The Wilmington daily Republican., 1899-08-02

ing. How cursed him!
Had Muriel written that note it would
have been different, but that he should
pen that word-what mockery! Like
one demented, cursed everything;
called on heaven to strike him dead, and
the woman, too-my wife!
"Sir, II ! have ever been mad was
mad at that moment. The room con-
fined, stifed me. clinched my hands
and could have torn down the very walls
with my finger nails. had superhuman
strength. II needs have been, would
have lifted the world and hurled it at my
wife and her lover
Rushing out of the house, | saddled
my mare and rode off. 1t was London
that they had gone to. The last train
had left a couple Of hours since, and
there was not. another till the morning. +,
10 wait was Impossible. 1t was more
than 40 miles, but should not be long
after them"
Edward Hurcombe, absorbed in the
mans narrative, listened intently, almost
forgetting the whole thing was the in.
vention Of madman. How graphically
he, described the scene! "Why couldn't
lunatics be actors" he thought.
| uaL rue 1 SuuH never lOEBet, Cuu-
tinuede the other "On few, urging my
horse Efuriously. A devil seemed behind
| me and cried: On, on to the betrayer!
| On! ! laughed as though the notion was
splendid joke; 1t tickled my fancy SO.
| On, on! The hedges swept past me, the
| dust rose behind me in clouds, the. vii
| lagos ran by my side like some moving
panorama, and the stars peeped out in
| the heavens. 1t was Saturday night, and
passed through a busy town. The main
| street was crowded, but flew by. A lit
| tie child rushed across the road, and my
horse trampled II under his hoofs, but
could not stop. On, onp whispered the
devil. What matters child's life? Pres
emily, when l reached the open country
again, my horse stumbled and fell. was
thrown to the ground. My horse was dy-
ing. l wept for loved that mare. Mu-
riel used to love her too. How often had
her dainty hands caressed her sleek and
glossy coat! My journey was ended it
seemed. But no, a horseman came riding
heedlessly upon lis, for the night was
dark, and stumbled over the form of my
steed. He was thrown. l, helped the
beast to its feet again, mounted it and
rode on.
1.-The wind was rising, and presently a
spot or two Of rain began to fall. The
sky became overcast. A storm? Perhaps
SO, and all the better, for was not my
heart stormy also? crossed stretch
of moorland, and then the rain began to
pour. | rode on. Not a star shone now;
the way was dark; the wind howled; the
thunder roared.
"A few more miles md was not yet
off the heath. Soaked to the skin, me-
chanically saw the trees swaying in the
fierce wind and heard the branches creak-
ing and croaking to the tune of On, onn
Now and again forked lightning flashed
through the leaden sky, Illuminating the
sparkling rain. Then all was black once
more.
And then suddenly my horse slipped.
l had collided against some vehicle which
remained stationary in the road. The
force of the collision unseated me- and
groped around the covered carriage like
blind man feeling in the dark and then
lighted upon the closed door. We were
in the very center of the lonely heath,
miles from any habtation. Could It
mean highway robbery"
81 tremhlingly touched the handle Of |
the carriage door. Who's hatT cried |
mans voice above the thunder.
started and shivered. Merciful heaven
the man! My body on fire, my eyes
burning as with fever, l made no reply, |
but peered in, and at that moment the
sky burst into brilliant radiance.
started back.-that pale, wan face in the
corner of the carriage which the light
ming had illumined-it was my wife's!
Muriel, Muriel! shrieked
There was no answer.
'Muriel, Muriel! l shrieked again,
but still there was no response, and the
eyes Of my darling remained steadily fix
cd INTO vacancy.
with passion that nearly tore me
asunder | cried out to the man. who,
seeming half dazed, had the while been
gazing at her tenderly, clasping her cold,
lifcless hand
"'You've killed her! You've killed
her"
"He turned into fury Mt that.
I've not" he cried. 4 swear I've
not! The lightning struck her an hour
ago!'
"'It's a le.' screamed, and my voice
seemed to pierce beyond the din Of the
elements. And. gripping him by the
throat, dragged him from the carriage
and strangled him till he was dead.
And that is all. reverently covered
Muriel up and fed, but since then the
villains relatives have been on my track.
They say | killed him-thnt I'm mad.
Dozens, scores of times they've nearly
had me, and-hark, they're coming now"
Hurcombe, who during the recital had
remained spelbound, moved uneasily in
his chair.
81 hear nothing" he said at last, and
then, recovering himself, adrotly turned
to ring the electric bell. But the visitor
had prevented him.
Don't do that" he said in u voice so
calm that the actor-manager, astouished,
looked up quickly.
The man was smiling quite naturally
and saney.
"N1r. Hurcomhe," he said, "as you've
assured me, I'm perfectly
sane"
"What!" gasped the manager, astound- 1
ed at hearing his own name pronounced.
I'm sane" repeated the man. 81 trust I
you'll excuse the trick I've played upon
you, a trick brought about by necessity
md the urgency Of my case. An actor I
I've been out of an engagement for +
months, and hearing this morning of the c
|
determined would either secure the
Engagement or end life of poverty off
Waterloo bridge All day at the theater Ii
we been trying to get your ear, but no t
me would take up my name looked II
90 sccdy, l suppose. The thing was II
opelcss. and l walked toward the river; s
mt the water looked so cold. II You had II
My been able to give me chance, Ii
cit should have proved success In the
art which Is not unlike the one I've
cen assuming now. Desperation drives
man to strange things, and | resolved y
pom hold course. An hour ago saw no
ou enter here, when by lucky cir =
you omitted to fasten the 81
oor securely. The rest you know, sir.
is an engagement | want-not charity"
Edward Hnrcombe graspcd the stua- In
on at once, and his eyes were dim, for al
G was man Of warm sympathies. I'll
"My boy" he said rising and taking
le others hand. you've solved the
'ry problem | was considering when m'
III so unceremonously entered. The
irts yours, and good luck go with it,
xclange.
4
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