The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-24
UNDER THB eh6BD

Io00ulu|I OF buYokDlhOns ILL ~ -4|1| p
a. Perhaps It might be ven r We did
sometimes. returned Mr.. Bower. "How
oftsn II seems as thougha benefit con
ferred engendered feeling Of iil-will
Gather than gratitudein
80 I hops It is not So Nay, am sure
It can not be-" answered the young man.
~ wonder II 1t Is true" unused Mr..
Bcwyer, that drowning man sees
every action Of his life pass before himf
1t must add to the horror Of the death
n that is true.r
'.You are taking It for granted that
only ones evil deeds rise before one"
-said Colonel Severn.
Mr.. Bower still looked questioningly
at the young man who passed through the
experience. He answered now gravely--
You forget was senseless while in
the water, ind was spared that at least
Yes | suppose few OF us are SO free
from remorse as to face such panorama
unmoved.n
Z None, should say put In Mr..
Weare quickly. Has 1t never struck
you what whited sepulchers we all are,
some more, some less? When one comes
70 consider the number Of criminal mys-
teries that remain unraveled, 1t IL only
TO be supposed that we have met some Of
the guilty ones in friendly converse. The
pretty girl / took In to dinner few nights
ago may be murderess, for all l know |;
and that young fellow, your sons friend,
who impressed you SO favorably that
hxa Ia.
tected thief and forger."
Rather unlikely, all the same"
smiled Colonel Severn.
!" am suggesting possibilities rather
than probabilities, admit; but It is my
drm conviction that In every one Of us
the capacity for crime is lying dormant.
The development is mere matter Of
temptation, opportunity, and chance"
You are q fatalist," was the half
contemptuous reply"
Mr.. Bowyer, for whom the terrible had
always an attraction, was deeply inter-
ested, and did not attempt to disguise
the fact to anybody.
do youmean,n he said, eagerly, .'that
you have known case in which such
person as you describe has mixed freely
with his fellow-beings unsupported p"
~ have such case In my mind now
But then immunity for time does
not mean Immunity forever
"Of course not. My argument Is that
some, not all, escape detection"
"It Is dreadful to contemplate Pr
shuddering. Let us change the subject
70 one less grewsome. Let us talk
about Australia for q time. What q
country 1t Isl wonder why we English
still cling to home when nearly every
other climate is better than our own"
"A sort OF obstinacy, suppose; or it
may be one Is freer and more independent
IN England, and can go ones own way
without being questioned"
You mean one can be lost in crowd
think that the crowd is On advan-
fage In itself = said Mr.. Weare.
From what part Of Australia do you
come r asked Mr.. Bowyer abruptly, and
seceived the brief reply
( " From Sydney"
i In moment 1t flashed ecross the old
mans mind where he had seen his visit
or before. He was none other than
that Gerald Weare whose bride had been
taken from him In so horrible q fashion
. month before his wedding-day, and for
whose sake Elaine Warrington was sup
posed to have committed crime.
He looked round nervously, then, re-
Numbering that Ellen had left the room,
half rose with the intention OF following
her and putting her on her guard, II in
deed she had not already taken fright.
At the same moment shrill cry was
heard outside, and Mrs. Priolo threw
open the door.
" Here's Miss Ellen lying on the ground
IN dead faint l" she cried. Whatever
ean have happened 2"
It was Severn who made the first
move to cross over to her side. She had
fallen senseless across the door way.
He knelt down and raised her head on
his arm Mr.. Bowyer appeared helpless
with dismay, but Gerald Weare came
near and looked down at her with an ex-
preston Of somewhat stereotyped pity.
Have you no restoratives n asked
Severn, sharply, of the housekeeper.
Before she could reply, an involun-
tary exclamation from the lips OF the
stranger startled them both.
It was only the ejaculation Of a name,
- though he had suddenly recognized
the senseless woman at bis feet; but it
was not the name by which either Of
them had known her.
MIR. Bowyer jumped up from his seat
As though electrified, and dragged him
self slowly to the scene Of action, not
knowing what to do for the best. Mrs.
Priolo retained all her faculties.
You've known the poor young lady |
before?" she observed to Mr.. Weare, In |
the bland tones which Colonel Severn
had lately learned to distrust. Don't
you think we had better place her on the
soia? And then I'll run and get some
brandy and the sal-volatile from Mr..
Bowyer's room"
But Mr.. Bowyer interfered. He was
determined that Ellen should not A,.+,,x,