Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-10-01

had my box safely bestowed in the room
usually allotted to me for this purpose by
the proprietor of the House, an old
friend of mine. In the highest of spirits
drank with him bottle of wine to the
memory of my departed friend, and did
justice to an ample supper.
''This gastronomic feat performed, light
ed cigar, and after few minutes chat
with old acquaintance in the Office, I ex-
cused myself and went to my room to un-
pack my samples. Carefully locking the
lay my box on the floor before the window,
all safe and sound as usual. Somehow it
seemed to look newer and fresher than
when T had last seen it-but this impress
sion was only momentary. Taking my
screw driver from my valise proceeded to
unscrew the lid.
81 was surprised to note how hard the
screws turned. It had rained during the
day, and no doubt the dampness had swell
ed the wood. They certainly turned hard
er than ever before, and slowed down the
tempo of the lively song 1 was humming as
I worked to almost dirge. 1t was '"The
Pirate King" from the "Pirates of Pen
zance," and sang:
For ana Pirate King-I AMI ana Pi-
rate King
AS twisted away at the screws. 1t was
not long before / had the last one out. [
showed the screw-driver underneath the lid,
and caroled forth as I raised it,
For I am Pirate King
But there my voice failed me and the lid slid
to the floor with crash. Instead of sam
pies the box contained rosewood casket,
and through the glass plate looked up the
pale, beautiful face of young girl!
"Speechless and motionless with astonish-
ment and dismay, knelt before the box
and stared helplessly at the silent, dead
face for full five minutes. Here was some
thing upon which strangely enough, 1 had
never reckoned, yet something the posi-
bility of which l certainly ought to have
foreseen and guarded against. [ fully ap-
preciated the aWkwardness of the predica-
ment into. which I had got myself. My
box of samples had gone on to the friends
of this poor girl, by some blunder of the
railway officials, and by this time were far
on their way. Ifthe box were opened-and
the chances were five to one it would be-.
and horrible row ensue. The transaction
would be traced back to Chicago and to me,
and nice mess I should be in. The news
papers would TEEN with accounts of my
brutality and, perhaps, some sort of prose-
cution would be set on foot. Horrible !
But was the mistake irremediable? Had
my box already gone on! And if so,
where?
dragged the lid of the box into the light
and scanned it's surface for some address.
Yes, there it was. Strange I had not noticed
it before. Written with a blue marking
pencil along the upper edge of the board
was the lengend:
"'JOHN sHROWL, BURLINGTON, Ia
"And below:
"'PLEASE NOTIFY
''There was chance for me. 1t was pos
sible, in the first place that the train on
which I had arrived did not connect closely
with any western bound train, and that my
box had not left Chicago. Then, too, as the
consignee was, to judge from the inscrip--
tion, expecting to be notified of the arrival
of the box, and as my samples bore no such
instructions-or, for that matter, any at all
they might easily be unclaimed in Burl-
could get them and make an exchange.
"Before replacing the lid I looked for the
usual plate inscribed with the name and
age of the deceased. There was the plate
all right, but to my surprise, it bore no in
scription whatever. The face that looked
mutely up into mine was that Of a young
girl of 10 or 20, strangely winning, and with
more the appearance of sleep than death
upon its delicate features. 1t was with a
feeling of reluctance that l replaced the lid,
and screwed it down again.
This task ended / rose and looked at my
watch. It was s O'Clock, and high time to
be moving in the matter. Donning my
overcoat and hat, turned the key on my
new secret and hurried back to the depot.
1t was necessary to proceed rather cautious
anG 7 snxyonfQ6
suppositious trunk checked through to
Burlington, and draped my investigation
upon this lay-fgure.
II had been obliged to stop over, l ex-
planned to the baggagemaster, and if my
baggage had not already gone through,
would like to have it hold over. Bur
lington,' said he; when did it come in p
'At7.1O, from Detroit replied. Just then
gong sounded, and the familiar All
aboard y echoed through the station. We'll,
said the official, If that's the case, your
trunk would be sent on by No. 3. That's
No. 3d. he added, pointing to a train that
was just leaving the station. The rapidly
receding light on its rear platform seemed
to wink derisively at me as if to say, Too
late, old boy i thanked the baggageman,
for Burlington before S.45 the following
morning, I returned to the hotel
"The first train that sped westward from
Chicago the next day bore me and my
charge. 1 had explained matters as we'll as
1 could to my friends at the hotel, who to
account for my sudden change of plans, had
supposed lady in the case. That my de-
nial of this accusation was disbelieved,
infer from the casual and irrelevant appear
ance of one of the party in the depot at the
early hour of my departure. There acas a
lady in the case, but, thank heaven, nobody
dreamed of the truth yet.
TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.
THE CREATION OF A STAR.-AstronO-