Western Kansas world., 1885-07-11

ing myself upon my couch hid my fac
| in my pillow, trying to shut out the lool
of her dying eyes. Not until day broK
did I fall in tortured sleep, awakenln
from which toward midday with star
1 tried to persuade myself that tn
events of the night were nothing but
dream. But there is the drawer, wher'
l bad locked them on going out, were tn
gold pieces, silent but eloquent REMIND
er of my misfortune. SeiziIg the purs'
with feverish fingers, I set out for ioni
tramp in the environs of the city, deter
mining to bury the accursed thing out o
my sight forever. In remote spot on
solitary hillside made its grave, wish
| ing that too might rest beneath tne
sod. As walked home hunger and 1a
tigue overpowered me. gave my las
bit OF copper to q woman who was milk
ing her COW, receiving in return
draught of the foaming fluid. This sus
tanned me to reach home again. and II
the street met an old comrade, who
rallying me on my wild looks, invited
me TO breakfast. As I had had no sup
per the night before, poor human nature
urged me to accept, and with the hot
| coffee, the rolls, thefru and the omelet
| a semblance of comfort stole into my
heart. While talking with my friend an
undercurrent of thought about the trag'
edy kept tapping up over every othes
subject, as tie tide comes in that moth
ing can hold back, Then it occurred to
me to wonder if the brother, finding my
mission unaccomplished, would not re-
turn to demonstrate with me, and to take
away the money had not earned.
How could explain to him the reason
of my failure and my flight? Yes, surely,
he would come to seek me, and as an
honest man it was my duty to face him.
As to explaining to him, that was an
other matter. Only one person in the
world could have told him that my
knife was plunged into living breast
and not dead one, and she would speak
no more. Why harrow her survivors
with the unavailing knowledge OF her
brief return to life? After all l had acted
without knowledge and at the instiga-
ton of the one who loved her best. Ger
tainly he loved her, as brothers rarely
love their sisters, it seemed to me. / re-
called the shudder with which he turned
from brief glance at the bed of death,
and the sob in his voice that came, ap-
parently, from mighty grief. Assuredly,
/ should see him again. Even now he
might be awaiting me at my lodgings.
AS rose to 60 my friend, who had
been carelesly looking over journal of
the morning, read aloud paragraph an
nouncing that this was the wedding day
of the young Princess n Russia n
beauty, famous of late in Florentine
society, who was to marry Prince Il,
Roman nobleman, as young, rich and
we'll born as herself. "Let US go to the
church door," suggested Paul, my friend,
"even if we are not bidden. A cat may
look at the king, and all the world may
admire bride alighting from her car
riage." Excusing myself on the plea
that my garments did not entitle me to
a place even upon the pavement, Ibroke
away from him and returned to my soli-
tary room. As I mounted the steps I
walked slower, dre'ding the apparition
of my visitor of the previous night. I
opened the door to find that the room
was empty and undisturbed. But upon
my table lay parcel, and tearing it open
I saw within my bloody knife embodied
in paper on which these words were
written:
Il return to you your property, my
somewhat careless and decidedly ner-
vous doctor. You will probably never
hear from me again, bu. consider your
gold well earned"
A cold sweat broke out upon my brow.
Now indeed had my. feet touched the
waters ofa dark and unknown sea. Could
= ho hn< of N
crime?
*s
1 pass over the anguish of that day.
In the evening, able no longer to endure
my thoughts, l went out to q cheap cafe
where I could venture to ask for SIM
pie meal on trust, since by tomorrow
would arrive the small allowance sent
me by my widowed mother every month.
l asked for little, but ate less. In my
dazed state I was conscious that people
around me were talking excitedly. By
and by some newcomer suggested to
have the story over which they were all
gabbling told connectedly. Thus it was
that, like creature in dream, I heard
of the tragedy with which Florence that
day was ringing-the tale of an infamous
aVLnCh VIC AlSut UoIOIo upon lovely
Princess n on the eve of her we'd
ding day by some unknown miscreant,
who, stabbing her while she lay asleep,
had left her there dead. That she did
not die was a marvel, but the stab,
though deep, was not necessarily mortal.
Clearly the assassip's hand must have
wavered in his aim. Almost Immediate
ly the attendants, reused by some noise
in the princess room, had found her, and
by prompt measures the unfortunate
lady was restored to consciousness. Al
though hardly possible that she could
survive. the physicians yet gave some
hope. Useless to speak of the sorrow
Detailing the noble household of it or the
young bridegroom thus cruelty robbed of
his intended. Much more was printed
and said regarding the murderer, his
motive, and the search for him that was
to be set on foot, but for that care little. |
| was ready to deliver myself up at that
ifit could serve to expose the
william who had used me for his tool. |
When I returned home again to medi- |
tate upon the best course for me to fol- |
nu, four1 ornfhn~ rAfo frov,o <hn ID X