The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-17

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The snppOsition was more correct than be
imagined. though his guess fell far short OF
the reality.
The nge-looking package was not
was past midnight in fact the first
streaks of dawn were beginning to be
visible when Jack awoke with an
uneasy moment n discovered his
wife missing from his side. He started
mp in - great fright and looked
around. when he dimly deserted a white
draped figure. crouching on the floor.
His first thoughts were th at his wife had
tainted The knew that she did faint some-
times) or that she was i'll. or something.
he was about to spring from bis couch TO
see what was the matter when tho figure
slowly raised it's head. and Jack, who could
now see more clearly. perceived two beau
tiful arms lovingly embracing the myster-
ious package that had attracted his atten-
ton on the journey down. Some instinct
prompted him 10 check bis natural I'M
petuosity and wait the issue of events. AS
the figure slowly raised itself he was
startled TO see his wife bow her head to-
wards the package, as If engaging IN an
act of silent alteration. Then he heard
the sound of three hearty smacks that
sounded like kisses. followed by q low
moaning voice crying: Forgive me. darl-
ing. | know 10 is s00n-far too soon-but
/ was so very lonely" This oracular de-
hverance was followed by reiterated
smacks on the strange box. Jack began to
think there was witchery about, and to
wonder whether there. was some living
thing hidden within the mysterious IT.
ceptacle, and a strange eerie feeling be-
gan to creep over him. As he after wards
confessed to me all his flesh suddenly rose
like goose flesh under On underlined sense
of terror that seized him. The stiffness that
reigned in the room. broken only by the
low sobs, became burdensome to him.
He felt that he must speak. though by this
time his throat was dry and his tongue
clave to the roof of his mouth: but be
thought better of it. and drawing the bed
clothes around him feigned sleep. After Q
lapse of time that seemed to his excited
nerves like an eternity the sObbing ceased.
Three more hearty smacks were raIned
down on the mysterious package, and then
Mrs. Tyrell crepJ back to bed.
Jack lay perfectly quiet. turning over in
his mind the strange experience, and re-
solving that be wOul defer explanations
until morning, when he vowed that as sure
as his name was lack Tyrell he would have
the matter out. But his curiosity got the
better of him. and after biting his lip IN
I'll he almost Bit IL In two. he ventured to
ask:
Kitty, what is inside that boxf"
The thought that she was discovered
seems immediately to have occurred to
Mrs. Tyrell, for she at once replied in q low
suppressed tone: Hush! don't speak of il.
Why did you watch met 1t is his sacred
dust"
Tie S1CTou uu5tI olOWlf uEhWlcQ lOIbu
Jack. What do you meanp
A long silence followed which might have
continued ii Jack had not repeated his
question In a more peremptory tone. But
lie was not to gain his end by mere per-
emptoriness. Mrs. Tyrell fell back on her
resources as a woman. She was immediate
ly seized with o violent lit of Mysteries, fol-
lowed by a prolonged outburst of weepIng q.
which put Jack to rout. In vain he
strOve to comfort his distressed partner.
Ga. $1,000 he I'D -a.anSaI HE
attempts to soothe her. Only now and
then came through her half closed lips
such words as "cruel!" "inhumanw mon
ster!" which, though not very intelli gible,
were very hurtfnl to Jacks feelings. con
sidering that it was not four-and.twenty
hours since they had plighted their troth
at the marriage altar.
Jack rose with an aching heart. as soon
as the sun filled the room with the blazing
light of q glorious dawn. Mrs. TyrelPs
of her presenting herself at that early
hour. and she avowed her intention of
keeping her room. Jack assented to her
proposal with q grunt Of discomfort. and.
the mysterious package which had been
the recipient of his wifes embraces, he
descended to the hall of the hotel, and. seiz-
ing his hat he thrust it aavagely over his
eyes and strobe forth to the beach, there to
ruminate.
1t was clear to him. as he thought over
his wife's inexplicable proceedings. that
the strange packet did not contain . micro
scope. Equally plain was IL that itdid not
hold a wedding present, kept back TO tho
last moment as q beautiful surprise. which
he in his egotism bad been. inclined to
think He knew from his wife's own lips
that it held dust of some kind. Could IL
be gold DUST No. Jack mentally decided.
1t could not be gold dust; 1t was not heavy
His sacred dustP" he murmured to
himself; repeating his wife,s words a. he
paced the yellow sands. What on earth
could she means
Jack ~pondered this question q long time
before he obtained O clew to the mystery;
for about some things he is as simple as a
child. though In business he bears the rep
utatlon OF being an exceedingly smart man.
AT last u light broke upon his mind, and he
turned his footsteps In the direction of the
hotel. resolved upon having the matter ou..
Mrs. Tyrell was fully dressed when her
husband entered the room. She was kneel-
ing before a huge trunk. the lid of which
the opening of the door. Jack glanced
hastily round the room, but the mysterious
package had disappeared. Mrs. Tyrell,
having locked the trunk, rose to her feet
and with painting breath confronted her
husband. Her whole attitude betrayed
that she felt the interview might prove
critical Jack bent on her a reproaohful.
beseeching look as he took both her hands
In his and asked in q low. pleading tone:
kitty. tell me. the truth. Am / to I'M
derstand that the box i saw you caressing
In the early hours of this morninGcontains
all that is left of the late Mr.. Wendoverf"
His sacred dust.w broke forth from Mrs.
TyrelFs lips ere she swCCned away. Jack
was barely in tlme to catch her in his arms
as she fell. THE truth Is ont at last" he
muttered between his closed reeth as he
bent over his wife's unconscious form.
Tho late Mr.. WendOver appears to have
been cremated. though L did not know it
before. and j have my predecessor in my
wife's affections as Q travelling companion
on my honeymoon.
Jack exerted himself to bring the lady to.
vowing within himself that as soon % her
LIQUID eyes looked into his again he would
come to an understanding with her as to
reckless OF consequences. Bnt he reckoned
without his host. When Mrs. Tyrell re.
vived and he manifested OF intention to
recur to the painful subject she fell to work
with o discharge of hystericsl artillery
that drove the enemy from the field.
Poor Jack! HIS plight was q sorry one.
His bright. h0nest-l0okin9 face became
miserable and overcast as he realized that
he must either submit to the presence of
what the crematory fires had loft of the
defunct MI Wendover. or face q continual
fusillade of Mysteries, varied only by O sue.
cession of death-like swoons whenever he
had the temerity to return to the su bjeot of
the disposal of Mr.. Wendoyer's ashes.
There Is a considerable amount of per-
sistence in Jacks character. and il must be
mentioned to his credit that he was not d.
verted from his aim by a few tears. But
blooming Hebe when suffered to work her
own sweet will. was turned into q perfect
NIObe whenever he ATTEMPTED rO briny rho