Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-09-11
MATING FOR THE EXPRESS.


In coming up the coast line railroad
from Savannah to Charleston we had 70
wait at the crossing Of the Augusta and
Beaufort road for the down bound ex-
press. which was nearly an hour late.
Two of the passengers had attracted more
than ordinary attention--a man in the
prime of life, who had the look OF a
prince, and a woman of %, who was pos
itively beautiful. They were very affec-
tionate toward each other, and every
body supposed them to be husband and
wife.
We had been waiting about 90 minutes
when horseman came riding up to the
platform. The horse was all in lather
and the mare covered with dust, showing
q long ride and rapid gait. The man
came straight up to me as soon as he had
dismounted and asked il there was such
a couple on the train as i have described.
When told him there was he caught his
breath, like one seized with pain about
the heart, and turned 30 pale that /
reached for his arm.
It's all right, stranger-Pm not going
TO faint, he said as he shook my hand
off.
Then, as he started up the platform to
reach the car, there came into his face
such devilish look as / never saw on a
human countenance before or since. 1t
just made my flesh crawl to see how
white he grew and how his eyes blazed.
] followed him right into the par,or car.
The couple had their backs toward us,
and neither suspected his presence until
be stood before them. For a minute
they seemed paralyzed as he stood with
folded arms and glared at them. Then
the woman uttered a half scream, half
supposed husband stared and stared like
one beholiing specter. Hehad to open
his mouth to draw breath.
"You are armed-come outsidel" said
the stranger in quiet voice.
The othei moved his tongue about as
wounded men do when cSying for water,
but did not lift hand.
Il have two pistols here, and you can
have your choicel" continued the other.
BY this time the car was crowded with
people, all anxious too see and hear, but
it was 50 quiet that you could hear a
whisper. All men fear death to greater
or less extent, but had the man beside
the unconscious woman been standing
on the trap of the gallows he could
not have shown more fear. His face
grew white as marble, and then turned
blue white. as If he had suffered strangu-
lation. His eyes stared blankly, as if he
had been struck blind, and he put out
his tongue as he gasped for breath.
II you do not come out will kill you
where you sit I" whispered the stranger.
The words affected the woman more
than the man. She came back to life
with sob and moan and held up her
hand in pleading way. The stranger
looked from one TO the other with set
face and cruel eyes, and finally reached
over and grasped the woman by the
shoulder and shook her and said:
Edith Edith Do you hear me?"
-Oh, George !" she moaned.
Hear me, woman !" he Missed. y
was going to kill you both, but l have
changed my mind You have run away
with coward as well as villain. Loob
nv hthis AAO ~ PoA NCu WIN I1c
can't lift hand. You are welcome to
such cur. See how treat him"
He bent forward and spat upon the
man--not once, but half dozen times
on the forehead, in his eyes, aye, full on
his lips.
He is yours-take him I" he said to the
woman; and, turning his back on them,
he left the car.
To those OF us who followed him out
and saw him mount and ride away at
walk he waved his hand and explained:
Gentlemen, you probably understand
Good evening"
At least dozen of us had seats in the
parlor car. When the express had passed
and our train pulled out again the
wretched pair had the whole car to them
selves. Never an or woman would
enter it-M. Quad.