Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-03-21

Vivian or her attendants; there was
no one near. Sitting alone, at some
distance, he saw a woman, evidently
waiting, but he did not see her address
Lady Selwyn.
He was curious; for it suddenly
idawned across him that he had heard
Lord Vivian was giving brilliant fete
that evening at the Villa Pisani. If
that was the case, what was my lady
doing here at the station alone?
He went near her. and distinctly
heard her ask for a first-class ticket to
Genoa. There was no mistake; still,
To make sure, he bowed, and inquired
I If there was anything he could do for
her ladyship's service that evening.
II was Lady Selwyn's voice that
thanked him in dull, tired tones; 1t
was Lady Selwyn's face. white and
weary. that locked at him from under
the Pickering gas light
"WiH it be long," she asked, before
the train starts?"
He told her ten minutes; she thank
ed him. and walked slowly TO the other
end OF the station, then he lost sight
OF her.
They are queer people, those Eng
llish." said the station master to him
self: ''but that passes all. What can
lady like that want to travel at this
hour OF the night. and alone. for?"
! When the train did start, a lady
took her place in the first-class carriage.
I and another-unobserv unnoticed-
stole out OF the station yard.
Then. and for the first time. Theresa
Bowden had time to think Of what had
happened-had time 10 realize her
Iady's fight. The girls thoughts were
very sad ones: suddenly she found her
self torn from a comfortable home, and
launched on a sea of difficulties that
appeared endless
I know" she said to herself. that
. II the truth were known, all my lady's
unhappiness ccInes from Miss Leigh. "
\ Even with the fur cloak wrapped
round her. she shivered as with mortal
cold. as those do over whom the black
shadow hangs.
What was it?" she asked herself.
What was the deadly weight that
seemed to chain her limbs and chill
the blood I'm her veins? Early morn
was dawning; in the sky she saw
fresh. pearly tints that told of the ris-
. ing OF the sun. Why did the morning
I sky Cypress her. as though the day
dawning were one of doom? Once she
opened the carriage window. and in
came n sweep CT fresh perfumed air,
clear and pure. II made her shiver
still more.
People laugh at presentiments; they
make light Of forebodings. All! believe
me. you who read. when the Angel of
death is approaching, his shadow often
saddens us. That shadow now chilled
the warm life of Theresa Bowden;
while she sat there-her heart beating,
her pulses throbbing with life. the
blood running warm in her veins
Death had marked her for his own,
4 Never more was sun to rise or set
I for her: never more was odorous sum-
mer wind to play about her. The dark
shadow came nearer and nearer. The
train PASSED by quiet vineyards, where
the faint dawn of morning shone on
the purple grapes: past quiet Italian
! villages. past purple hills and snow
clad mountains, without stopping,
without accident. It reached a small
station at last, near the pretty town
LOT Sedi. There they who travelled
heard the first paint morning carol of
'he birds-and then on again.
On. until-who shall say how 1t hap
pened-there came a terrible shock a
terrible noise. a kissing Of steam, a
crashing as of broken carriages, a
rushing. binding. bewildering shock,
as two trains met with deadly force,
and one forced the other over the en-
lbankment into The vine-wreathed val
icy below,
A collision. One train was five min
utes latel There was some careless
ness some ten or twelve innocent,
helpless human beings paid with their
lives.
There was dire confusion and dis
L ay; then those who had escaped be-
gan to collect themselves. In less
than an hour help came from Sedi. and
the dead. the dying. and the wounded
were extricated from the wreck of
broken carriages, and laid side by
side.
~naR--n WV