The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-06-02

ness men they had reached their several
destinations in the larger towns, and !,
sat alone in my corner, when the old
white haired gentleman, whom was be-
ginning to look upon as rather eccentric
turned the handle Of the eilrriage door,
came in, and sat down in tlla corner op.
posite to me He said moi word, but
gazed out at the landscape N Il dreamy
manner, while took the opportunity to
examine his appearance more closely
lie was tall, thin and looked emaciated
with clearly cut features of waxen
color, and wonderfully blue eyes. He
wore an old fashioned, low crowned silk
hat, and long, thick coat with fur
collar The expression OF his face re.
minded me Of some one, but could not
remember OF whom did not notice all
this at once, for did not like to stare
too long at the old gentleman, but ]
need not have troubled myself, for he
never turned his eyes from the window
The evening drew on, the daylight
faded and the lamps were lighted, and
still he kept his eyes fixed and gazed out
Of the window into the darkness, while
the dim light Of the oil lamp shone down
on his pale features, and | smoked hard
and said nothing,
! think must have dozed for little
wlnie, then ! heard the guard calling
"Ashbndge road Ashbridge roadl" and
] started up, grabbed at my portman-
teau and prepared to get out Of the car
riage, for had reached my destination,
but my companion also rose, turned and
looked me full in the face with look
which seemed to make my blood grow
chilly stepped out before me and | fol-
lowed.
The station was certainly very badly
lighted and the night was pitch dark,
but | was rather surprised when ! got
outside neither to see nor hear any sign
or sound Of my fellow passenger How
ever, thought it did not matter to me
where he had gone, 80 finding a carriage
awaiting me got in and in the rush of
other thoughts soon forgot him.
"How is Mr.. Warrington by this
timer" asked the coachman.
He died this morning, sir" was the
reply And then followed the details of
his illness and death. which lasted until
we reached Ashford Hall, my uncle's
house.
lrang the bell, and was soon admitted
by stout. comfortable looking woman,
who showed me to my room, where be-
gan to wonder what had better do II
was rather IN awkward position to come
q perfect stranger, at the bidding Of an
other stranger. and find him dead on ar.
rival
At length went down stairs, and the
same kindly looking woman met me in
the hall and gave me more details Of my
uncle's illness and his great desire to see
me Then she supposed that ! shoult
like to see the corpse, and so evidentl!
expected me to answer in the affirmative
that did 80, and she led the way up tn,
broad staircase and down long passage
At the end Of this passage she opened
the door Of a dimly lighted room and w
entered she carrying candle, We wen
together to the bedside, and she, holding
the candle high with one hand, gentl,
lifted the sheet with the other and dis
closed-the white, clear cut features o
my travelling companion
This was the first and last thing of tn
kind that ever happened to me, and i
still unexplained
] stayed on at Ashford Hall for tn
, funeral, and found myself, on the read
ing of my uncles will, sole heir to all hi
, possessions, True Flag,