Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-04-25
piatedg Was there not shadow between

plated! was there not shadow between
Eunice and me-the shadow cast by
murder unavenged? Well, what now
could avail further worry? My cigar was
out, and so was the fire. 1t was cold.
The morrow would decide, and the
quickest way to its decision was through
sleep.
hastened into bed, and my last con.
nected thought was that the stranger
overhead must be more perturbed in
mind than even was l. slept, and
awakened as if at touch or from call.
1 know not what time it was, but it
seemed the blacklist hour of the night.
I hstened-plod, plod, that stranger
overhead was still pacing the floor.
listened, and-oh, God in heaven-1
heard once more that intense, fateful
cry. 1t was in the very room; it was in
my very ears; it summoned to do, to
act, as it should direct l sprang out Of
bed and into my clothes, and the quicker
my movements the more urgent was
that call.
Like clarion note it sounded the ad-
vance, unhesitatingly, and obeyed. 1t
led me to the bookshelves and lowered
over that coil of line which 1 had noticed
until I thrust it into my pocket. 1t led
me through the pitchy corridor, and by
the winding stairs, and along the hext
floor until l came to door on the jar,
through which lamps light was glim-
mering. I listened, and distinct from
those constant cries 1 heard the plod,
plod Of restless tread. Hooked in, and
on the center table my eyes caught and
were held by a shining object. 1t was a
watch, one of these trumpery curios
which Mrs. Mainwaring had so cherish
ed. There could be no doubt about it.
Many time had seen her polishing it,
many time had I heard her explain
the impossible significance in cipher.
And as gazed a burly form intercepted
my view, and saw the restless stran-
ger, a stalwart, determined looking
man, with traces of desperate enterprises
on his face. I saw, and knew the mean
ing Of that cry, now encouraging and ex-
ultant, and in an instant I was at his
throat.
Oh, but he had strength and courage,
this man! I was nerved by powers sure
ly superhuman. He was taken un-
awares; yet, strive all I could, could
not overmaster him. Indeed his clutch
was tightening. He was slowly bending
me back. In his eyes shone the desire
for blood. In my heart was a curse on
the impotent sound that had betrayed
me, when suddenly the pallor of death
crept over his face He loosened his hold
and beat his head with his fists. He
swayed, he staggered, he fell like a
struck bullock, and ere his conscious
ness returned had him bound hand
and foot and wound and trussed with
that tough fishing line
AS I completed my task and painting
stood over him he opened his eyes.
"Shut up, d-n you'll he muttered, and
then, following me, he gasped: "Did
you hear it? Oh, did you hear it, that
old harridan's shriek?''
eyes," I replied, ''I did hear it, and
for the last time, thank God! But you,
mark my words, you will hear it again!'
The morning was smiling as peace
fully as had that evening Of 10 years
ago and with far more tenderness when
approached the cozy, comfortable home
Of the Mainwarings. The very air was
permeated with happiness, and my
spirit was tranquil, for it anticipated,
it foresaw And there was Eunice in
the doorway waiting to greet me, with
that same beseeching, confiding glance
in her dear eyes, none the less express
i've, none the less beautiful, for the
tears through which it shone. She
needed not the story of my capture to
surrender the love which she had cher
ished as hostage Of my return. And
yet it was better that had it to tell to
her, for it routed the arrogance of her
father and banished forever the shadow
which would have crept between us.
I sat among the witnesses in the court
room when the jury returned a verdict
of Guilty against the murderer of
Mrs. Mainwaring. He stood up in the
dock and answered the questions of the
clerk with becoming gravity. But while
the judge was pronouncing the awful
ultimate sentence of the law he turned
toward me and nodded his head and
smiled Others still speak Of this con-
duct as proof of the depravity of the
man, but 1 well knew that in that cul
mination of his fate he again heard that
midnight cry.-New York Times.
A Famous Whist Hand.
The most notorious hand of whist ever
played is that known as ''the Duke Of
Cumberland's hand - 1t has never been
definitely settled how this hand came to
be dealt, but such peculiar combina-
tion naturally suggests suspicious of foul
play. The duke, playing in the room at
Bath, held in his hands king, knave,
nine, seven of trumps Clubs, ace, king
of diamonds, ace, king, queen, knave OF
hearts, and ace, king, queen of spades
and yet was unable to secure single
trick, and, moreover, lost a bet OF
ego, 900 upon the hand. This incredible
result was achieved as follows: The duke
of course led with trump and found
his partner void in that suit. His left
hand adversary, whom we may call
"Y," having ace, queen, ten, eight and
his right hand adversary, 'Z," the re-
manning five trumps and no diamonds,
the consequence was that ''Z' trumped
diamonds twice, and "Y" 'sitting over"
the duke with better trumps, after tax
ing the sixth trick, had the lead with
the seven remaining diamonds, and thus
"Y" and ''Z'' made the 3 tricks. New
York Mail and Express
A Sensitive Man.