The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-05-08

ing curtain. And there just beside the
engine, not ten feet distant l saw
what? rubbed my eyes and stared.
drew back and looked at Shelly's bag
gard face in bewildered inquiry, toe
much Mortified to speak, rubbed my eyes
again and looked. Yes, there it was
Was mad or dreaming? Could I trust
my own senses and was there, almost
within reach of my outstretched arm
floating in the air and keeping pace
with our swift motion aconaan's form?
shelly" l whispered, breaking the
spell of terror which was upon me with
an effort What does it mean? What
is this awful thing?"
''See," he replied in tone which
hope never again to hear from the lips
of mortal man while live. "She has
come to accuse me for the deed l did
She has come to exact retribution from
the man who loved her better than his
own SOUL and yet took her innocen,
life."
Shelly, Shellyw cried, shaking SC
violently that could hardly keep my
feet "What are you saying?"
Look" he said, pointing with 6
trembling finger through the open win
dow. 'See what is upon her breast!
did that. I, lost wretch that am, gave
her the blow in my mad jealousy thai
let out her pure young life. And
loved her, oh, Heaven! loved her."
He covered his face with his hands
and I heard him sobbing aloud, as with
clang of wheels and rush of steam We
swept onward. Meanwhile with eye.
starting from their sockets I continued
to gaze at the nameless thing before
me.
Unnerved and distracted though
was, there could be no mistake in what
saw. In the midstof the rolling clouds
Of steam, seeming to be formed out Of
it and at times to melt with it again
the tall, slender form, clad in a long
floating robe of white, was as plainly
visible as the dark bulk of the engine
beside which it loated. It was, as
have said, the figure Of a woman; young,
in the very flower of her early prime,
and beautiful beyond any thing 1 bad
ever imagined. Her long, pale brown
hair Embossed from its fastening, fell
over her shoulders. When the steam
rolled away from before her face,
could see that the eyes were fixed upon
the covering man beside me with an ex
preston of ineffable love and sadness.
And what was that upon the side Of
her white robe, under the left breast
that dark spot, which as the light from
the head-lamp fell upon her spectral
figure turned deep, terrible crimson;
In my horror and confusion had some
vague idea of its significance.
SHELLY, Shelly, for Gods sake tel
me who is that womanp l said. in 9
husky whisper.
He raised his head, and gazing out o.
the window at the weird shape, NUT
tered, in the same awe-struck voice, ap
parently oblivious of my presence:
.'My wife, my beautiful wife, whom
adored and whom falsely accused Of
sin, and in my madness destroyed! For
give me! have suffered, ever since
that awful night I have lived in tor
ment, living an hourly death. Have
not expiated my crime? Have mercy
Have mercyr' .-
Was it the fancy of my excited brain
or did she extend her hands toward.
him with gesture of infinite tender
ncss9 Shelly turned towards me and IL
. voice whose calmness startled me con
tinued:
'sDear friend, my time has come.
| v~aS "a -
beckons for NE. am content I hav,