The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-03-17
WAS HE A MURDERER

habit of studying faces that | encounter
In public. On one occasion at least this
faculty has led me into serious pre-
6icament.
The incident occurred on one of the
railways between London and west of
England.
As soon as had conveniently disposed
Of my belongings in a compartment and
wrapped myself in my rug, proceeded
}sisurely to take survey of my fellow
trayelers-a young man and a girl APP
parently travelling together.
The style Of the young man did not
please me. He looked "horsy." His
attire was a great deal too loud" for
my taste, and on his little finger he wore
q diamond ring-most probably sham
diamond, | decided. He was not ugly,
but obtrusively big and strong looking
and saw at once that he was in a very
bad temper.
The girl, on the contrary, pleased me
extremely; she was exceedingly pretty
and she was daintily dressed and ex-
quisitely refined looking. | was struck
by the fact that she seemed to share my
objection to her companion, for she
avoided his attempts to catch her eye,
keeping her face carefully averted from
him, and when he spoke to her she an
sTered in monosyllables, without look
ing around. | noticed also that her
pretty, childish face bore signs of re-
cent weeping and that now and then
her blue eyes filed with tears. l even
fancied that she cast plaintiye glances
In my Objection, as though unconsciously
seeking for help and succor.
With my usual quick sympathy
2Oon felt deeply interested in the lovely,
innocent looking young creature, who
was apparently in the power of the mo-
rose scoundrel beside her, and | began
TO consider what means should adopt
20 make her understand that compre-
hended her sorrow and desired to help
hsr, No better idea suggested itself
slian to offer her my copy of Punch,
which l did with deferential bow and
look which fattered myself would
reveal my sentiments toward her |
have always been told that | have a
most expressive countenance.
She declined the paper, but her eyes
net mine with an eloquent look, and !
felt that l had established an under
standing between us.
Then brilliant idea occurred to me.
] could not talk to the girl right under
the eyes of the scowling villain beside
her, but if | feigned sleep he might be
thrown off his guard and disclose the
situation to me. | forthwith gave sew.
srai portentous yawns; then leaning
back in my corner | spread handker
chief over my face so as to conceal my
features, but not to prevent me from see
ing my companions, and after a little
while commenced to snore.
BY and by the ruse seemed successful
The young man, after several unavailine
attempts to gain the girls attention, tool
AOld of the tiny gloved hand which haC
been lying listlessly in her Jap, and a.
she still continued to look the other wa,
suddenly bent his head and kissed it.
''How dare your" she cried, hastilr
drawing away her hand, while sh
burned and faced him. "How dare yol
touch me, even when you know-yol
Know A flood of tears made the res
Of the sentence inaudible.
The man looked at the girl with a hal
EenOrseful, half impatient expression.
"Come, Evelyn, - he said after a pause
"Crying won't do any good. Forgiv
and forget, and he attempted to put hi
arm around her waist.
'Forgiving won't bring back to life,
she cried passionately, shaking hersel
free land as to forgetting, | never
never shall, How could you have tn
heart2 He never harmed you"
No." replied the young man, with a
unpleasant smile, "and he won't hav
the opportunity now"
"You never cared for him." sobbe
the girl; ''you never had a kind wor
for him"
But l tell you it was in self de
teuse"-
And tell you that I don't believ
Il, exclaimed the girl. "He never woul
have harmed us, and you-you neve
gave him even a chance for his life
And she hid her face in her hands an
s0bbed convulsively.
By this time | was becoming almo,
EpopleGtic from horror. There was br
one Interpretation to be put upon IL
conversation. The man before me-ho
true had been my first impressions
aiml-had caused the death of fello
creature, and the pretty fair haired cir
~ her very loathing and repugnanc
wSs perhaps recklessly risking simil;
Sste. My blood curdled at the though
bot by strong effort l repressed N
feelings and continued to strain my ca
o. the utmost, and to snore as natural
az was possible with every nerve quive
ing from terror.
Evelyn" said the man, evidently tr
ing to be concihatory, and as he spok
t1fgrcibly drawing the girls hands fro
teV Evelyn, surely you and
iced not quarrel about the affair? | a
sure you acted for the best. He won
undoubtedly have proved dangerous
Gs both.
''Oh," cried Evelyn, looking at hi
A L. - r n