Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-18
ONE OR TWO?
MARY DEANE IN LONDON SOCIETY.
CHAPTER l.

CHAPTEk l.
one evening In the April OF 1884, the tram-csr
was trundling slowly in from San Paolo Fueri Ie
Muir. The Pickering light OF the lamps fell upon
the dingy habits Of six monks on their customary
way into Rome for the night, couple OF peasants
ana two foreigners the one an English gentleman
OF about thirty the other an American somewhat
younger. A thunder storm was Without large
drops OF rain were already falling thickly upon
the windows which the light within turned to
slate COLON A light cloud OF tobacco smoke was
curling about the heads OF several OF the passen-
gers, the Americans big cigar out-doing the
cigarettes Of the others. He had soon found out
that the Englishman had been visiting the English
cemetery at the request OF a friend he had left In
Naples and not 10 see Keats tomb, which had
been his own object. This led him TO ask as many
questions about Naples as he could think OF and
TO express his curiosity concerning the object OF
an independent traveller having chosen that time
for visiting Naples, then heavily stricken with
cholera
.Ihey guaranteed you. sir, 1 guess" he re-
Il Was fearfully fumigated," answered the En-
gllshman- Then he went on 10 extol the wonder
ful exertlons OF his friend, the Swedish doctor
there, and 70 say that he himself had fallen I'll
and had been sent away as longer Of any use.
The subject was interesting, and they 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 him
self opposite the two, who, like himself were for
eiyners.
weird In lighted vehicle moving along through
dark night. The contrast OF the rain, darkness
and storm mutterings without, and the glitter
within, In which the silent living figures showed
up In vivid light and shade, struck the English
man with fresh force, as the new conner arrested
his special attention by something he could
scarcely define, and at once attracted and re-
pulsed him. More than once he caught his SON.
bre, brilliant eyes fixed upon him under the shade
OF felt hat An absurd fancy struck him that he
travelling being world
who was somehow bound up In his own fate. He
watched him furtively, and saw him lean forward
small vaIise he himself had between his feet The
American, who had done the same, observed this
TOO, and said 10 his neignbor, Vow, sir, never
remember seeing such queer letters as yours for
the Initials OF an EnglisLman, as take you TO be-
The young man .ughed slightly at this frank
curiosity. 40. q O. Well perhaps IL is an IN
usual combination. never heard OF another
family called by my name, QueStin, though for
All that we do not boast any special blueness In
The car stopped again, and the conductor looked
In, gesticulating TO the latter conner. He however
shook his head, and signed TO him TO go on, and no
one got out until the car reached It's resting place.
'Sir," said the American, as he stepped on the
car, There Is my card II you ever come 10 the
states, there Is one man there who will give you
welcome, or any other man who has been r1sking
his life by his own free will among cholera Victims
as guess you have, and that man is Septimus s.
Perkins" Wherewith he nodded and slipping
his card Into the other mans hand, disappeared
under his umbrella
more OF $. 5. Perkins until three days later he
met him again.
say began Mr.. Perkins, "do you ever carry
such thing as a double about with your"
Mr.. Questin. surprised and amused, demanded
an explanation.
sSOniy" rejOined septimus Perkins .tbat gentle
man who got into the tramcar with US Tuesday
evening was, i take It, cut out OF the same bit OF
cloth as yourself without any alterations You
must be 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 man.
kind, and there you'll see him.
II fancied the face was familiar to me, but
didn't think Of my own said Mr.. Questin.
-But I guess that don't matter, II you were not
out too late that same evening"" went on Mr. Per-
kins: YOU look Ike wanting quinine and brandy
QuestIn acsnowledged that he had not felt very
well since; that he had been imprudent coming
back so late, and that he not sufficiently re-
covered from his illness In Naples take such liD-
critics with Roman sundOwn-
This was the extent Of his acquaintance with
Septimus Perkins, but IL carried with IL cereain
consequences, 10 be hereafter developed
A fortnight later on the night mail for Paris was
stopping at the long, dark platform OF Belfort on
the frontier. All passengers were called out by
the guard, who ran, lantern IN hand, along the
train, and porters were Jumbling out the luggage
In a manner exasperating to the owners. The chill
air sInote them as they descended, bags In hand,
unwillnsly aroused from wraps and slumDers.
OsInund Questin was one OF the passengers; he
had taken a (aUfetiI-iit, and as 1t happened that
the train was somewhat empty, had been able by
a IudiclOus bride two 10 secure his Carriage 10
himself. IL was dark night; the moon raced the
heavy clouds and was Oftener than not blotted
out W them. He could not sleep and had been
watching her sunk in her pale blue halo, the
brown and silver edges Of the clouds sweeping
along TO All appearance with or over her. Then
lighting a small travelling lamp, he wrote a post
card, which he handed TO the inspector when he
gave up his keys, with a douceur for the trouble
OF posting IL
He was weilmade, good-looking fellow, with
strOngiy-marked features; but now looked pinched
and colOress, and dark about the eyes.
He shiyered- and Duttoned his coat tightly round
him
when the cabalistic check marks had been
made, and he had eaten some soup, he FASTENED
back 70 his carriage, which stood beyond the rays
OF light from the infrequent lamps, and threw
himself into the midst OF his fur rugs With
lighted cigarette between his lips, and his furs
drawn closely round. he hoped TO subside gradu-
ally into sleep.
He was weary and inclined to sleep. having
taken some eau de TIE at the refreshment ROOM
into pleasant drOwsness.
The tramp OF feet, the clatIer OF tongues ceased
door after door banged, the train began 10 make
unearthly noises.
just as slow movement passed through its
length Questln started up, fancying he heard his
own door Open- "GLft ga tds" he called out: but
no answer came, and, seeing no moving object he
concluded that IL had been one OF those sudden
starts Tor which circulation or digestion are an
sweraoe, that unpleasantly visit a sleeper in his
own bed as well as In a situation where strange
sound occurs every minute.
SO far osmund Questln.
CHAPTER IL
In small nat on Camden Hill that POSTCARD
was anxiously expected by the young lady to
whom IL was addressed, Miss Garnham. No.
ST Phillips Gardens Vhan =. a.