Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-29

she nad not yet FedCheu ISuSeO'.
thing-some accident-must have happened
to her. What could he do? How could
he get to her? She-his Pet, alone-iost-
run over, perhaps. or-or-worse. IN TINS
huge. impracticable wicked. heartiess
Londonl A sickening horror of awful anX-
iety was upon him. Indeed. he came very
near TO fainting, and might actually nave
done so had he not taken liberal pull al
his flask TO steady his shattered nerves.
But what to do? What to do? To one in
his distracted state the inactivity of pas
sive waiting was insupportable. He ex-
plorsd the whole of Euston. He described
his wife 10 every official whom ne met'
anxiousIy inquirlng whether they had seen
such a lady. All returned negative re-
plies. and the colonels heart sank lower
and lower. 1t was now verging on
o'clock. To remain at Euston any longer
seemed useless. Unless something-some-
thing dreadful-had happened to Pet she
must have been there long ago. Evident
ly some disaster had overtaken her. An
accident In the streets A murderous at
tack by thieves, Or perhaps-the colonel
shuddsred-she had been run away with
has fallen a victim to the artful schemes
of some designing scoundrel, who attract
ed by her dazzling beauty, had dared any
thing TO gain possession of her person.
There were such villains about. And pet
was so confidlng. so innocent! on, why
had he ever let her venture herself alone
in this huge and hellinsh metropolis?
There was one course to pursue and one
only. 1t might be toolate But he must
try it. our. poor. distracted colonel hailed
a hanson and told cabby 10 drive for all
ne was worth TO Scotland Yard. 1t was
already o'clock. The colonel had touch
ed no food since his breakfast at 6, and he
was faint from fasting. as well as limp
and broken down by grief and suspense.
But he was too anxious to think about
food: nav. he could not have swallowed
any had it been offered 10 him. One sin
gle thought possessed him-to find Pet or
to learn the worst And he had little
doubt-poor fellow!-that 1t was the latter
errand on which he was bent
He alighted at Scotland yard-a feeble,
CHASTITY shadow of that same robust war
rior who had entraiued at Marlborough
six hours before His eyes were -sunken,
his face an ashy white, his shoulders
stopped. his hand shook, his knees trem-
bled. He could scarcely command MS
voice TO ask for the superintendent, and
when he was, after a short walt ushered
into that officials presence, he was as near
going into Mysteries as he ever was In his
life.
The superintendent. a brisk, precise lit
tie man. begged the colonel TO be seated,
and asked what he could DO for him.
'I-I-have come to consult you under
most distressing and painful circum-
stances" replied the aG@sed husband IN
tremulous voice-which who could have
recognized for the stentorian baritone that
had. in its time. made so many Tommies
sbiver in their shoes ?-"I-I-the fact is
I have lost my wife"
YES. sir?" said the official, with an in
terrogative note that invited more detailed
information.
"She-she was to have Joined me at Eus-
ton before 1890 this morning When l ar
rived there at Ills she had not arrived.
"Umph!" grunted the superintendent.
81 wired to the people at BALKAN with
whom she was staying and had a reply
that she left there this morning at $50,
our colonel continued. with suppressed
sob that nearly choked him.
The police-o officials face was well drill
ed face. Perhaps. he felt more emotion
at this tragic announcement than he dis
PLAYED: indeed. there was a movement,
slight spasmodic twitching-at the cor
ners Of his tightly pursed lips, which sug-
gested that even this creature OF routine
might have some feelings.
you apprehend that come accident has
happened to the lady?" he inquired.
'I-I-can hardly doubt it. If she were
alive or not forcibly detained, nothing
would have kept my wife from Joining me.
No. Il is quite evident that something very
dreadful has occurred
All Well win you describe the lady
to me?'' asked tie superintendent taking
up a pen. age. appearance, dress, etc"
she is quite young" explained the col
onel, only %. She has silky golden hair
and a clear fair complexion, and blue
eyes. and Greek nose. Her figure is
slight and very graceful. Her feet and
hands were the smallest in Aldershot. She
wears a five-and-a-half glove and takes a
very small shoe. She had promised TO
wear the travelling dress in which she
started for our honeymoon; beaver hat
with an ostrich feather and gray mer-
inc: the bodice was turned back with silk
revers. aud the skirt was tailor made. She
came down stairs to show it me when she
first tried 1t on.
And here the poignant feelings awaken
ed by that recollection were too much for
him. The colonel fairly broke down, COW
cred his face with his hands and sobbed
aloud.
Even the hardened superintendent ap-
peared to be moved by the spectacle. In
deed. It was quite evident that he was
struggling with his feelings. and that it
was some moments before he could con-
troll his voice sufficiently to speak.
pray, sir; don't take on in this way"
he said 1T is all right. l did not wish
to raise in you hopes that were possibly
delusive. But your description has placed
the matter beyond doubt. The lady is
alive and WE'LL
Alive and weir" cried the colonel, start
ing excitedly up. ooh, thank God-thank
God! Where is she? Take me TO her.
Take me to herr
Certainly. But just let me explain. The
fact is the lady came here about half an
hour ago in a perfectly distracted state
of mind about yourself. She was quite
convinced that you had been robbed and
murdered in the train and your body
slowed under the seat. I was about TO
send an officer to Waterloo. at her urgent
request. to inquire if your corpse had been
found in the early train from Farnbor-
ough."
My poor Pet-my poor, devoted dar-
lingn' murmursd the colonel. But take