Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-29
MY TERRIBLE PLIGHT.

l had every reason to be a happy man o,
that July evening in 1SS-, when the mai
train was swiftly carrying me from Liver
pool to London.
was young, my prospects were good, m,
business fourishing, and / was engaged t.
the glrf OF my heart-pretty Betty Daven
port. Her name, by the way, was Eliza Ann
Id compliment to wealthy godmother A
dreadful combination, which its owner ipdir
nantiy repodiated Mr. Davenport was an
engineer, and had lately returned from South
America Betty had the reputation of being
bat of fiirt, and there was certain mer.
chant at Buenos AyFes, James Andrews by
name, whom her bright eyes and clear com
plexlon had entirely vanquished. My sweet
heart always looked serious when the mer-
chants name was mentioned. Poor fellow
On his side, at least, it was no idle Irritation.
Since the fair English girl refused him he
had neglected his business, and was on the
high road TO ruin =. 80
Curiously enough, had been mixed Nh
with his affairs in a strange way. Though
we had never met we knew each other by
name and repute, and as we both were in the
wool trade, l had been the unconscious means
last desperate resource, had planned to save
him from bankruptcy. The attempt failed
he was ruined And, by a strange irony of
fate, the man who had won the girl he had
wooed was instrumental in accelerating that
ruin
So my thoughts ran as the train Numbered
through the black night
AT Rugby another passenger got into my
mar na,7@ Of txyl,, x1 r
the sole occupier. l had read the evening
paper down TO the advertisements. and had
re-read Betty's last letter, so the prospect of
a chat was welcome one The newcomer
seemed as much inclined for conversation as
was, and we were soon chatting away on
the Thousand and one topics In which men of
the world are Interested. A chance allusiou
of mine TO South Africa ELECTED the fact that
he had spent some years OF his life there, and
this formed an additional reason for socia-
bilIty- For, before | succeeded to nv fathers
London business, l had spent two years in the
neishborhood of Kimberley, prospecting for
gold Apropos of the wild state of some parts
of the country, l incidentally remarked that
the custom acquired there Of travelling armed
still chung 20 me, and !, when on a journey.
always carried pistol.
deprecatingly, Sin this peaceful old England
of ours"
Il think ii a very sensible one" returned
my companion; lone never knows when a
kix-shooter may not be useful Would you
Yet me see yours!7
1t was an unusual request, and for the
moment rather staggered me- And as he
bent forward L noticed that his face was
working curiously, and his outstretched hand
ETembled-
The train slackened speed we were stop
ping at junction.
The porter came along the platform with
bis monotonous chant, Change here for
Gresham" He put bis head in our carriage
EITHER of you gentlemen for Chesha4ms"
No, We were both bound for London. so the
man took himself of But he looked rather
stareied, and well he might. BY the light of
the lantern he carried he had seen two men.
one bent forward, pale and eager, the other
holding a pistol
l handed the stranger my pistol for inspec-
ton 1t was dainty thing; was rather
proud of it. Ny mate in South Africa had
given It to me, and my name was engraved
ON IL.
Horace Bligh," read my fellow traveller.
$50 YOU" with steady fame in his great
eyes, ARE Horace Blight" That is my
name" replied, rather disconnected The |
mans manner was certainly strange; he toy
ed with the pistol in dangerous way, and |
we were going al the rate of fifty miles an |
hour. II Was not a pleasant position to be |
placed in. began TO regret my folly In COM
plying with his request.
l went on cooily, Perhaps you had better
return me my property. Pretty thing, is it
notf but loaded, and therefore unreliable
Y on ara handling il carelessly, and it might
go off Il viii be safer in my pocket" | /
reached out my hand in my turn, but my
fellow traveller deity evaded me. l shall
never forget the awful expression on his bag
gard face.
so you are Horace Bhgh." Well. am
James Andrews, the man you have ruined
Not only that, you have taken the girl
loved / meant TO kill myself if l had the
chance. have it now. ! have also the means
Of revenge. l could shoot you where you
stand But | Will not; | reserve for you a
more hideous fate. l viii kill myself with
your pistol and in such a manner that suicide
will appear improbable. On you viii fall the
suspicion, nay, the certainty OF guilt
rushed forward and tried 10 wrest the
pistol from him. A brief struggle ensued, in
which he, endowed with maniac strength
brew me to the floor of the carriage Be-
ore could rise he placed the pistol in the
middle of his forehead, fired, and fell dead.
For ore moment horror at the tragic end
Y Bet-y's some time lover banishei all other