The South western news., 1888-01-18

thus policeman may spy lilsa out ar
take him into custody.
Safel Alb, yes, he VIII be safe enough
the bad penny always COMES me aeain
turned and walked l,a:k doug th.
dock. He did not hcaT me. stool b.
hind him; he did not see Inc. Thrn
gave him sudden push with the palm
of my hands against his hack, a1ld ther
he was there no more; aud darker am
deeper and more silent than before til,
river seemed to flow toward the sea.
On my way home passed the police
man. He gave me strange look. 20.
a moment | Thought bo WAS about /.
approach me, and he followed me II It'd
way, or [ fancied so; bat then my con
science was not what it had been Hith
erto policeman had been nothing tx
me.
All the next day I never went neal
the window On the next day | Isl
upon the bed in sols of low fever. o.
the third day letter vas slippea
through the little slit in nay door.
was from Isabelle.
my husband is dead, it said. "II
was drowned i'll drunken frolic.
cannot pretend much grief; but do no
come to see me for week After tina
as you choose.
For week ! remained alone; then
sought her side. So long widow, j
5act, and living as she did among stral
gers. No delay was necessary; but for
the crime that rested upon my conscience
1 should have been happy; but, alas
could not forget the deed that [ had
done. Vainly argued with myself that
had rid the world of an incumbrance
that l had saved Isabelle from a base
tyrant-5hat the man was but a curse to
himself. Despite this sophistry, saw
the writing on the wall that gave my
deed its proper name Blood red-it
cleaned before mel Murder! Murder!
Murder! Yes, was murderer! And
though Isabelle was TO be my OVID, /
was miserablel
The day Of our wedding came. We
Went together to the church with two
friends only. She wore white dress
and white blossoms in her black hair.
How beautiful she was.
Before lis stood the clergyman, ven
cradle man with long white locks. He
began the ceremony THUG:
Clearly beloved, We are gathered to-
gether in the sight of God, and in tho
face of this congregation to join togcth-
er this man and this woman in holy
matrimony-"
There he paused. The book Cropped
from his hands. saw all eyes fixed
on something behind me, and turned.
There stood the policeman | had passed
as | left the wharf, and the next moment
his hand was upon my shoulder, and lie
said:
"You are my prisoner
L came to myself in perfect darkness.
L was lying on bed of some kind, and
as recalled what had happened had nc
doubt that it was the pallet of prison
cell; but what had occurred, where was
my bride, my Isabelle? What did she
know How did she regard me2 Alas,
L could not tell. I put my head upon
my hands and wept bitterly.
1t was very desolate, very wretched.
l had no words for my misery, and the
darkness was intolerable. Suddenly l
remembered that had habit of keep
ing matches in my vest pocket. If |
could find my clothes | might at least
see what sort of place | was in.
1eIt about aud soon laid my hands upon
my vest. Matches were indeed there.
struck one. 1t lighted but p short dis.
lance, but things seemed more familiar
than L expected. 1 struck another. A
lamp stood on the table, lit it and saw
my own room. 1t was exactly as usual.
My engraving tools We're upon the table
crossed the room and looked at the
block lying there. 1t was the Sultan
and Lady Miranda mutually astonished
at each others appearance. I rubbed
my eyes and shook myself. Then ]
felt under my pillow for my watch. It's
hands pointed to twenty-five minutes
after twelve.
u had been asleep for twenty minutes,
and l had bad queer dream. had
rescued no distressed woman.
L had known no Isabelle had
woced and won no one, and, THANH
heaven, | had not murdered anybody.
It was all the work Of the pretty pho
tograph colorer at the opposite window,
and perhaps of my aunt's magical
rhyme.
Never was mortal man more thankful
than | when I had fully mastered this
delightful truth. I returned to bed
again, and this time slept dreamlessly.
/ saw the pretty girl next day, and
was interested enough in her to dis
cover who she was She was Miss
Jones, and her "sensibility" was not,
like that of Sir Charles Grandison's sis
ter, equal to her charms;" besides, she
was engaged to young hair-dresser.
She was not my fate, after all, and
suppose was mistaken about falling in
love with her at first sight; at all events,