Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-01-21

ticking in the wall. which he said
means death
".That is an English superstition. too.
said
"'Bahr said the innkeeper, with con
centrated scOrn: these are not times for
such foolish superstitions. Monsieur
has no such foolish fanciesY
II laughed. 'Ah, monsieur is brave!
Look. The Austrian's room is that very
room monsieur wished to have when he
first came. It looks out upon the gla
cier. and is perhaps my best room
Monsieur thought he would prefer one
less expensive on the floor above. Mon
sieur remembers2 Well, courage de-
serves to be rewarded. Monsieur shall
have the room for the same price as the
one he has now.
IL thanked my friend, the landlord
1t was certainly room ! had coveted
The view was superb. 1t was nearer the
dining and smoking room-in every way
q great improvement on the one was
occupying.
"'Can have it oncer asked.
"'Oh, certainly Of course monsieur
knows, the landlord went on slowly
and looking a little doubtfully at me,
that it is the room next to the sick
room where that old man is lying illF
Il laughed, and think the expression
of my face reassured the landlord as to
my being completely Indifferent to such
matters. for he went on:
monsieur is a mani The room Is
ready and at your disposal.
"He was gong away, but came back
quickly. Only monsieur will pardon
me for reminding him that the doctor
has ordered that no noise shall be made
near the sickroom He says the old
mans life depends on his sleeping quiet
ly 1t would be better, perhaps, not to
move monsieur's luggage down till the
evening.
''Of course | assented; but feeling de-
sirous of seeing my new and much Gov
eted possession, and feeling sure of my
ability to enter it without making any
noise. went up stairs, quietly stole
down the corridor, and entered the
room without possibility of my having
been heard. 1t was a large, bright
cheerful apartment, in the older part OF
the hotel. It was wainscoted, with
oak panels. The window was large,
and, as have mentioned before, COM
manded one Of the most exquisite views
to be found in Switzerland.
81 looked around the room with a
sense of satisfaction. | have told you |
am observant of my fellow creatures;
am not less 80 of inanimate objects.
have an eye in such matters detective
might envy. soon saw mark or cut
in the wainscoting on one side of the
room. 1t was so small that ! believe
many men might have passed days IN
the room without noticing It, am an
inuuisitive man. and | at once went tc
it and examined it. 1t was chink in
the wood, | stopped and looked through
The whole of the interior of the sick
room was visible Three silent hgure'
were the occupants On the bed lay the
old man sleeping, his gray hairs on the
pillow; at the side knelt in prayer his
blind daughter; behind the daughter
close behind-was the wife. She alon'
seemed living. She was drawing stealth
ily-oh, 80 stealthily and slowl "a small
round table laden with jugs and medl
cine bottles across the floor.
"At first did not realize what sh
was doing. | knew she had every motiv
to be silent in her movements, but
caught sight of her face! 1t was tn
face of a devill Never was eyes S
hideously expressive of murderous hate
In flash | understood it all.
"She was moving the table to pos
ton such that the slightest movement {
the kneeling figure of the blind daugf
ter, praying for her fathers life, woul
, hurl it and it's fragile burden to tn
ground.
5 81 dare say you think am callor
sort of fellow. but I assure you ws
3 horror struck. would have give
g worlds to warn the poor child, but kne'
t not how To have called out woul
e have been as fatal as the catastrophe /
t self.
j 81 felt stupefed-paralyzed The en-
came before my swimming brain cou
y find any way to help. The poor gi
o rose, her hands still clasped saw ii
f table reel. and rs |, sick with horro
s Withdrew my t'yes heard the cras
followed by piercing shriek"---
n Menken paused. Give me the whisk
> old chap Than!is.
/, "Did he die?" asked
d He was rs dead as ii you had fired
e pistol through his brain, said Menk'
l. quietly
n After pause Ne went on: Il slipp
Is out OF the i ON htFore the hubbub /
It gan. No nll,. ever knoW had been in
l. had, however, to sleep Pil Ii that nigh
Il and though YOU know | am not Supe
"a stitious fellow at all, assure you 1t W
~ very uncomfortable night, Ike
~ starting out of my sleep, thinking
3 heard the crash and scream next doc
le 1t took me nearly week to get over Il
s. We smoked in silence for some mi
utes.
OF 81 wonder what became OF that wo
| anl'' said.
49, "Oh, she married again. The daught
VI died about wear after this happened
ne believe"
"How did You find out2" ! asked
er little surprised.
he "Well, it was rather curious. we
I'd to stay down in Devonshire last SUNNI
vs. in a country house. The first person
Il. saw was our ingenious friend, the MI
deress. quite cheerful and jolly. to
her in to dinner"
Somehow don't like Menken, but
t. never bores me.-Cornhill Magazine.
lis
NO Two slippers.
Ily The death of the distinguished peer
IS the Maruuise de Talleyrand-PerigC