The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-03-12
A TRAVELLING COMPANION,
BY TERESA ". BROWN.

.#s. II BY TERESA ". BROWN.
4 "a first to Kings Cross"
" Ishad just taken my ticket, and was
: standing in the booking office OF the
I York station. awaiting the departure
!. Of the night mail for London, when the
above words caused me to turn round
with start. There was something
weird and uncanny in the tone of the
voice which impressed me with all in
lefinahe feeling Of apprehension l
could net account for. Turning round,
1 found myself face to face with the
speaker. --. t~ f.
He was remarkably tall and mas
sively built man, possessing every in
lication of great personal strength.
Tie was enveloped from head to foot in
a long black cloak, buttoned closely
under his chin and reaching almost
down to the ground, which concealed
the whole of his person with the ex-
ception Of d large, bony hand of a
strange,: unnatural, almost cleaning,
wAiteness. The face also riveted my
attention., a broad, massive forehead.
firmly set jaw, high chcek-bones, q
deep, sallow complexion, and q pair OF
coal black eyes which seemed to glow
with unnatural brilliancy-these were
the most striking features OF the
strange individual who stood before
nle.
AZ confronted him, his eye rested
upon me for q moment with a dark,
1aalevolent expression, but it was in
stantly ,averted; whether it was fancy
or not l cannot explain. but l felt as
though under the influence of some
mysterious power Of fascination, which
required the exercise of all the self
control l possessed to vercome. The
sound Of the bell announcing the de-
parture OF my train had the effect OF re-
sailing me to my senses, and fastened
away, not a little relieved to see my
strange fellow-traveler, instead of fol-
lowing me, move toward the ether end
OF the train.
After a 1un of some three hours the
train drew up at Peterborough. Here
my companion and alighted and at
tempted to swallow cup of boiling
coffee in the five minutes allowed.
Scracely had we taken our places again
when, CHANGING to look out Of the car
riage window, l behe1d the Identical
figure in the black cloak. Again the
old feeling came over me, for although
he averted his eyes the moment they
met mine, and moved away, felt con-
~inced he was watching me. My
startled look must have been noticed by
my fellow7tr aveler. for be Immediately
alskcsl:39 as$s ,e& ss3s %S5 "&S4&S ~ ~ 7a<
Are you acquainted with the gentle
.nan on the platform - 2">s ~ u ~ Mr. . ,s
1t was only by a great effort that l
i.sulQ s.nswer in TIE negative ,eg AIDING
wits assumed unconcern: i"
what" led you to think :so?"
j.. "Bcchuse," returned my friend. Il
have observed at every station where
J. ave have stopped during our journey,
Tho has walked past our window and y
,oolictl in at you as if expect ting YOU &
recognize him. His appearance is SO
remarkable that do not think could
rossib have bee a ~ mistake st y y NJ III & i
\ cold shudder = III sthroughS. ny
limbs. and. as ] wiped the thick, clam
my perspiration from my forehead, !
could not help recalling all the wild
stories l had heard or read respecting
the power ofNthe evil eye, and the mys
FERROUS Influence of mind upon mind.
What was the meaning OF: subtle
fascination which that dark stranger
seemed to exercise over me that night?
Was it only. the effect of an excited
in,aginat;on?> I tried to persuade my
self that it wasndelusion- nightmare
"A horr:d dream, but it was of no avail.
was wide-awalse; there was my
companion opposite me. evidently dis
turbed by my strange demeanor. My
Drain was in q whirl; felt sick and
giddy, and remained entranced in {.
kind of morbid stupor out of which
was only awakened by the stopping
of the train at Hitchin.
well. good-by," said my fellow
traveller; ''here's the end of my jour-
ney," adding. hastily: "By Jove! here
he isl
I have q dim recollection of his 1eav-
ing the carriage and some one else en-
tering.. Who it was knew we'll, al
though some time elapsed before I
could muster sufficient courage to raise
my eyes. At last looked up. twas
AZ, had foreboded. There, opposite to
me, in the ia: corner of the carriage.
sat the tall figure in the black cloak,
the same wild look in his restless eye.
The same evil expression in his forbid
ding face.
Directly our eyes met. he leaped from
his seat with the yell of I. wild beast.
Something bright flashed in the dim
la1np-light, and as he paused for an
instant as if preparatory to spring,
I saw that his hand grasped clasp
knife, whose long. glittering blade was
stretched towards me. In moment
the terrible truth burst upon mel
was alone with a raving maniac, tho