The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-03-01


The winters here, the winters here
But love-time lasts the year my dear!
AMELIE RIvEs.
4 DREAD ten MINUTES.
1t happened one afternoon last
year, during the month OF December,
that I received telegram calling for
my presence in London the next
morning on an important business
matter. TO such summons there
was but one answer possible, SO with
Just regretful thought for a card
party should have to forego I wired
back this reply:
Mr.. J. Devon, Anderson's Hotel, Lon.
| don: Shall leave Burtown by the IL to-
night, and will call on you to- o-morrow at
SIS. KNIGHTLY.
Having dispatched my message l
finished Off the days work with all
speed, and then returned to my lodg-
ings to make preparations for my
| journey. These. as the masculine
reader need not be told, consisted
principally OF craming a soft cap and
a spirit flask, together with a few
other necessaries, into a carpet bag,
after which followed the discussion OF
q hearty meal and the delivery of an
exhortation to my landlady to feed
my fox-terrier, Grip, at his usual
hours.
The remainder of the evening was
spent in skimming over the morning
papers, wherein found little to inter-
est me. In disgust flung it on the
floor. 1t alighted at a graceful angle,
on whose apex appeared the heading,
conspicuous as loaded type could
make it: Shocking Wife Murder in
Burtown-Arrest of the Murderer"
With a mental apology to the pub
fishers of the Chronicle for the injust-
ice I had done them as caterers to the
public craving for horrors, I picked
up the paper and began to digest the
"harrowing details"
The gist of the news was as follows:
An abandoned ruffian, Chippy Wat
son by name, had, after the fashion
of his class, beaten in his wife's skull
with a mallet, in consequence of some
domestic disagreement. Having COM
mitted the deed, he colly put on his
coat and hat, and was proceeding to
depart, when the neighbors and
police, attracted by the screams
of the unfortunate victim, rush
ed in and secured him. This
| was all, or nearly all the paragraph
contained, except for the usual infor.
nation that "the prisoner will be
brought up before the magistrate this
morning, charged with causing the
willful murder OF his wife,
1t was now past 11-time for me to
make my way down to the station;
rather more than time, in fact, since
the imposing structure was distant
from my lodgings by fully two miles.
Fortunately my bag was light. and 1
shared in its pleasing characteristics
OF being unburdened by superfuous
weight. None the less, on reaching my
destination there was only one min
ute left wherein to take my ticket and
secure seat. The latter operation,
thanks to the slowness OF the booking
clerk in handing me my change, had to
be accomplished by running the gaunt-
let OF the guards and porters as the
train began to move.
No sooner had l ascertained that
my limbs were uninjured by theuncer-
monious fashion in which the railway
officials had assisted" me to my seat,
than discovered that the only other
tenant of the compartment in which
was ensconsed was a young lady, and
one, moreover, OF no small beauty.
Now, am shy man as far as the
fair sex is concerned. Among men,
have self-possession enough and to
spare, but in the presence of ladies
that self-possession vanishes with
most uncalled for rapidity. In the
presence of ladies, yes; but here there
was but one, who was bound to keep
me company for whole hour, until
the train should make its first stop.
So it happened that, as contemplate
ed the charms of my vis-a-vis from be-
hind the evening paper, which I had
time to buy on my flight to the sta
tion, q measure OF my courage return
ed, and in the inspiriting words OF Mr..
Gilbert, said / to myself: "I'll take
heart and make q start; faint heart
never won fair lady"
II trust you were not ALARMED by
my unceremonious entry?" l remark.
ed with some inward misgivings, but
much outward assurance.
For answer. q quiet stare and q
slight contraction OF the pretty
mouth of my. ompanion-indicating
her opinion that, as stranger and
unintroduced, I had no right to speak
to her.
This to the ordinary male animal
was the moment for strategic attack
upon the fair ones scruples; for me it
was the exact opposite-the moment
for fight, had fight been possible. Os-
trich-like, buried my face behind
my newspaper-there being no sand
available-and in few moments
heard to my relief, corresponding
rustic from the opposite side Of the
carriage as my pretty prude followed
| suit. The sense OF defeat and dis
grace fairly overwhelmed me for q
while, and my eyes wandered over the
paper held in my hand, seeing but
understanding not what they saw.
At length they lighted upon familiar
name, "Chippy Watson" and their
owner recovered his senses and al.
most forgot his grief as he read the
following lines:
1.-THE Burtown Murder Escape Of
the Prisoner" After detailing the in.
cidents Of the hearing before the mag
| istrRte and the remand Of the prison
er, pending the inquest, the paragraph
/ went on Is follows;
ION leaving the court. Watson was
conducted between four officers to the
van. just rs hewas stepping in, and
| when the policemen were endeAvoring
to keep back the crowd that pressed
round the prison, suddenly snapped
his handcuhs insome inexplicable man.
] ner, and, knocking down the consta-
-- IL