Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-21

beg the gentlemen not to make so
much noise as there was an invalid
lady in the next room. The host en-
tered the banqueting room, and his re-
quest was followed by roar of dissent.
| Finally one voice prevailed over the
others, and cried:
what sort Of a woman is she?'
"Well, gentlemen" replied the host,
Il don't know for sure, but [ think
she's a bride, and that they're on their
wedding tour"
"a bride!" roared the jewellers;
'tbring her in! Fetch 'em both here;
we want to drink to the bride and talk
with the husband"
Our friends in the blue room
trembled; they feared an assault would
be made. But the same voice prevailed
over the din, and it was evidently that
of a superior officer. He lectured them
on their lack of courtesy, and there was
comparative quiet for awhile. But
from the muff1ed laughter that broke
out from time to time, Leon and his
bride had an idea that they were still
the topic.
Suddenly there was roar from
the left-hand room. "Garsong!" shout
ed the Englishman, gimme another
| bottle o. port"
The port was brought, and the Eng
lishman grew quiet. Finally the Off
GERS, having drank all they could carry
and some of them more, departed, after
having joined in a parting toast to the
bride
Quiet at last reigned over the hotel
The night was clear, the moon shining
brightly. Leon and his bride looked
out from the window, and inhaled the
fragrance borne from the flowers in the
garden below. Suddenly Icons gaze
fell upon a man who was sauntering
amid the shrubbery. He walked with
his head down, cigar in his mouth,
and his hands thrust into his pockets
AS he turned the moonlight fell upon
is face. It was the Englishman's dis
solute nephew.
The night wore on. Leon and his
bride had almost forgotten their Eng
lish neighbor, when they heard a
strange sound in the room. It was that
of the fall of some heavy body.
Mingled with this there was a peculiar
crashing, grating sound, followed by a
stifed cry. Silence. Then there were
two or three muttered oaths, and
silence again.
The young couple shuddered What
could it mean? Leon tried to reassure
his trembling companion, but he was
interrupted by the cautious opening Of
the next door. 1t was softly closed
again, and then slow and apparently
careful footsteps were heard in the hall.
They were lost in the distance They
ceased. Again all was still.
Soon the young bride was sleeping
calmly But not SO Leon. Despite
himself, the sinister face of the Eng
| lishman's nephew returned to his rec
objection. There was hatred, he
| thought, in the glance cast upon the
uncle by the young man when he left
him; and then that roll of bank notes in
the valise. And that dull heavy sound
but now, like the fall of a body upon
the floor-the cry-the curses Such
was the train of thought that ran
through Icons mind.
Mechanically he fixed his eyes upon
the door which communicated with the
Englishman's room. There was a lit
tie space between the bottom of the
door and the flooring By the dim
light falling from the partially turned
down gas, he could see something fore
ing it's way under the door. It seemed,
at first, like knife-blade, for the edge
was thin, and reflected back the light.
1t moved slowly toward a little blue
satin slipper, which had been thrown
carelessly near the door,
"What can it be?" thought Leon Is
it knife? No, for it has divided
into two parts And now it divides
again-and yet again. What can it be?
1t is some liquid"
The thing slowly crawled toward the
| little blue slipper It encircled it's heel.
l. stained it's front. It was a liquid.
1t was a liquid of strange and unmis-
taxable cOlOr-the color of blood.
For a long time Leon lay and gazed
upon the stained slipper and the red
dish stream which encircled it, He
pictured to himself the corpse lying in
the next room; it's discovery the fol-
lowing morning; the door opening in
to the room, of which the bolts were
on his side; the blood-stained slipper.
These things passed through his mind,
and cold sweat started out upon him.
He attempted to rise, and hide the slip
per; as he die so, his wife awoke, and
| started with alright as she felt his icy
hand.
What is the matter?" she cried.
Leon explained to her the terrible
situation in which they were placed.