The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-05

whisshRii Review.


press proper names. as well as few of the least
that is matter of no concern. because it is sim
ply true AS to its impossibility. leave that to
be discussed by the credulous. who are SO wise
when they know nothing about matter.
About ten years ago Lady DISH was staying
at q large hotel in a fashionable watering place
on the western coast of France. We will call
the hotel the Lion dor. although that was not
Its name, the Lady Dash's daughter Blanche. as
1t is more convenisns to have real Christian
name than TO subsist on continual initials. The
Dashes had Just arrived with courier and maid
and an immense pile Of luggage, intending to
stay till Easter, when they were due at
home After rather early dinner they spent
the evening In the gardens, and listened to An
excellent band while chatting with some friends
who had lust turned mp. Lady Dash at last said
IL was delightful, but 10 was time to 60 TO bed.
She led the way in her handsome black dra-
peerless lace veil thrown over her white hair.
Blanche followed slowly, 10th to leave the
moonlight on the sea, the pregnant shadows In
the garden, the scent Of flowers and cigarettes
ell the brightness and the beauty outside under
the stars, and shut herself within four walls
with a candle instead of glow-worm. Her
mother glanced over her shoulder to see if she
were following and then disappeared inside the
wideopen doors which led into brilliantly
lighted hall Although the hotel was already
crowded, there were few fresh arrivals stand
ing by the bureau. Blanche looked round with
idle curiosity at the same time that man
turned away from the sort of pigeon-hole. with
the number Of his room in his hand, and
came quickly across the tessellRted pavement
He was rather under the average height, with
broad shoulders. short neck and long arms.
The Light of the chandelier fell full on pair Of
restless eyes, q PALE ordinary face, q short,
dark beard, such as nine Frenchmen out of ten
affect, and scar on the left cheek. Blanche
stood quite still, every scrap OF color leaving
her face, and then ran upstairs as fast as she
could painting and terror stricken. to find her
mother
Lady Dash was quietly taking off her veil when
her daughter burst into the room. She closed
the door behind her, and then said excitedly:
ave must leave this place at ones. wouldn't
sleep here another night If you promised me
thousands Of pounds"
''aIy dear child, what are you thinking Oft
We've just come"
Never mind we must 60 at once. Where's
Mary9p
Eating her supper, ] suppose. You must
be mad to talk of starting off at this time OF
night. Nothing would induce me-" taking a
seat on small sofa, and looking very deter
mined.
But, mother dear'-and Blanche knelt down
by her and seized her hand.
why, child, you are cold as stone! What
Is itP rubbing her fingers gently and looking
down with growing alarm in her agitated face.
''You know my horrld dream, last night her
lips quivering-''how ! thought I being
murdered. just now, in the hall. saw him."
You saw whom2 don't understand"
''The man who murdered me- shaking from
head to foot. II should know him anywhere.
He has scar on his left cheek
but, my dear, this is childish nonsense.
Who pays attention to oreamsf dreamed most
wildly. one night that was shipwrecked. Am
] never to go into boat againp
But that's different. Oh, mother, do you
want to see my throat cutF
Don't ask such horrible questions You
must be reasonable. We can't leave at this
time OF night. Tt would create quite an escian-
DIRE You shall have Mary to sleep on the sofa. "
Mary, who goes into Mysteries at a spider"
Then | will stay with you myself" magnani-
mous,y. Anything to satisfy you"
Blanche assented to this with O deep-drawn
sigh. She could not help seeing the difficulties
In the way OF an immediate departure, but, as
rather have slept in a cow-house than under the
roof Of the Lion dor. Lady Dash could not be
expected to consent to the cow house, so she re-
1uctantly gave way.
The two ladies, having ascertained that they
had sufficient stock OF light and literature and
having securely locked the door. established
themselves In Blanche's bedroom and prepared
for wakeful night Lady Dash's nerves were
on the alert, although she pooh-poohed the
whole affair, and she started uncomfortably
when an old gentleman sneezed on the stairs or
a waiter dropped pair of boots. By and by the
hotel become quiet, the doors ceased to bang and
the last scrap of conversation was slenced. Lady
Dash, after reading or pretending to read for
some time, began to grow drowsy.
About yard from the bed was the door, of
which Blanche had distinct view as she sat at
q little ornamental table placed at the end of the
bed, Lady Dash, when her eyes were open,
could also see the door across the corner of the
bed. but she did not think it necessary to watch
It as her daughter did There was a looking
glass, draped with coarse lace, into which
Blanche felt compelled to look every now and
then. as 1t stood on her right hand. AS the
night wore on she had an uneasy feeling that
there was somebody standing behind her and at
the next glance she would see him reflected in
the mirror. This terror grew on her till she was
afraid to look over her shoulder Her mother
was fast asleep and she felt if she was no pro-
knew it would be cruel. Suddenly
there was a sound; every hair on her
head stood erect, and cold water ran down her
spine. Her heart beat go loud that she could
Hscareely hear anything else Lady Dash had
yoke, and was staring hard at the door, Again
there was sound-an unmistakable cautious
footstepl They did not look at each other. but
kept their eyes fixed in the same direction
Breathlessly they watched. and saw the handle
OF the door turnl Their hearts seemed ready to
burst In the pause that followed. Again Ii was
tried. but the lock resisted; then there was sill
ence Every sense seemed merged in listening
They waited with white faces and clammy hands,
their nerves strung to the utmost point of ten
SIGN; but the murderer-if murderer he we're
was baked, and did not come again.
Lady Dash was never more delighted to see
tho sun than on the bright morning that sue
ceeded that endless night She felt utterly worn
out. but she quite agreed with Blanche that
move TO Pau was advisable If that man we're
Stiii IN the hotel. Mary. having been told of the
wretched night her mistress had passed, urged
her to go to bed now in the broad daylight and
get good rest but Lady Dash stoutly refused
coafessinR to herself, though not to the maid,
that rest would be impossible After hurried
preakfast she sent for M. Paul, the proprietor.
who was dismayed to hear that the apartment
which hal beer engaged for fortnight was to be
threwn on his hands at an hours notice. He
demanded the reason pathetlcslly that Lady
Dash WAS at last induced to to tell him the
facts of the case. Then his face cleared, and he
begged madam to dismiss all uneasness from
her mind AS to the Monsieur with the scar he