The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-02-14
1900
by ~. BLUNT.

standing / have been through some
strange experiences, but perhaps
none quite so thrilling as the one I
am about to relate.
was nursing private case in the
vicinity Of Bloomsbury Square, and
'On this particular occasion / was on
might duty. My patient, who has
nothing to do with the story, was
jasleep, and I stepped into the adj
Joining room intending to write some
letters. The room was not lighted,
land feeling all at once disinclined to
write, I drew chair up to the win
dow and looked out into the night.
sThe window faced one of the side
streets off the square, and tonight
the place seemed quite deserted. 1t
twas terribly clustering, and the street
jshone wet in the yellow light of the
lamps. 1t was not particularly
cheerful outlook, and I was on the
point Of drawing the curtains when
my attention was attracted by the
SOLITARY figure of man. He was
well dressed and wore an opera hat.
The collar of his coat was turned up
high SO could only catch glimpse
of his face as he passed by the lighted
lamps near, but he struck me as be-
ing i'll or excited. I should have
thought no more about him, however,
had he not paused suddenly in his
walk and looked suspiciously up and
down the street. Apparently satisfied
that he was alone he crossed the road
and let himself into the house just
opposite. He struck light and pro-
ceeded to draw off his boots. Then
the door closed noiselessly and I
could see no more. Vaguely I won
dered why should feel so interested
in the mysterious stranger. With
the exception of the quick glances up
the street there was nothing very UNI
usual in his movements, and yet I
could not throw off an uncomfortable
feeling had in connection with the
man.
So strong was my curiosity in the
house across the road that after salts
flying myself that my patient was still
asleep I again took up my position
near the window, taking care not to
be observed. I scarcely had settled
myself when I saw one of the rooms
lit up suddenly. I saw the man pass
before the window and throw him.
self into chair. He was not long
alone. The door of the room opened
and saw woman, much bejeweled
and in evening dress. I could only
see her profile and mass of yell
lowish hair. She was evidently agi-
tated, for she frequently raised her
hands either in entreaty or expostula-
ton. He whom supposed to be her
husband seemed utterly to ignore
her. Presently he rose and poured
out glass of what looked like spirits
of some kind, which he swallowed at
gulp. Then he pulled the blind
down sharply. Did he feel my eyes
watching?
was on the point of rising to
leave the room when something hap
pened which held me riveted to the
spot. The shadows of the man and
woman were clearly cut against the
blind, and what I saw sent a cold
shudder through me. They were
both standing now, she erect and stiff
and he with an arm raised as If to
strike. Would the blow fall? Intox-
icated as I felt sure he must be, I
trembled for the woman. Fool! did
he but know that his movements were
telling their own tale to an eager
watcher across the road. The blow
fell, and it must have been heavy, for
the woman staggered under it. She
put out her arm to stay the second
blow, which fell with horrible pre-
cision. I thought I heard a faint
scream above the sound Of the wind
and rain, and in my excitement 1
raised the window. Should / call for
the police? Then I reflected that
after all it would be wiser not to mix
myself up with a domestic brawl.
Perhaps the blows which I had seen
fall were less severe than their
shadows seemed to indicate.
But see!they are there again-the
woman is on her feet: he seizes her
by her wrists and presses her slowly
backward into the shadow Of the
room. and | can see no more. Pres
emily the lights are extinguished and
silence reigns. Cold and sick with
what had seen, was on the point
OF shutting the window when / saw
the house door open and the man
step out into the street. This time
made no effort to conceal myself.
NY blood was fairly hot with indigna-
ton against the man for his cowardly
and brutal assault. AS he passed the
window said in a'clear voice:
You brute!"
He started as II had fired on q
pistol, and in the lamplight / saw his
face was CHASTITY as he turned it for
= moment in my direction, but only
for second, for as II pursued By 1