The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25


turning to me. l saw his intention
to throw me out upon the rails. ]
knew well that my strength would
be nothing against bis.
Grinning hideously, the man
pounced on me and wrenched the
blade from my grasp. His fingers
met around my throat then, with
the physical agony. my superstitious
dread OF the man vanished, and I
grappled with him, rending his shah
by clothes to shreds and tearing his
flesh In the paroxysms of pain.
The open door tapped backward
with the oscillations OF the train,
and we swayed to and fro, gradually
nearing 1t. He had his back toward
IL, yet my efforts seemed to have no
effect, until. taking him of his
guard. suddenly exerted my
whole strength, wrenched his hands
from my throat. and flung him from
me.
He staggered backward with an
oath upon his lips, and a second later
1 was alone in the compartment.
Hardly realizing what | had done,
/ closed the door. just an an express
rushed on It's way to London, and a
few minutes later the train drew up
at Ealing, where | alighted Need
say how anxiously scanned the pa
pers the following day? They con-
tained few lines headed. Shocking
nignnunrts nd
body had been found but so mutila-
ted by train as to be unrecogniza-
BILE. A description of his dress was
circulated, and stress WAS laid on
the fact that one of his eyes was arti-
fetal. Eagerly | watched the reports
of the inquest, but no one came for
ward to Identify him, and the jury
returned verdict of accidental
death
Eva and | were married, and had
taken up our abode in a pretty villa
at Sandgate. Six months afterward,
as we were sitting together by the
open window in the summer twilight,
she took my hand In hers suddenly.
saying, Jack, do you remember that
1t Is just two and half years ago
since we first metz"
Yes, I had not forgotten" ! said,
for, strangely enough. the curious
circumstances of that first meeting
had recurred to me only a few hours
before
1T was remarkable that we should
meet at moment when almost lost
my life," she continued. yet the
secret is even more strange"
"The secret! What do you mean?"
asked.
1t was, indeed. an extraordinary
story of love and suffering that she
related. 1t appeared that, Ave years
before, Eva was engaged to marry
Oscar Larsen, brother of my friend
Hans, and rising young member Of
the Storthing. They were extremely
fond of each other, but as the mar
riage day approached Oscars friends
were alarmed to notice that his man
ner and actions were eccentric and
mysterious. Doctors were consult
ed, and they all agreed that 1t was
lunacy. Quickly homicidal symptoms
developed, and instead of marriage
and bright future his friends were
compelled to have him confined In
an asylum in the vicinity.
Eva was broken hearted, but 4
year afterward he was discharged as
perfectly harmless, and on his re-
turn to his brothers house a keeper
was engaged for him.
He still retained his love for Eva,
but It was the maudlin affection OF
idiocy, and sometimes-when he
could evade the vigilance Of the man
responsible for his we'll being-he
would visit her. but only under cover
of darkness, because he entertained
a dread Of being recognized. To
humor him, Eva arranged that he
should rattle the letter box when he
called. and she would, II at homo.
open the door to receive him.
Thus all was explained. On tho
eventful night had unwittingly
given the signal, and she had well
coined me affectionately, believing
me to be her demented lover.
The maniac must have previously
gained access to the house from the
rear, and, enraged at seeing her
throw herself into my arms, he
struck the murderous blow. He met
me later in the fog with the inten-
tion, no doubt, of taking my life.
Afterward, believing that l had stol-
en- Eva's affections, he would have
killed me had | not acted unhesitat-
ingly in self-defense.
! listened to Evas story without
tutoring a word.
He lost his eye while shooting"
she said in conclusion, "and the
doctors substituted glass one. 1t is
most remarkable, too, that he dis
appeared mysteriously about a fort
night before our marriage, and has
not since been heard Of"
I agreed 1t was strange, for I saw
M pacpsGitu m incraacn bar nni,, H.,