in London. lady was
found in a first-class carriage. dead under more
than suspicious circumstances. The supposed
murderer"
Murderer? How do you know she was MUIR
dered - interrupted Edgar excitedly
- do not know it. AS yet no one knows it.
am only telling what the newspapers say But
Ill take care / know good deal more before
am many hours older. In the meanwhile. with
your leave. I'll relate
But you have not my leave. On the con-
trary. request you will not mention such-an
unpleasant subject betOre-my wife" How
strange, how uncOurteOus, how unlike all / had
ever seen or heard of Edgar!
Dear me! | am exceedingly sorry I'm sure.
You don't like murders! -
Certainly not. ! late Them"
NhpfpOD the Old man settled himself into hiS
corner to sleep, placid smile upon his good
naturcd face and when | was sure of being
crept closer to Edgar, and slipped
my hand in his. Il wish We Were at our Jour
neyS end | wish we we're far, far upOn the
seal" whispered, hoping thus to soothe him.
'How ferventIy wish it, God only knows"
he answered in the same low tones, drawing me
to him; and | trembied as looked UP into his
anxious face. Suddenly Il terrible scarcely de-
fined fear assaulted me. Edgar" / whispered.
you are not surely afraid that ANYTHING will
will-part us. now ??
You'd y0n allow anything to part us.
Leone: he inquired sadly
NO power on earth!' l answered. And
though he did not speak knew that he believed
NE.
At about quarter to five o'clock the train
Numbered into the railway station at Kings
Cross. The afternoon had been unusually dark
and gloomy. dense fog was setting in The
lamps We're lighted
Our feliow-traveler, rousing from his long
collected his papers and placed them
in his travelling bag As he closed the lid he
took hold OF a label attached and turned it
over, thus exposing the address. Without the
least desire to do so | could not help seeing
what was written. 1t was this: "Septimus
Charing Cross HOtei''-the hotel
we were going to ourselves. He threw his rug
over his arm. took up his bag. then looking
round at us. raised his hat and smiled. The
next moment he was lost in the crowd
ANY luggage. SIR! asked porter, as Edgar
helped Inc out of the carriage.
Yes. Darling stay here moment while /
90 and see to it,
50 saying. my husband went off with the por-
ter toward the luggage van, and | was left
standing under the full glare of a gas lamp,
alUnc
The moments heightened into minutes and
Win every minute the crowd grew less. Cab
AMER cab, close by where j stood laden with
boxes drove of in turn. After what appeared
an axe. at length saw three persons coming
quickly toward me. The middle one was Edgar.
Plainly enough could see three faces in the
gaS-ii9ht My husbands was pale and drawn.
and rs he came quite near noticed q nervous
tWitchng of the lips; though, in spite of it. he
tries! To smile.
:: Darling" he said. with an unsteady voice.
but quite loud enough to reach his companions.
darling i cannot go with you. This-this-
person Indicating one of the men-''wll ac-
company you to the Charing Cross hotel. where
1 te!egraphed for rooms this morning In an
hour or two hope to join you. You may be
sure the business is imperative that takes ME
from YOU"
''Oh, Edgar. BusineSs-Yo,r,"
don't make it harder for ne. Leonie!" And
the sorrowful, pleading tone awed inc instantly
into silent acquiescence.
The two men must have heard each word. but
both kept their eyes averted, and the peculiar
stolfdity on the cOuntenance of the one seemed
to reflect itself on that of the other. With
silent hand-clasp. Edgar and parted. and was
driven OFT in a cab as fast as the crowded state
OF the London streets permitted.
On reaching Charing Cross Hotel. the man
whom Edgar had sent with me on the box onIy
waited to see the luggage in and to know the
number OF the apartments allotted to us-I saw
him enter 1t In his pocket-bOok and then, with
out word to me, he departed.
was shown into a handsome suite Of rooms
ON the first floor. Numerous candles lighted up
the pretty sitting-room, bright fire burned in
the CRATE. near which was small round dining
table laden with fruits and flowers. and covers
laid tor two: The quantity of lovely flowers
made the air heavy with perfume.
A little later on, emerging from the bedroom.
! found waiter removing one Of the covers
He inquired If he should serve dinner then. Not
until my husband came, told him.
Pardon. madam" he said deferentially. ssbut
hn ri