The Portland daily press., 1895-04-29

that hc'N''Sid le1l deeply in love with on:
hosts daughter, but feared to speak.
" Too poor, p" he said hopelessly. "Gros-
venor viii want a son-in-l law able to lift
the old house up bit.
Two years later came home on leave
from India, in which country T had OBJ
tanned an important lost, and remained
for a few days in towSn9 to replenish nv
wardrobe before paying few rounds of
visits,
AS was walking down Piccadillv one
morning felt a slap on my shoulder, and
turning found myself face to face with
Howard
How go things with your" said after
mutual greetings had been exchanged.
Have you married Miss Grosvenor yet?''
''No, he replied, ''I have had no luck
whatever in that quarter. She is now en-
gagged to q French Johnny. Her father is
pretty well off now. The railway was ex-
tended through his land, and he made
shekels over the transaction. They are
staying in town at present. You had bet
ter call. -
"Will you come with me?''
"No, thanks. l don't look as well as the
rejected suitor But here is their address
and mine"
l called upon Grosyenor in due course
and was introduced to his daughters
1iance one Mr.. Dubois His face seemed
familiar to me, and after some moments
thought it burst upon me that he was the
dream murderer of two years before. There
was not doubt about it, and I could have
sworn to him in the witness box. He was
a man of wealth, had lived many years in
England and was thought to be an excel
lent match. He was by no means young
but had polished and agreeable manner
with very rapid and sharp mode of speak
ing, which was not, I thought, wholly due
to his French nationality
Though I attempted to dismiss my pre-
judice, he gave me the impression that
there was something underhand about
him. He also seemed to think himself sus-
pected, for I caught him watching me fur
lively as I was talking to Mr.. Grosvenor.
walked home in great perplexity. Here
was my dream exactly reproduced, and
had no possible doubt as to the identity of
the persons concerned. Yet I could not
tell Mr.. Grosvenor the story without in
curing his ridicille if not his anger, and
probably getting into bad odor with his
future son-in-law, though for that con-
tingency I cared very little
At length T resolved to impart the whole
matter to Howard, He hd found perma-
nent employment in Loiigon and could re-
main on the watch, whereas was obliged
to return to India in few weeks. The
marriage was not to take place for at least
six months, which would give him time to
examine Dubois antecedents
H0yyAr5 WAC 7r1J1oT c111,117,i
and declared that he thought Dubois to be
a scoundrel from the first. This was likely
enough in a rejected suitor, but at the
same time his instincts corresponded with
mine, and at his earnest request I deter
mined to tell the whole to Mr. Grosvenor.
Howard also undertook to keep strict watch
upon Dubois movements and to let me
hear of any new developments the case
might present.
The next day called upon Mr.. Gros-
venor, and requesting a private interview
put the whole matter before him
''This is very extraordinary, he said,
when 1 had finished Cautiously enough,
the young couple are to live at Cullingham,
and occupy that very room, when the hon
eymoon is over. But what can I do? His
antecedents seem unquestionable He is
OlAS SUI VI "a ISIiCll COtlI1U, HIS dTB
dead, and he has dropped his title / have
verified all the statements he has made,
and though I do not profess to like the
man, L really have nothing against him,
and my daughter is devoted to him"
swell, % returned, perhaps it is no af
fair of mine. 1 thought ought to tell
you what [ saw before I returned to India
AT the same time, I hope you understand
=;
81 owe you many thanks for performing
what might be thought purely imagi-
nary duty, and an unpleasant one as well.
Have you told any one else?'
s'No one but Howard. "
"Then I will make fresh inquiries. do
not anticipate any result, but it is as well
to be sure''
His daughter came in at that moment,
and it was distressing to see the wistful
look in his eyes as he lifted her hand for
and gazed into her face.
Six months later, when was staying at
Silnla, l received a letter from Howard
He wrote:
eve have settled Dubois hash. He will
not be seen any more. put on private
detective who found out that Dubois had
been kept in a French asylum for some
years as a holnicidal maniac. The hypnot-
ic school of physicians professed to have
cured him, and [ think had really done SO
for time but he was getting strange in
his manner, and when asked about the
asylum, though the question was put in
the most delicate way, he flew at Grosven-
or like tiger and attempted to strangle
him. Help was fortunately at hand, and
he was put under lock and key. We can
not account for your dream by any theory
Dubois had never even seen Cullingham
L can only suppose it was meant as a warn
ing, and, in fact it has been the means of
avoiding what might have been all awful
tragedy, and of bringing about, hope,
what will be the greatest happiness of my
life. '-Good Company.
WIT AND WISDOM.