The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-09-07

that / had a penchant for Mile. Louise.
1t was a pity that | had. for her father
had destined her to be the wife OF her
cousin Honore Marie Antoilette Gomte
Dc LacroiX | objected that surely
Mile. Louise's own feelings should be
consulted, aud that the count had GER
tainly not been heard of since her
fathers disappearance. He answered
that he would see to that. but that l
must think no more of the young lady.
In fine, | was very cStimoble young
man, and he thanked me very much
for my services to himself and to the
family interest.
l laughed to myself at this prepos-
ferrous interference. until | found that
Louise, with her French education and
sentiment was disposed to take it seri-
ously. In alarm | took the matter TO
Birlcy. who advised me to "let bide: 1t
will come all right
So Wednesday and Thursday passed
away. and the Friday arrived, which to
think of even now makes me tremble.
1t was daring experiment we We're
about to attempt, and so very little
would make 1t ridiculous. | had taken
partly into my confidence the big son
Of my landlady ca staunch Lancashire
lad of the old breed With him / went
through the slides Of my story several
times. and showed him how to manage
them with effect
The evening came and | WAS almost
sinking under excitement. The place
of entertainment was that Public Hall
in which Freeman had delivered his
famous lecture. The kind of thing was
rather new in the village. anl there
was a crowded attendance of work
people. especially Of Steinhardt's own
Steinhardt, with his wife aud son. sat
right in front, where the reelection from
the sheet fell full upon him. When the
lights were turned. some out and others
low, Freeman and crept up behind the
sheet, where / waited with trembling
pulse and sudden creeping c'lills TIL
the to me unintereSting part of The en-
tertainment came 10 an end The GU
ate acted as lecturer. and explained
with fiuency what the views meant. or
told something about the places repre-
Sented l cannot tell what ii was
about. At length his series of views
and his lecture was finished. There
was moments pauSe-to me a wild
throb OF anXiety-and then the bass
voice OF the manager of the lantern
doomed forth the announcement. "A
Lancashire Mystery" Without another
word the first picture came upon the
sheet q crept to it's corner to watch
Steinhardtl. 1t was two men in an at
titude Of quarrel, surrounded by color
ed yapors. The second followed quick
ly without word of explanations; the
same two men-the one half suifocated,
struggling to get out Of q vat or bath
of vapors. while the other. with mouth
muffied, forced him down. Still no
word Of explanation. Rapidly came
the third picture: the one man lying
dead and dyed before the other. and
beside an open box. Awful whispers
began to stir the spectators. who We're
the more impressed no doubt by the
silence amid which the pictures appear
ed. | ventured to peep at Steinhardt:
he was gazing fixedly with parted lips
The fourth picture called forth an in
Simultaneous cry Of horror; it was. per-
haps, too realistic The dead body lay
stripped and quartered before the living
man. who stopped over from the front
bench. but on glancing at Steinhardt
saw him sitting as before. as il fixed as
much by utter aStOnishment as by hOr-
rOr. The next picture rapidly biOtted
out the greWSOmenesS Of the other: the
portions of the body wrapped in three
canvas packages. and the man stood
by as il pondering. Quickly came the
next: the man digging near ruined
building. with the three packages by
him. 9TH owd spinning MILL" some
one exclaimed aloud: had not thought
the resemblance was SO recognizable.
That was almost Immediately succeed
ed by the same view Of the mill. with
the packages gone. the hole covered in.
and the man standing as If pulling a
rope which passed over the top Of the
wall.
The devil" exclaimed Steinhardt,
starting suddenly to his feet. But he
recollected himself, and sat down
again.
At once the last picture of all fash
ed upon the sheet: the wall lay fiat on
the ground. and the man stood by with
the loose rope in his hand!
Up started Steinhardt. and strobe
down the room. amid an Ominous ST.
lence, to where the big Dick stood by
his apparatus.
where the devil" 7 heard him ex-
claim. did thos horrible pictures come
from? They We're not among the lot
bought. Come. no ID nonsense!
You must tell me where you got them
Who gave them to you?"
There was now wild hubbub Of
talk. Dick. / was sure had refused to
tell him anything about them. In the
midst Of this the lights flashed forth
again. and the people began slowly to
disperse, with hushed and earnest
speech. Freeman and / slipped out by
side door
/ went straight to Jaanes's cottage
There / found Birley In low anxious
voices we began to discuss what would
he (meaning Steinhardt) do now
Louise wished she had been there. and
Birley had just said it was as well she
had not. when heavy foot rapidly ap-