The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-06-03

OiOod Oozing slowly upon the white cOun-
terpane and the rich carpet beneath. His
wide eyes were upturned to the ceiling,
his white face transfixed with the death
agony.
For a second stood there as if frozen
to the spot. my senses reeling, my hands
clinched in a sudden agony OF mortal ter
ror; then like fash of lightning the
truth swept over me. A terrible crime
had been committed. The responsibility
was to be laid on me. In the morning
the police would come to arrest me.
What vestige OF power would have to
disprove it,?
With sudden, quick energy, born of
desperation, went to my room and dress
ed myself, leaving not the slightest trace
of my presence there. Assuring myself
that not card or a slip of paper was left
as clew to my identity, took my boots
in my hands and crept noiselessly down
the stairway.
"When reached the door beyond the
court, l shrank back in dismay. had
forgotten it would be locked and b,rred
| entered the apartment where | had been
entertained the night before, hoping to
find window unbolted. To my surprise
| heard voices and perceived light ema-
mating from the room adjoining. The
door between was slightly ajar. | walk
ed breathlessly across the room and peep
ed through the crevice.
"Horror of horrors What did | see
there :? The fine, courtly old gentleman
of the night before seated at faro table,
surrounded by molly crowd and my
fine young lady, the brilliant, sweet-voiced
enchantress of the dinner table, dealing ont
faro blanks, opposite!
1t was enough. turned away real
izing then that was in New Orleans.
had gotten into one Of the worst dens of
the French city, and the beautiful Creole
was probably one Of the notorious charac-
ters had so often read of.
No wonder my blood ran cold. What
if could not escape These were desper
ate characters with whom | could not
cope The outlook was terrifying.
81 tried each window cautiously. They
all resisted my efforts to raise them; all
but the last-that yielded little. |
struggled nightly, with the strength of
despair. In doing so my hand touched
spring which had not perceived before.
noiseleSsly, and with a stealthy bound |
leape'l through, landing unhurt on the
ground few feet below.
But what to do rext There WAS that
wall surrounded by its rows of sharp nails
1t would have been madness to have at
tempted to scale it. The gate was barred
and fastened with heavy chain. could
not cry out for assistance; that would
have meant certain death from those des-
perate, dark browed men at the faro table
What should do? Again the cold drops
of moisture dampened my temple. was
frantic. What should do ~
John stopped in his narrative and lit
the cigarette Eugene had handed him a
little while before
"What did you do?" Eugene was i'm
patient of the delay. He leaned forward
anxiously. His own cigarette had gone
out lie had forgotten it in his absorb
ing interest
Yes what did you do 2" Nell repeated
the question with a terrible anxiety in her
brown eyes. Her Kensington lay unheed
ell on the floor, her elbows rested on her
dimpled, eager face. Her breath came
short and last. She awaited the sequel
with sympathizing, anxious eyes.
Why John gave an energetic puff
at his cigarette" awoke !"
Eugene sank back in his chair, and Nell
collapsed physically and mentally, pick
ing up her work with disgusted air.
"Sold, by .Jove!" exclaimed Eugene,
after pause, looking admiringly at his
friend. q" 1t is the best sell Of the sea
son.
"Oh you horrible wretch % cried Nell,
when she had recovered her breath )" AID
so it wss all dream -
eyes," answered John, coldly. 81
awoke in No. lO5, at tt St. Charles,
with Smith asking me if mistook him
for brick wall or a lal p post, that
was pounding him so vigorously"
Nell did not seem to care much for the
sell SO long as the beautiful Creole had
proved myth. The story had awakened
her consciousness little, and she seemed
a little shyer of John for several days
afterward. But | am happy to say that
she was a sensible girl, and when John
asked her if she only loved him for Eu
genes sake" she answered canlidly,
"No." Thus came the sequel to Johns
Story" y"-Eanuie l. &terrick.
Ia Cared a1im Of Kindness.