Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-02-17
WAS HE A MURDERER

AHNN oAWNaa N-NA aNaANNa NhIlNfNlN
Of physiognomy end have an Irresistible
habit Of studying faces that / encounter
in public. On one occasion at least.this
faculty has led me into n serious pre-
dicamont.
Tho incident occurred on one O. the
railways between London and west Of
England.
As soon as / had conveniently disposed
Of my belongings in q compartment and
wrapped myself in my rug, I proceeded
lcisurely to take q survey Of my fellow
Travellers young man and a girl ap-
parently travelling together.
The style of the young man did not
please me. He looked 'horsy." His
attire was O great deal too 'loud' for
my taste, and on his little finger no wore
q diamond ring-most probably a sham
diamond. / decided. Ho was not ugly.
but obtrusively big and strong looking.
and saw ct once that he was ia "a very
bad temper.
The girl, on the contrary, pleased me
extremely; She was exceedingly pretty,
and she was daintily dressed aud OK
quisitcly refined looking. Twas struck
by the fact that she seemed 20 share my
objection TO her companion, for she
avoided his attempts TO catch her eye,
keeping her face carefully aYertel from
him, and when he spoke to her she an
swercd 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 plaintivo glances
in my direction, as though unconsciously
seeking for help and succor.
With my usual quick sympathy /
soon felt deeply interested in the lovely,
innocent looking young creature, who
was apparently in the power Of the mo-
rose %scoundrel beside her, and l began
to consider what means / should adopt
10 make Lcr understand that / compre-
hended her sorrow and desired to help
her. No better idea suggested itself
than to offer her my copy Of Punch.
which did with q d%eferential bow and
a look which l fattered myself would
reveal my sentiments toward her. ]
have always been told that | have q
most expressive couutenance.
She declined the paper, but her eyes
met mine with IN eloquent look, and l
felt that l had established an under
standing between Us.
Then q brilliant idea occurred to me.
I could not talk to the girl right under
the eyes Of the scowling villain beside
her, but IL l feigued sleep he might be
thrown OH his guard and disclose the
situation TO me. forthwith gave sew
eral %portcntous yawns; then leaning
back IN my rne I spread a handkcI-
chief over my face SO as TO conceal my
features, but not toprevent me from see
ing my companions, and after a little
while commenced to snore.
BY and by the ruse seemed successful.
Tho young man, after several %unavailiag
attempts togaint the girls attention, took
hold Of the tiny gloved hand which Lad
been lying Estlessly in her lap, and as
she stil continued TO look the other way
suddenly bent his heed and kissed it.
GLOW dare your she cried, hastily
drawing away her hand, while she
turned and faced him. How dare YOU
touch me, even when You Enow-you
know a food of tears made the rest
OF the sentence inaudible.
The man looked at the girl with a half
rcmUrseful, half impatient expression.
"Come, Evelyn" he soid after a pause,
"crying won't DO any good. Forgive
and forget, and he attempted 10 put his
arm around her waist.
"Forgiving won't bring back 10 life,'
she cried -passionately, shaking herself
free, "and as to forgetting, 1 never,
never shall. How could you have the
heart? He never harmed your
mo replied the young man, with an
unpleasant smile, "and he won't have
the opportunity now
''You never cared for him. sobbel
the girl; ''you never had a kind word
for himl'
"But l tell You it was in self de
fense"-
"And / tell you that l don't believe
it" exclaimed the girl. che never would
have harmed us, and you-you ueye
gave him even a chance for his life.
And she hid her face in her hands aud
sobbed convulsiyely.
BY this time / was becoming almost
%Gpoplcctic from horror. There was bu.
one Interpretation TO he put upon IN,
conversation. The man before me how
true had been my first impressions Of
him!-had caused the death of a fellow
creature, and the pretty fair haired girl.
by her very loathiug aud repugnance
was perhaps recllessly risking a similar
fate. Ny blood curdled at the thought
but by q strong effort l depressed my
feelings and continued TO strain my car.
10 the utmost, md 60 snore as naturally
as was possible with every nerve CULVER
ing from terror.
Evelyn said the man, evidently try.
ing TO be conciliatory, and as be spoke.
forcibly drawing the girls hands from
her faco-"Evolyn, surely you and
need not quarrel ahout the affair? ] as
sure you 1 acted for the best. lie would
undoubtedly have proved dangerous {,
us both"
s1l,p cried Evelyn, looking at him
with flushed, tear stained face and fash.
ing eyes, "then, If you fancied that wa.
going 10 provo dangerous TO you, should
i, too, fan q victim TO poisony'
As the terrible words passed her lip.
the engine gave a shrill whistle and the
train rushed into n tunnel. the noiss