New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-01
IL.
THE LETTER OF ROYAL PURPLE.


Il WIS square room, full OF windows and doors-it
see ned to be all doors One juttng bay window over
looked the direction Of his late approach the Windows
were shut down and the shutters barred Opposite the
door by which had entered large double door with
glass in upper sashes appeared TO lead out upon an
annexed piazza; ii also closed and the curtain OF
one side pulled up awry. Doubtless view OF the river
and harbor obtainablc from such vantage Within
the crate opposite the bay window low IRE was giln-
mering; it was almost ont. "Assnredly q very warm
welcome murnured Beverin. he stood there specn'
lating about his peculiar reception door just beyond
the fireplace stood slightly ajar 1t led apparently into
another of equal size, where another lamp was
similarly burning BeYern's curiosity led him to take
peep insidefancying that the Grant Carroll might yet
discovered at late supper Nobody there Mearled
and disappointed he sank INTO comfortable arm chair
drawn up to the table which bore the lamp and looked
about him Surely Carroll would be in soon. and he
would there and wait for him What queer house
all open this way huner-sorms and thieves; but
then Carroll always was eccentric never ala thhgs IKE
ANYBODY else His eyes r0ved around the walls they
we're decenty decorated and neat mating covered the
floor An engraving which overtopped the mantepiece
region engaged his thoughts for awhile lie tried 10
unravel why Scotch assie, in rather limited COS
tune was gazing spread OF water; he won
dered what the picture was meant to convey. Some
thing from Scott, suppose. said he settling the doubt
His gaze wandered to the other pictorial specimens
They were not noteworthy One was damaged engrav-
church. There also two pieces OF framed tapestry
which caused him to grin, one representing ruined
abbey with blue walls which very light green Ivy
was clambering tpossblY moonlight efecD and the
other a pastoral love scene wherein pretty mknaid
| bestowed rose upon hu1ng ploughboy over mas
todon fence the landscape very small In proportion to
the mammoth figures peopling It, Heirlooms," said
| Beverlin with a slight laugh.
Under of these specimens of antiquity piano,
| with the lid raised was diagonally placed Beverlin
| was surprised that book OF schuberts waltzes was
open the rack, and vast pile of music, songs and
opera scores mislald across the cover.
"Ah, yes Carroll did have a tuneful turn-come to
think OF IL; nothing out OF the way hQwever-auite
commonplace suppose he keeps up this sort OF thing
by way OF mpressng the provincial mind with sense
OF his accomplishments. Oh the charatanry OF the sly
old dogl But no. l had quite forgotten the sombre
Amelia, who may possibly seek nepenthe In music, now
and then"
Proceeding around the room his eye encounteredea
whanot" upon which the conventional Shells photo
graphs, rosaries, Chinese trash and cards were
crammedly disposed. Next a bookcase-but wait; IL
was necessary investigate what sorts OF books Carroll
read these days-his literary resources. Novels
Surely no. this the possible indulgence OF the pale
student of the midnight lamp Formerly Carroll had
scorned tlis sort OF thing-but tastes change These
most of them the vsriest trashwonans books III
you like Possibly TO touch Ameiias lighter fancies
he commented All yes these shelves now; they were
Spencer Buckle, Byron innumerabe historical, bio
| graphical works, and bound magazines. This
Carroll all Again seating himself with weary
SIGH not unnged with hunger he proceeded to over
look the objects the table In order to Ill up the time,
as we'll CLEAN further items of the personality OF his
friend from his chattes Besides the heavy metal lamp
thereon there placed various gift books at the
corners in stiff, conventional manner; ornamental
ipkstaud together with sham silver affair for holding
fowors which spray OF hOneysuckle was at present
arranged, filed up the intervening spaces Hold what
was that on the other side Apparently knife. but OF
such exquisite workmanship as displayed foreign
orign-a dirk perhaps stet!o at any rate entirely
| unlike ANYTHING OF the kind lie had seen before.
He reached for 1t and about TO grasp it. when he
perceived that 1t firmly mbcdded In an alligator
writing pad he could not from his position draw 1t
forth 1t seemed 10 have been placed there not by acc
dent with design; and his eye swept down tho
short gtterng blade he felt cold shvering sensation
which he speedily repudiated as little better than
species of cowardce. He walked around the table,
seized the pad with Its murderous pO1iarI and had
soon regained his scat What beautiful mingng OF old
silver and copper IN the ntertwisted handle; what
tracery, what purity Of invention! He turned 1t all
| about and examined It critically. But the blade, not
very shayp not In any sense dczth-dealing perhaps
only cherished paper knife Thus ne dismissed the
momentary thought OF lurking bandtti or midnight
assassns from his mind He turned the pad about and
was on the point OF replacing the knife when his qnok
sight detected writing across the surfacc which he
Immediately recognized as CARROTS familiar
ehrography Il was with sense OF vast relief that Lie
deeiphcred tho following words:
IF Hunter Bevorlin arrives I'm my absence, please
that he has everything 10 make nm cenforIaDe . AM
unavoidedly detained. CARROLL
! To whom was this written II 10 Amelia, why wae
she thus negligent Of the dnties Of hospitality to
possible butler. why fellow here 10 IN at
everything was attended toi An, here were further
orders down below; but these were wntteu violet ink
| IN an extremely Uniformed and shAky hand-and con-
veycd Information TO this surprising effect:
"He IL doom predsstIned to miserable unfortu
nate and lingering fate. The hat has forth, that
mIduight LQur blood hhklL daIkCn The