Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-07

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the inclination to disobey that Injunction
was every instant intensifyinz. Yet, il she
were sleeping as placidly as she seemed 10
sleep 10 would be cruel to disturb her; and
he was man OVERLOOKING with the milk OF
human kindness
he took out his Tennyson and cut the
leaves, puzzling out a few lines here and
there by the uncertain lamplight This
helped him to while away a quarter Of an
eour, He looked at his watch. God be
praiSedl fifteen minutes more and the train
was due at Milldale What bliss to deliver
that poor creature into the keeping Of her
friends-to have done with that mufled
figure and that unseen face ~foreverl
The train was fast approaching the juno
ton; seven minutes more alone remained Of
the hour, and this night mail was famed for
its punctuality.
Just at the last that feeling Of morbid
curiosity which had been tormenting the
curate for the greater part Of the journey
became IN irresistible impulse He changed
his seat to that directly opposite his silent
companion Here he could see the form OF
the delicate features under the blue veill
How cruelty illness had sharpened that out
line The girls ungloved hand hung list
lessly over the morOcco-covered arm which
divided her seat from the next Such g.
pallid hand, so nerveleSs in its attitudel
Something, he knew not what, prompted Mr..
Caulfeld to touch those pale fingers h
bent over and laid his hand lightly upon
them.
Great God, what an icy hand! He had
felt the touch Of death on many q sad oc-
caSion in the path Of duty, but this was
c,ilor thar Iaofh fRSa1F A cry Of bor-o-
hurst from his lips He snatched aside the
gauze veil, and saw a face purpled by the
awful shadow OF death
"Mildale Junction. Change hero for
Broughborough, Mudford, Middlebridge,
Sloughcombe-n and q string OF names
that dwindled into silence far away along
the platform
George Caulfeld sprung out Of the rail
way carriage ike a man distraught. He
seized upon the nearest guard.
@For Gods sake, tell ma what to dol" he
cried. "There is a lady in that carriage
dead or dying. Indeed, / fear she is ac-
tually dead. She was placed in my charge
by a stranger at GrandcheSter. Shs is 10
be met by friends here. 1t will be an awful
shock for them-near relatives, perhaps
How am I 70 find theml How am I to break
the sad news to themf'
He was pale to the lips, cold drops Of
sweat were on his brow. All the peut-up
excitement OF the last hour burst from him
now with uncomfortable force. The guard
was as calm as q man Of iron.
GFetch the station master here, will your
he said to a passing porter. Sad thing,
sir" be said to the curate; ~bat you'd better
keep yourself quiet Such misfortunes will
happen. Wen get a medical man here
presently. 1 dare say there's one in the
train. Perhaps the lady has only tainted
Hadn't you better step inside and sit with
herP
They were standing at the door of the car
riage. George Caulfeld glanced with a
shudder at that mufiied figure in the farthest
corner.
No." he answered, profoundly agitated,
Al could do nogood. l e there is no hope.
l fear she is dead"
mo re.atiOn of yours, sir, the ladyf asked
the guard, s~crutinizinG the curate rather
curiously.
Al never saw her till to-night;" and then,
in Hurried accents, Mr.. Caulfield related tho
circumstances of his departure from Grand
chester.
II 10 GNIho Tux AeoNoA oS~~ Wv
guard, without vouchsaflng any comment
on the curate's story.
The station master was a busineSS-lk
man OF commanding presence, and Dir
CaulfeId turned TO him Us if for protection
what am l to dor 10 asked, when the
guard had briefly stated the case.
Nothing, | should think" answered tho
49, - Ill. nl.k v.nrfl hatfor
! stay TO see the upshot Of the business WherO
are tho lady's friends, I wonderl They
ought to havo turned up b. this time.
johnson, just you 60 along the platform to
inquire for anybody waiting to meet n lady
from Grandchester, and send some one else
along tho line to inquire for a doctor"
The guard departed on his errand; the
station master stayed. In three minutes q
porter came, followed by an elderly man,
bearded and spectacled. Medical gentle
man, sir said the porter.
The doctor got into the carriage and
looked at the lady.
Bring me u better light" he asked, and a
lamp was brought.
A crowd was collecting by this time, trav-
elers who scented some excitement, and
thought they could not make q better use OF
I kuGAE EtLlllllLLil ANb AAAllluNcn AAdh ~ Ao
out all about it
You'd better send for the police" ex'
claimed the doctor, reappearing at the door
of the carriage. This is a bad case"
@How do you meant inquired the station
master.
"I mean that this poor creature has died
from the effects Of a narcotic poison"
@Great heaven!' cried the ~curate; Il had a
preSentiment there was something wrong.
The doctor and q porter lifted the mutiled
figure out Of the carriage and conveyed 1t TO
the nearest waiting room. Three minutes
more and the train would be moving.
Apolice constable appeared as If by magic,
and planted himself at the curates side.
The guard came back.
Nobody here to meet the lady" he said.
EThere must be a mistake somewhere"
what am 1 to dor demanded George
Caulfeld, looking helplessly from the station
master to the doctor. ,
keep yourself as quiet as you can,
should say" answered the station master.
sBut. good heavensl / may be suspected
Of being concerned in this poor creatures
death unless her friends appear to verify my
statement All, by the by, her brother gave
me his card. can tell you her NAME, at
any rate"
He took the card from his breast pocket
and handed it to the station master.
&Mr. Elsden, B~riargate," the man read
aloud
sElsden." said the doctor. Il know an
ElSden, of Briargate-a big man with large
white whiskersf' he Intercepted, turning
10 the curate.
%No, this was q young man; pale, dark,
good-looking."
GAh, l don't know who he can be. ThereIl
have to be an inquest tomorrow morning,
and the best thing we can do is to telegraph
to Elsden, Of B~riargste, directly the office Is
open. Very strange that the lady's friends
should not lave appeared"
Il shall lose my train" cried George Caul-
field, seeing the last hngerers hurryfng to
their pieces Here's my card, handing one
TO the doctor. "You can communicate to
me at that address Any assistance that
can give
- y so,I fha copcfabla