Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-02
ONE OR TW02
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CHAPTER I.

y
trasn-car was trundling slowly in from
San Paolo Fuerl lie Muir The flicker
ing ligh. OF the lamps fell upon the dingy
habits Of six monks on their customary
wsy'into Rome for the night. couple OF
peasants, and two foreigners the one an
English. gentleman Of. about thirty, the
other an American somewhat younger. A
thunderstorm was without, largo drops
OF rain we're already falling thickly upon
the windows, which the light within
turned 90 slate color. A light cloud OF
tobacco smoke was curling about tho
heads OF several of the passengers, the
Americans big cigar outdoipg the cigar
cites of the others. lie had soon found
out that the Englishmsn had been visit
inc the English cemetery at the request
OF friend he had left in Naples, and not
70 see Keats tomb, which had been his
own object. This led him 20 ask as
many questions about Naples as he
could think OF and TO express his Curl
osity concerning the object OF an lnde-
pendent traveller having chosen that
time for visiting Naples, then heavily
stricken with cholera.
"They quarantined you, sir, guess,
he remarked.
81 was fearfully fumigstcd, answered
the Engishmap Then he went on to
cxtol the wonderful exertions OF his
friend. the Swedish doctor there, and to
say that he himself had fallen i'll ana
had been sent away 0s no longer OF any
use. The subject was interesting, and
tbev discussed IL until an interruption
occurred.
The bell sounded. the car stopped,
and man entered quickly, with the rain
running down in rills from his hat and
shoulders, and seated himself opposite
the two, who Ike himself were To-
reigners.
There is always something that strikes
one a. weird IN lighted vehicle moving
along through dark night The con
trast of the rain. darkness, and storm
rnu,terinRs without and the glitter
within. in which the silent living figures
showed mp 10 vivid light and shade,
struck the Enghshman with fresh force,
es the newcomer arrested his special at
tention bv something he could scarcely
define. and at once attracted and re-
ms sombre, brilliant eyes fixed upon him
under the shnde Of felt hat An alb
snrd fancy struck him that he WAS ira
yelling with being from another world,
who was somehow bound up IN his
own fate. He watched him furtively,
and SOW him lean forward with IN in
different air 10 read the initials on the
small vsllse he himself he'd between his
feet. The American. who had done the
same. observed TINS too, and said 70 his
neichbor "NoW, sir, | never remember
seeing such queer letters as yours FOR the
initials Of on Englishman, as take yon
70 be.
The Young man laughed slightly at
this frank curiosity. 40. .. q. Well,
nerbans II is m unusual combination. |
never heard OF another family called by
nv name. Ouestin. though for all that
We ,lo not boast any special blueness IN
our blood.
The car stopped again and the con-
ductOr looked 10, goshculalng TO the
latter conner. He, however, shook his
head AMI signed to bin to 80 on, and no
one got out until the car reached ITS
resting-place.
"Sir." said the American, as he
stepped Off the car, "there is my card.
II you ever come to the States there IS
one man there who will give you vel
come. or any other man who has been
risking his life by his own free Will
among cholera victims, as | guess you
have. and that msn is 'Septimus :. Per
kius'" Whcrewith he nodded, and
Shining his card into the other man.
hand disappeared under his umbrella.
The Englshmaa did the like and
thought no more of ). ). Perkins until
three days later he met him again.
Say" began Mr.. Perkins, "do you
ever carry such a thing as double about
with you ?"
Mr.. Questin, surprised and amused,
demanded an explanation.
"Only." rejoined Septimus Perkins,
"that gentleman who got into the tram
car with MS Tuesday evening was, | take
il, cut out OF the same bit OF cloth as
Yourself, without any alterations You
must he a good sort that a couple OF you
are needed in the world. You look at
yourself in the glass next time you feel
at loggerheads with mankind, and there
you'll see him.
81 fancied the face was familiar to me,
but didn't think Of my OVID" said Mr..
Questin.
But l guess that don't matter, il you
were not out too late that same evening,
went on Mr.. Perkins; "you look like
wanting quinine and brandy pretty
stiff"
Questin acknowledged that he had not
felt very we'll since that he had been
imprudent coming back so late, and that
he was not sufficiently recovered from
his illness in Naples TO take such liberties
with Roman shutdown.
This was the extent Of his acquaintance
with Septimus Perkins, but it carried
with it certain consequences, to be here
after developed.
A fortnight later on the night mail for
Paris was stopping at the long, dark
platform of Belfolt. on the frontier. All
passengers were called out by the guard,
who ran, lantern in hand, along the
train, aud porters were tumbling out the
luggage in O manner exasperating to the
owners. The chill air smote them as
they descended, bags in hand, unwil-
lngly aroused FROM wraps and slumbers.
Osmund Questin was one OF the pas
sengers. He had taken a fauteuit-tH,
and as il happened that the train was
somewhat empty bad been able by iu-
dicious bribe or two to secure his car
rage to himself. 1t was q dark night ;
the moon raced the heavy clouds and
was oftener than not blotted out by them.
he could not sleep and had been watch
ing her sunk in her pale-blue halo, the
brown and silver edges of the clouds
sweeping along to ali appearance with or
over her. Then lighting a small travel
ling-lamp he wrote post card, which he
handed to the inspector when he gave
up bis keys with doucebr for the trou-
BILE Of posting it.
He was well-made. good looking fell
low, with strongly-marked features, but
now looked punched and colorless, and
dark about the eyes.
lie shiveied and buttoned his coat
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