Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-08-27

room.
A further examination showed that
the boots and shoes for the right foot
were one and all blocked up inside for
about One-third of their length from
the toes.
During the whole of that day Dr.
Carious' mind kept recurring to the
subject, and, do what he would.
Michael could not prevent him from
continually dwelling on the mystery.
The next morning at breakfast the
doctor announced his intention OF re-
turning forthwith to town. He had,
he said. received news which made it
impossible to tresspass longer on Mr..
Smiths hospitality. He was evidently
in an extremely perturbed state of
mind, and, when Michael hoped he
had slept well. he answered shortly
that on the contrary, he had passed q
very disturbed night indeed.
The following day Miss Lamia Smith
received this letter:
HARLEY STREET, W, Oct. 6.
"Dear Miss Smith: BY an extraordin-
airy confederation Of circumstances have
become the depository of a most tragical
secret, having very intimate connection
with your family. 1t is a secret, which
from its very nature, know you to be
ignorant OLA secret which il you ever
did become aware of it, would hopelessly
embitter your existence; but still it Is a
secret which need never be made known,
and in being uniformed of which you will
be most happy.
AS Ihave more than once told you,
consider that between those who are des-
tined to be united in marriage there should
be no concealment. You will, therefore,
l am sure, realize with me that, terrible
though it is to utter these words of fare
well, l am bound to ask you to release me
from an engagement which untoward cir
cumstances render practically impossible.
pray you not to ask me to DO more ex-
plicit. 1t would only be under the most
stringent compulsion that could be in
duced to divulge what, by such an extra
ordinary coincidence has come to my
knowledge. am, yours sincerely,
CHARLES CARIoUs.
LAMA promptly handed the letter
to her father and watched his face.
why, what the blazes is the fellow
referring to?" roared Mr. Smith. when
he had read it. with his concatena-
tion of circumstances. and his tragic
al secret. which would embitter your
existence if you ever became aware of
it., and his not being induced to d.
vulge it but under the most stringent
compulsion2 Why suppose the fell
low thinks we shall bring an action
against him for breach of promise of
marriage and force him in the witness
box to give his reasons for jilting you.
What did tell you, Lamia? This
you're we'll rid of him."
The long and short of the matter was
that Mr.. Smith undertook, with
Lamia's consent to write a reply to
DR.. Carious. which reply, as may be
imagined. was clothed in language
rather more strong than curteous. and
in which he told him that nothing
could exceed his regret that he had
ever been engaged to his daughter ex-
cept his joy that he had now ceased to
be so.
A few moments later DR.. Carious
read the announcement in the Times
of the marriage between Michael Care
less of Montreal, Can. and LAMA
daughter of Joseph Smith of Rabnet
manor Crampshire. He at once sat
down and dispatched small care
fully packed parcel to the bridegroom.
why, Michael. here's belated
wedding present do believe cried
Lamia, the morning after their return
from their honeymoon to her fathers
house. Its addressed to you, and l
do believe the handwriting is DR..
Carious'."
Let me see it," said Careless, and
forthwith he proceeded to undo the
parcel. Under the paper was wooden
box with a sliding lid. As he pulled
this away piece of paper huttered to
the ground. LAMA picked it up and
read aloud the following extraordinary
note:
''Sir-Inclosed send you what circum-
stances forces me to believe are your
father-in-law's toes. You will, no doubt,
do as you think fit about returning them,
after SO long a separation, to their original
owner. am yours, faithfully. c. c."
While Lamia was reading this letter
aloud, Michael was gazing, with. a
broad smile upon his face, at small
bottle which he held in his hand. and
which contained in spirits OF wine. a
very remarkable object. The object
was the too piece of stout boot with
q felt SOLE containing five human toes
and the fragment Of thick wooden
sock, cut as clearly off booted foot
as though it were the section of Ger
man sausage. Pasted on the bottle
was a fragment of newspaper, dated
just forty years ago. Michael volun-
teered to read it aloud.
1t contained partial description OF
what had evidently been Il CHASTITY
tragedy. Among other things ii
stated that the room in which murder
for the sake OF plumber had been COM
mitted was in state of terrible con-
fusion. which evidenced that Il desper-
ate struggle had taken place, and tina,
the deceased had evidently. at one
time during the encounter been in pos
session OF a large axe which lay on
tho Acnr cioco tho nplv traca ~ the